#1765 AI Capitalism Will Not Deliver an AI Utopia

<p><strong>Air Date: 1/17/2026</strong></p> <p>There's a lot to be concerned about with AI but the biggest concern is the economic system we have in place at the moment when AI is being introduced. Capitalism is not a good steward of new and potentially dangerous technology, as we've seen from Zuckerberg's move-fast-and-break-things era of social media that he later recognized as having triggered a genocide. When the profit drive necessitates light-speed growth, ethical and safety considerations are the first things to be jettisoned and things get broken.</p> <p>Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1765">Full Show Notes</a></p> <p><strong>Check out our new show, SOLVED! on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BestOfTheLeft">YouTube</a>!</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/20"><strong>In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships!</strong></a> <strong>(Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></p> <p><strong>Use our links to shop <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/bookshop">Bookshop.org</a> and <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&amp;awinaffid=262399&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Fswitch"> Libro.fm</a> for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>KEY POINTS</strong></p> <p>KP 1: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0K4XPu3Qhg">What Sam Altman Doesn't Want You To Know - More Perfect Union - Air Date 12-19-25</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.vox.com/podcasts/466649/ai-bubble-burst-data-centers-economy"> The AI Bubble Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-28-25</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/hidden-forces-ai-bubble"> The Hidden Forces Driving the AI Bubble Part 1 - Instant Genius - Air Date 11-13-25</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQn6DF0f14">Desperate OpenAI Turns To Erotica - Novara Media - Air Date 10-16-25</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.wnyc.org/story/avoiding-fake-news-in-the-ai-era">Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era Part 1 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-8-25</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDxOdzOtqB4">Trump Considers Order to Override State Regulations on Artificial Intelligence - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 11-20-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:48:47) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On why capitalism is the biggest problem of AI</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(00:57:14) SECTION A: AL BUBBLE</strong></p> <p>A1: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5672643/market-ai-what-is-a-bubble"> So Are We in an AI Bubble? Here Are Clues to Look for Part 1 - Planet Money - Air Date 1-9-25</a></p> <p>A2: <a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/hidden-forces-ai-bubble"> The Hidden Forces Driving the AI Bubble Part 2 - Instant Genius - Air Date 11-13-25</a></p> <p>A3: <a href="https://www.vox.com/podcasts/466649/ai-bubble-burst-data-centers-economy"> The AI Bubble Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-28-25</a></p> <p>A4: <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-it-could-happen-here-30717896/episode/ai-robot-slaves-and-other-ces-316819666/"> AI Robot Slaves and Other CES Miracles Part 1 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 1-12-26</a></p> <p>A5: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5672643/market-ai-what-is-a-bubble"> So Are We in an AI Bubble? Here Are Clues to Look for Part 2 - Planet Money - Air Date 1-9-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(01:39:59) SECTION B: PORN AND SLOP</strong></p> <p>B1: <a href="https://www.wnyc.org/story/avoiding-fake-news-in-the-ai-era">Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-8-25</a></p> <p>B2: <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/deep-fakes-data-centers-and-ai-slop--are-we-cooked"> Deep Fakes, Data Centers, and AI Slop — Are We Cooked Part 1 - On the Media - Air Date 12-19-25</a></p> <p>B3: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkEuHmnTPDg">Meet The Women Being Deepfaked Into Porn by AI - BBC - Air Date 9-4-24</a></p> <p>B4: <a href="https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/12/10/digital-stimulation-ai-and-porn"> Digital Stimulation AI and Porn - The Economist - Air Date 12-10-25</a></p> <p>B5: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eqMXBwWtkA">How AI Porn Isolates Us with Noelle Perdue Part 1 - The 404 Media Podcast - Air Date 12-9-25</a></p> <p>B6: <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-it-could-happen-here-30717896/episode/ai-robot-slaves-and-other-ces-miracles-316819666"> AI Robot Slaves and Other CES Miracles Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 1-12-26</a></p> <p>B7: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eqMXBwWtkA">How AI Porn Isolates Us with Noelle Perdue Part 2 - The 404 Media Podcast - Air Date 12-9-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:30:14) SECTION C: REGULATION</strong></p> <p>C1: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nK521nUjNI">Two Proposed Bills Cover AI and Deep Fake Pornography in Indiana - WTHR - Air Date 1-2-26</a></p> <p>C2: <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/deep-fakes-data-centers-and-ai-slop--are-we-cooked"> Deep Fakes, Data Centers, and AI Slop — Are We Cooked Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 12-19-25</a></p> <p>C3: <a href="https://www.vox.com/podcasts/473058/what-david-sacks-wants-believes-ai-trump"> AI 1 — Humanity 0 - Today, Explained - Air Date 12-17-25</a></p> <p>C4: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/6/trump_family_businesses">Trump Family Businesses Rake in $4 Billion After His Reelection with Focus on AI, Crypto, & Nuclear - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-6-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>SHOW IMAGE CREDITS</strong></p> <p>Description: Composite image of a high-tech robot running on a road while money falls into flames behind it.</p> <p>Credit: Internal design. Images via Pixabay | <a href="https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/">Pixabay license</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Produced by Jay! Tomlinson</p> <p>Visit us at <a href="http://www.bestoftheleft.com/">BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p>Listen Anywhere! <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/listen">BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen</a> Listen Anywhere!</p> <p>Follow BotL: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bestoftheleft.bsky.social">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://mastodon.social/@bestoftheleft">Mastodon</a> | <a href="https://www.threads.net/@bestoftheleft">Threads</a> | <a href="https://x.com/BestOfTheLeft">X</a></p> <p>Like at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft</a></p> <p>Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</p>