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Shane Smith Has Questions

Shane Smith Has Questions

By: VICE News & Studio71
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Shane Smith Has Questions is a dynamic, apolitical podcast hosted by Shane Smith dedicated to getting to the bottom of prominent instances of misinformation and disinformation while revealing the fascinating fundamental truths (if there are any?) of the most interesting and convoluted social and political issues of our time. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We want to make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20PolicyVICE News & Studio71 Social Sciences
Episodes
  • "Our Weapon Is AI" | Shane Smith & Andrew Callaghan Interview Iran's Viral Meme Warriors

    "Our Weapon Is AI" | Shane Smith & Andrew Callaghan Interview Iran's Viral Meme Warriors
    Jun 11 2026
    Shane Smith and Andrew Callaghan sit down with the anonymous creator behind Explosive Media, the Iranian team whose AI-generated LEGO videos became one of the most viewed and controversial media phenomena of the recent Iran-Israel conflict. With a team of fewer than ten people, their videos reached hundreds of millions of viewers and sparked debate about propaganda, AI, meme culture, and the future of information warfareIn this rare interview, the creators explain why they chose LEGO animation to depict war, how a team of fewer than ten people reached hundreds of millions of viewers, and why they believe modern conflicts are increasingly fought through algorithms, social media, and information warfare rather than traditional media alone.The conversation explores propaganda, AI-generated content, meme culture, Jean Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality, President Trump's social media strategy, and the future of political storytelling in an age where billions of people experience world events through their phones.The group also responds to questions about their relationship with the Iranian government, whether their work should be considered propaganda, and why they describe themselves as "guerrilla soldiers in the propaganda war.”As AI tools become more powerful and media becomes increasingly decentralized, this conversation offers a glimpse into what the future of information warfare may look like.Subscribe to VICE News for more reporting from around the world. Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • The AI Dilemma: War, Jobs, Power & Humanity | w/ Aza Raskin

    The AI Dilemma: War, Jobs, Power & Humanity | w/ Aza Raskin
    Jun 4 2026
    What happens when artificial intelligence becomes more powerful than the institutions meant to govern it?Shane Smith sits down with Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, creator of Infinite Scroll, and one of the leading voices on AI ethics, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of AI, warfare, work, politics, and humanity itself. This conversation is a starting point, not a conclusion. Explore additional perspectives, research, and open questions about the future of AI in our Adobe Acrobat PDF Space: https://adobe.ly/SSHQFresh off a trip with the U.S. Army, Shane shares what he saw: autonomous vehicles, AI-enabled systems, and drones that felt like the beginning of a new era of warfare. Together, he and Aza explore the biggest questions facing society as AI rapidly advances. They discuss: Autonomous weapons and the future of war Why AI has become a global arms race The race between the U.S. and China Whether governments understand what's coming AI's impact on jobs and the economy Social media, Infinite Scroll, and digital addiction The future of regulation and governance Earth Species Project and using AI to understand animal communication Dark matter, intelligence, and human perception Is AI humanity's greatest tool—or our greatest challenge? Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://www.quo.com/shane Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Autonomous Warfare Has Arrived | African Lion 2026 Exclusive with Gen. Anderson & Lt. Gasparri

    Autonomous Warfare Has Arrived | African Lion 2026 Exclusive with Gen. Anderson & Lt. Gasparri
    May 28 2026
    How is AI changing modern warfare? And are we already entering the age of autonomous war? Shane Smith and VICE News travel to Morocco for African Lion 2026 — one of the largest military exercises in the world — to get an inside look at the technologies rapidly transforming the battlefield. From AI-assisted targeting systems and autonomous combat vehicles to suicide drones, robotics, quantum computing, and next-generation military communications, Shane embeds with U.S. AFRICOM and the young soldiers building the future of warfare in real time. In this episode of Shane Smith Has Questions, Shane speaks with General Davin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and 1st Lt. Vincent Gasparri, Innovation Team Lead 173rd Airborne Brigade, who leads a new generation of military innovators developing drone systems inspired by lessons from Ukraine, Iran, and modern asymmetric warfare. The conversations explore: AI on the battlefield Autonomous weapons systems Drone warfare and counter-drone tech Robotics and future combat Quantum computing and encryption The ethics of AI warfare Terror threats in Africa How Ukraine changed military strategy The future of the U.S. military As wars become increasingly automated, Shane asks the question everyone is thinking: Are we prepared for a future where AI helps run wars? Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
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