Vox

Inside the secret race to build artificial intelligence | The Gray Area - October 26, 2026 - Vox
What is happening behind the scenes of America’s largest AI companies? How could the squabbles, ideologies, and goals of their CEOs and engineers shape our future?
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In today’s episode, guest host Christine Emba sits down with technology journalist Kevin Roose to discuss his new book, The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence. The book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the engineers and tech leaders competing to build artificial superintelligence. The race has sparked a massive data center boom and made a handful of people some of the most powerful decision-makers on Earth.
Christine and Kevin explore the rivalries between frontier labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, the philosophical roots of "p(doom)" and AI safety, and whether recursive self-improvement could push superintelligence beyond human control sooner than we think.
Host: Christine Emba, columnist and author
Guest: Kevin Roose, journalist and author of The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence
00:00 Intro
01:26 What is AGI and who is building it?
06:45 What ideologies are driving the AI race?
12:48 Why build something that could destroy us?
20:21 Could AI be conscious?
23:55 Is AI causing harm now?
27:06 Who gets to decide our AI future?
34:18 Should we believe AI whistleblowers?
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Can Trump steal the midterms? | America, Actually - October 24, 2026 - Vox
Between the Trump administration’s executive orders, lawsuits, and relentless rhetoric, it can feel as though America’s voting systems are under constant threat. Just this week, President Trump said he asked the Justice Department to sue Alaska to block certification of the state’s Senate race if the Republican candidate loses. But beyond these headlines, what’s actually happening to your vote?
This week on America, Actually, Vox’s Astead Herndon sits down with Eliza Sweren-Becker, the deputy director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, for a reality check on election security. Despite high-profile threats, Donald Trump is currently on a losing streak in court, and election advocates are racking up major wins.
00:00 Is your vote safe this November?
02:38 How serious is the threat to your vote?
05:58 What’s behind claims of noncitizen voting?
10:44 Who could the SAVE Act keep from voting?
12:39 How voting rights laws and gerrymandering shape elections
16:51 Why election results can take days
19:34 How to prepare to vote this November
21:05 Did the pandemic change how we vote?
22:42 Could Congress delay seating election winners?
24:09 How election rhetoric affects trust and what could restore it?
27:42 Takeaways
America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.
If you enjoy our reporting and want to learn more, sign up for Astead’s weekly newsletter, Midterms, Actually. Just go to www.vox.com/midtermsactually to learn more, and get in-depth analysis about this year’s election right to your inbox.
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Can Democrats finally pass affordable child care for all? - October 23, 2026 - Vox
Vox’s Jonquilyn Hill speaks to senior policy correspondent Rachel Booth about what universal childcare means on the US campaign trail. What are Democrats and Republicans looking to get from their own approaches and definitions of this policy? Who is it for and why does it matter to voters?
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A nice life is closer than you think | The Gray Area - October 23, 2026 - Vox
What does it mean to have a good life when so much feels wrong?
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In this episode of The Gray Area, guest host Jonquilyn Hill speaks with Vox journalist Rachel Wilkerson Miller about her forthcoming book, The Nice Life. Rachel argues that even when we feel anxious or unsettled, we can build a satisfying life through curiosity, friendship, creativity, and generosity. Jonquilyn and Rachel explore how to find joy in difficult times, take pleasure in ordinary things, and share that pleasure with others.
Guest Host: Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To Me
Guest: Rachel Miller, Vox Senior Even Better & Lifestyle Editor
00:00 Intro
01:07 What is a nice life?
04:31 Why is life losing its magic?
07:01 Cultivating curiosity
16:16 Finding a co-conspirator
18:52 Avoiding mindingless consumption
30:49 How to find purpose
34:30 The value of being earnest
We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.
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Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
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