Max Reed

Clearly, I haven't pulled it off yet because we just spent 10 minutes or so talking about how Grok has been trying to answer every question people ask it with a treatise on white genocide in South Africa. Yeah.

Clearly, I haven't pulled it off yet because we just spent 10 minutes or so talking about how Grok has been trying to answer every question people ask it with a treatise on white genocide in South Africa. Yeah.

Clearly, I haven't pulled it off yet because we just spent 10 minutes or so talking about how Grok has been trying to answer every question people ask it with a treatise on white genocide in South Africa. Yeah.

I wonder, since you use these tools a lot, if you could help our listeners understand the strengths and weaknesses of all of these tools at the moment, because there are a lot of them at this point, right? How many are there?

I wonder, since you use these tools a lot, if you could help our listeners understand the strengths and weaknesses of all of these tools at the moment, because there are a lot of them at this point, right? How many are there?

I wonder, since you use these tools a lot, if you could help our listeners understand the strengths and weaknesses of all of these tools at the moment, because there are a lot of them at this point, right? How many are there?

Okay. Well, let's go on the order you gave them to us, starting with Grok, which we talked about earlier in the show. Is it just a punchline or does it actually have some value?

Okay. Well, let's go on the order you gave them to us, starting with Grok, which we talked about earlier in the show. Is it just a punchline or does it actually have some value?

Okay. Well, let's go on the order you gave them to us, starting with Grok, which we talked about earlier in the show. Is it just a punchline or does it actually have some value?

Which there are many of on Twitter. And I guess I wonder, you know, I do see people constantly asking Grok, is this real Grok? Is this true Grok? What does this mean, Grok? What is Grok's batting average? Do we have any idea on getting the answer to those questions correct?

Which there are many of on Twitter. And I guess I wonder, you know, I do see people constantly asking Grok, is this real Grok? Is this true Grok? What does this mean, Grok? What is Grok's batting average? Do we have any idea on getting the answer to those questions correct?

Which there are many of on Twitter. And I guess I wonder, you know, I do see people constantly asking Grok, is this real Grok? Is this true Grok? What does this mean, Grok? What is Grok's batting average? Do we have any idea on getting the answer to those questions correct?

Max Reed writes Read Max. It's a Substack newsletter on tech. And he recently wrote about how Twitter's AI, a guy named Grok, became obsessed with white genocide and a South African anti-apartheid song known as Kill the Boar.

Max Reed writes Read Max. It's a Substack newsletter on tech. And he recently wrote about how Twitter's AI, a guy named Grok, became obsessed with white genocide and a South African anti-apartheid song known as Kill the Boar.

Max Reed writes Read Max. It's a Substack newsletter on tech. And he recently wrote about how Twitter's AI, a guy named Grok, became obsessed with white genocide and a South African anti-apartheid song known as Kill the Boar.

Well, let's talk about some of the competition here. You mentioned Gemini, which is Google's AI. I think every time I open up a Google Doc or half the time I open up my inbox, Google's trying to push Gemini on me, and I'm trying to X out of Gemini as fast as I can because I'm old-fashioned that way. How is Gemini working?

Well, let's talk about some of the competition here. You mentioned Gemini, which is Google's AI. I think every time I open up a Google Doc or half the time I open up my inbox, Google's trying to push Gemini on me, and I'm trying to X out of Gemini as fast as I can because I'm old-fashioned that way. How is Gemini working?

Well, let's talk about some of the competition here. You mentioned Gemini, which is Google's AI. I think every time I open up a Google Doc or half the time I open up my inbox, Google's trying to push Gemini on me, and I'm trying to X out of Gemini as fast as I can because I'm old-fashioned that way. How is Gemini working?

Interesting.

Interesting.

Interesting.

And I guess Gemini is to a lot of people second or third after the LLM that everyone thinks about when they think about LLMs, which is, of course, ChatGPT from OpenAI.

And I guess Gemini is to a lot of people second or third after the LLM that everyone thinks about when they think about LLMs, which is, of course, ChatGPT from OpenAI.

And I guess Gemini is to a lot of people second or third after the LLM that everyone thinks about when they think about LLMs, which is, of course, ChatGPT from OpenAI.

Is it still suffering in any way, the way Grok, say, you know, falls into these white genocide booby traps? Yeah.

Is it still suffering in any way, the way Grok, say, you know, falls into these white genocide booby traps? Yeah.

Is it still suffering in any way, the way Grok, say, you know, falls into these white genocide booby traps? Yeah.

Okay, a few more on the list here. Let's talk about Claude, because I don't know a lot about him. Her? Them? It?

Okay, a few more on the list here. Let's talk about Claude, because I don't know a lot about him. Her? Them? It?

Okay, a few more on the list here. Let's talk about Claude, because I don't know a lot about him. Her? Them? It?

Nice, Claude. Very diplomatic answer, Claude.

Nice, Claude. Very diplomatic answer, Claude.

Nice, Claude. Very diplomatic answer, Claude.

Why? Is Claude cool?

Why? Is Claude cool?

Why? Is Claude cool?

And is the go-to AI to deny the persecution of Uyghurs in China DeepSeek? Is that the one I go to?

And is the go-to AI to deny the persecution of Uyghurs in China DeepSeek? Is that the one I go to?

And is the go-to AI to deny the persecution of Uyghurs in China DeepSeek? Is that the one I go to?

Is your advice to people on how to use these tools the most effectively at this point in May 2025, the year of our Lord?

Is your advice to people on how to use these tools the most effectively at this point in May 2025, the year of our Lord?

Is your advice to people on how to use these tools the most effectively at this point in May 2025, the year of our Lord?

The other thing I wonder about is like, are we getting dumber by using these tools too much?

The other thing I wonder about is like, are we getting dumber by using these tools too much?

The other thing I wonder about is like, are we getting dumber by using these tools too much?

Kelsey Piper writes for Vox's Future Perfect. We collaborated with them to make the show today. Full disclosure, Vox, like many other media outfits, has a partnership with OpenAI. If you want to read about it, you can Google Vox Media and OpenAI. Miranda Kennedy edited the show today. Laura Bullard fact-checked it. Patrick Boyd and Andrea Christen's daughter mixed.

Kelsey Piper writes for Vox's Future Perfect. We collaborated with them to make the show today. Full disclosure, Vox, like many other media outfits, has a partnership with OpenAI. If you want to read about it, you can Google Vox Media and OpenAI. Miranda Kennedy edited the show today. Laura Bullard fact-checked it. Patrick Boyd and Andrea Christen's daughter mixed.

Kelsey Piper writes for Vox's Future Perfect. We collaborated with them to make the show today. Full disclosure, Vox, like many other media outfits, has a partnership with OpenAI. If you want to read about it, you can Google Vox Media and OpenAI. Miranda Kennedy edited the show today. Laura Bullard fact-checked it. Patrick Boyd and Andrea Christen's daughter mixed.

And Miles Bryan and Denise Guerra produced. Denise is a Gemini.

And Miles Bryan and Denise Guerra produced. Denise is a Gemini.

And Miles Bryan and Denise Guerra produced. Denise is a Gemini.

So it's probably no accident that Elon Musk's social media platform all of a sudden became weirdly obsessed through AI with South African politics. And I think we'll get to that in a second. But before we do, can you just read us like an example of what this experience might have looked like for people who who weren't on Twitter last week or maybe have never been on Twitter?

So it's probably no accident that Elon Musk's social media platform all of a sudden became weirdly obsessed through AI with South African politics. And I think we'll get to that in a second. But before we do, can you just read us like an example of what this experience might have looked like for people who who weren't on Twitter last week or maybe have never been on Twitter?

So it's probably no accident that Elon Musk's social media platform all of a sudden became weirdly obsessed through AI with South African politics. And I think we'll get to that in a second. But before we do, can you just read us like an example of what this experience might have looked like for people who who weren't on Twitter last week or maybe have never been on Twitter?

Right. What's funny about this, beyond everything, is with regard to South Africa, like no one asked about South Africa.

Right. What's funny about this, beyond everything, is with regard to South Africa, like no one asked about South Africa.

Right. What's funny about this, beyond everything, is with regard to South Africa, like no one asked about South Africa.

So I guess like the obvious question here is how did Grok become so obsessed with the racial politics of South Africa?

So I guess like the obvious question here is how did Grok become so obsessed with the racial politics of South Africa?

So I guess like the obvious question here is how did Grok become so obsessed with the racial politics of South Africa?

Does that just suggest that it was the owner of the company?

Does that just suggest that it was the owner of the company?

Does that just suggest that it was the owner of the company?

Has something like this happened with Grok before? Or is this South Africa situation the first example of it kind of fritzing?

Has something like this happened with Grok before? Or is this South Africa situation the first example of it kind of fritzing?

Has something like this happened with Grok before? Or is this South Africa situation the first example of it kind of fritzing?

Is this an issue with other AIs or is this mostly a Grok thing?

Is this an issue with other AIs or is this mostly a Grok thing?

Is this an issue with other AIs or is this mostly a Grok thing?

The thing I'm constantly wondering about, though, is like, I mean, it's only going to get better and smarter and more functional. And then does it automatically get scarier? Because Grok will know how to better...

The thing I'm constantly wondering about, though, is like, I mean, it's only going to get better and smarter and more functional. And then does it automatically get scarier? Because Grok will know how to better...

The thing I'm constantly wondering about, though, is like, I mean, it's only going to get better and smarter and more functional. And then does it automatically get scarier? Because Grok will know how to better...

Here we are. Thank you, Elon Musk. Thank you, Max, for joining us. Thank you for having me. Read Max. That's the name of his newsletter. Subscribe at maxread.substack.com. How all the other AIs are doing when we're back on Today Explained. Support for today explained comes from Vanta. If I could automate 90% of one task in my life. Oh no, they are putting me on this spot.

Here we are. Thank you, Elon Musk. Thank you, Max, for joining us. Thank you for having me. Read Max. That's the name of his newsletter. Subscribe at maxread.substack.com. How all the other AIs are doing when we're back on Today Explained. Support for today explained comes from Vanta. If I could automate 90% of one task in my life. Oh no, they are putting me on this spot.

Here we are. Thank you, Elon Musk. Thank you, Max, for joining us. Thank you for having me. Read Max. That's the name of his newsletter. Subscribe at maxread.substack.com. How all the other AIs are doing when we're back on Today Explained. Support for today explained comes from Vanta. If I could automate 90% of one task in my life. Oh no, they are putting me on this spot.

I like most of the tasks I do. What do I not like? I guess I wouldn't take the trash out. I don't like the alley behind my house. Maybe if I had a robot, I would have them go into the alley behind my house and take out the trash and then pick out some of the trash that's already in that alley because other people aren't doing their fair share in the neighborhood.

I like most of the tasks I do. What do I not like? I guess I wouldn't take the trash out. I don't like the alley behind my house. Maybe if I had a robot, I would have them go into the alley behind my house and take out the trash and then pick out some of the trash that's already in that alley because other people aren't doing their fair share in the neighborhood.

I like most of the tasks I do. What do I not like? I guess I wouldn't take the trash out. I don't like the alley behind my house. Maybe if I had a robot, I would have them go into the alley behind my house and take out the trash and then pick out some of the trash that's already in that alley because other people aren't doing their fair share in the neighborhood.

Anyway, Vanta says they're a trust management platform that helps businesses operate. automate up to 90% of the work for in-demand security frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. Go to vanta.com slash explain to meet with a Vanta expert about your business needs. That's vanta.com slash explain. Right now... You can get quality window treatments that fit your budget with 3-Day Blinds.

Anyway, Vanta says they're a trust management platform that helps businesses operate. automate up to 90% of the work for in-demand security frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. Go to vanta.com slash explain to meet with a Vanta expert about your business needs. That's vanta.com slash explain. Right now... You can get quality window treatments that fit your budget with 3-Day Blinds.

Anyway, Vanta says they're a trust management platform that helps businesses operate. automate up to 90% of the work for in-demand security frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. Go to vanta.com slash explain to meet with a Vanta expert about your business needs. That's vanta.com slash explain. Right now... You can get quality window treatments that fit your budget with 3-Day Blinds.

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You can head to 3dayblinds.com slash explained for their buy one, get one 50% off deal on custom blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery for a free, no charge, no obligation consultation. You can head to 3dayblinds.com slash explained. One last time, that's buy one, get one 50% off when you head to the number 3dayblinds.com slash explained. Support for this show today comes from ZBiotics.

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Kelsey, how often do you use AI in your day-to-day?

Kelsey, how often do you use AI in your day-to-day?

Kelsey, how often do you use AI in your day-to-day?

Yeah, I mean, going back to 2018, I think you wrote a piece for Future Perfect at Vox titled The Case for Taking AI Seriously as a Threat to Humanity. What you just described does not sound like that threat to humanity. How do you square that piece you wrote with how you're using AI in your day to day?

Yeah, I mean, going back to 2018, I think you wrote a piece for Future Perfect at Vox titled The Case for Taking AI Seriously as a Threat to Humanity. What you just described does not sound like that threat to humanity. How do you square that piece you wrote with how you're using AI in your day to day?

Yeah, I mean, going back to 2018, I think you wrote a piece for Future Perfect at Vox titled The Case for Taking AI Seriously as a Threat to Humanity. What you just described does not sound like that threat to humanity. How do you square that piece you wrote with how you're using AI in your day to day?