Intelligence Squared

It is over ten years since the release of Spike Jonze’s film Her, in which a lonely man begins a relationship with a computer programme voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Since then, AI companions have surged in popularity. A new generation is now growing up with large language models and the chatbots they power, with AI entities playing the role of friends, lovers, mentors and therapists. If this all feels like a Black Mirror episode come to life, says author James Muldoon, you are not far off the mark. For a new book, Love Machines, he has talked to hundreds of users, developers, psychologists  — and synthetic personas  — to understand this new world of human-AI relationships. In this episode, he talks to Carl Miller about these new forms of love, intimacy and connection; the unregulated corporations seeking to profit from the ‘loneliness economy’; and what the rise of artificial intelligence in our personal lives might mean for our relationships with one another. James Muldoon is a sociologist whose work explores the human side of artificial intelligence and other technologies. His new book, Love Machines, is available to buy now. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian-born journalist Julia Ioffe is one of America’s most influential voices on Russia-US relations, reporting on Putin’s regime for over 15 years. Her new book, Motherland – which has been longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Non-Fiction – tells the stories of the many women who have shaped modern Russia, from feminist revolutionaries to the fearless members of Pussy Riot and Yulia Navalnaya. In December 2025, Ioffe joined CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward to share her insights on life inside Putin’s Russia and the possibilities for political change. She explored the history of modern Russia through the lives of its women, from the Bolshevik revolution to the present day, shining a spotlight on the remarkable women who, with enormous courage, defy Putin’s regime and are fighting for a better future for their country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian-born journalist Julia Ioffe is one of America’s most influential voices on Russia-US relations, reporting on Putin’s regime for over 15 years. Her new book, Motherland – which has been longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Non-Fiction – tells the stories of the many women who have shaped modern Russia, from feminist revolutionaries to the fearless members of Pussy Riot and Yulia Navalnaya. In December 2025, Ioffe joined CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward to share her insights on life inside Putin’s Russia and the possibilities for political change. She explored the history of modern Russia through the lives of its women, from the Bolshevik revolution to the present day, shining a spotlight on the remarkable women who, with enormous courage, defy Putin’s regime and are fighting for a better future for their country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist, broadcaster, and author of the widely acclaimed book The Escape Artist which tells the remarkable story of Rudolf Vrba and fellow inmate Alfred Wetzler who became the very first Jews to successfully escape Auschwitz. In October 2025 he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss his new book, The Traitors Circle, an astonishing story from the same era. This is a story of a group of rebels within Germany who had secretly opposed the Nazi regime for the best part of a decade, operating in the shadows, performing perilous acts of resistance, saving lives. It is also the story of their betrayal. In conversation with Jenny Kleeman, Freedland uncovered this almost forgotten story of resistance, bravery and its profound message about choosing to stand up to tyranny, which has a deep moral resonance for our own time. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist, broadcaster, and author of the widely acclaimed book The Escape Artist which tells the remarkable story of Rudolf Vrba and fellow inmate Alfred Wetzler who became the very first Jews to successfully escape Auschwitz. In October 2025 he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss his new book, The Traitors Circle, an astonishing story from the same era. This is a story of a group of rebels within Germany who had secretly opposed the Nazi regime for the best part of a decade, operating in the shadows, performing perilous acts of resistance, saving lives. It is also the story of their betrayal. In conversation with Jenny Kleeman, Freedland uncovered this almost forgotten story of resistance, bravery and its profound message about choosing to stand up to tyranny, which has a deep moral resonance for our own time. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices