Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.
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In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who argues that public attitudes toward AI are undergoing a fundamental shift. Jasmine argues that AI is seen not simply as a technology to adopt, but as an elite political project to resist. The two discuss “AI populism,” the parallels with the Industrial Revolution, how public opinion about AI may affect US politics, and how the leaders of Silicon Valley are unprepared for the growing backlash against AI.
Guest Host: Miles Bryan, Vox reporter and senior producer
Guest:Jasmine Sun, journalist
Find Jasmine’s Substack here: https://jasmi.news/
00:00 Intro
02:33 What is AI populism?
05:29 Why people are protesting data centers
09:11 Incidents of violence
12:11 What industrial revolution can teach us
22:14 Why people are anxious about AI
29:04 Social contracts in the AI era
34:41 China’s approach to AI
40:12 AI populism and American politics
We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.
And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube.
Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members
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.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.
Subscribe to our channel! goo.gl/0bsAjO
In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who argues that public attitudes toward AI are undergoing a fundamental shift. Jasmine argues that AI is seen not simply as a technology to adopt, but as an elite political project to resist. The two discuss “AI populism,” the parallels with the Industrial Revolution, how public opinion about AI may affect US politics, and how the leaders of Silicon Valley are unprepared for the growing backlash against AI.
Guest Host: Miles Bryan, Vox reporter and senior producer
Guest:Jasmine Sun, journalist
Find Jasmine’s Substack here: https://jasmi.news/
00:00 Intro
02:33 What is AI populism?
05:29 Why people are protesting data centers
09:11 Incidents of violence
12:11 What industrial revolution can teach us
22:14 Why people are anxious about AI
29:04 Social contracts in the AI era
34:41 China’s approach to AI
40:12 AI populism and American politics
We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.
And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube.
Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members
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.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
