Guest

Jaron Lanier

Computer scientist, author, and pioneer of virtual reality. Known for critical perspectives on social media, big tech, and digital culture. Advocates for data ownership and economic models that protect individual rights in the digital age.

Known For

Virtual reality pioneerCritique of social media business modelsData ownership advocacyTech ethicsDigital humanism

Canon

AI Expands the Demand Frontier Rather Than Simply Replacing Work

Canon

False Information Spreads Faster and Further Than Truth

Canon

Books

■You Are Not a Gadget(2010)

■Who Owns the Future?(2013)

■Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now(2018)

Episodes

##498 — More From Sam: Bond Villains, Useful Idiots, Firing Squads, and MoreOct 14, 2026 ##489 — More From Sam: A Fabulist at Cambridge, the Strait of Hormuz, AOC in 2028, and MoreAug 21, 2026 ##477 — More From Sam: Iran's Unraveling, The Gaza Information War, AI-Generated Music, and MoreMay 26, 2026 #More From Sam: Hasan Piker, Islamism, Making Sense Community, and MoreMay 7, 2026