About this episode
Kate Lindsay and Ed Zitron discuss the limitations of AI detection tools in the context of recent writing scandals.
On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Ed Zitron, host of the podcast Better Offline and a certified hater of AI. After yet another AI writing scandal, this time involving the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story prize, Kate and Ed take a closer look at tools like Pangram that claim to detect AI writing with 99% accuracy. But if we can’t ever be sure, then no one knows what’s true at all—and that’s exactly how these institutions like it. This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Kate Lindsay
Guest: Ed Zitron
Topics covered
- AI detection
- writing scandals
- truth in media
- AI criticism
- literary prizes
Keywords
- AI detectors
- writing
- scandal
- truth
- Pangram
- Commonwealth Short Story prize
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Better Offline, Pangram, Slate Podcasts
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