Signal Podcast

Anthropic built an AI model that can find hidden vulnerabilities in the software running the world's banks, power grids, and governments. They called it Mythos. Then they decided who gets access — and every country outside the US and UK found out they weren't on the list. In this episode, Joel and Stephen break down what Mythos actually does, why the geopolitical fallout was immediate and global, and what it means for the rest of us when a private company in San Francisco becomes the most important actor in global cybersecurity — whether anyone elected them to or not.

In February 2026, Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Alex Karp all faced the same external pressure — a Pentagon contract, a binary choice — and responded in completely different ways. This episode uses that moment as an entry point into a deeper question: what does a leader's behavior under real-cost, real-consequence pressure reveal that normal operations never can? Joel and Stephen go through each of the three, examining their backgrounds, what shaped them, and what their public actions that week expose about how they actually lead. From Amodei turning a government blacklisting into $5 billion in monthly revenue growth, to Altman's public walkback of a deal he'd called sloppy hours after signing it, to Karp's twenty-year track record of saying exactly what Palantir does and never flinching — the episode draws out a clear through-line: leaders who are unambiguous about what they stand for create more durable organizations than those who try to be everything to everyone.Signal — listen wherever you get your podcasts.

75% of Americans thought a college degree was essential in 2010. Today that number is 35. But the story gets stranger — the graduates struggling most right now aren't art history majors. They're computer scientists. CS unemployment sits at 6.1%, computer engineering at 7.5%. Higher than philosophy. Higher than fine arts. A decade of "learn to code" advice, and AI learned to code first.Joel and Stephen dig into what the data actually says about degrees, the job market, and why the fields everyone was told to chase are the ones under the most pressure right now. They also push back on the doomsday narrative — because the story of Excel and the ATM machine suggests we've been here before, and the ending wasn't what anyone predicted.If you're a student, a parent, a career changer, or just someone trying to make sense of where things are heading — this one's for you.Signal — listen wherever you get your podcasts.

The conversation explores the concept of responsibility in the context of autonomous systems and the implications for liability. It delves into the impact of automated driving systems on accountability and the legal and ethical considerations surrounding autonomous vehicles.TakeawaysAutonomous systems introduce a separation between human oversight and operational behavior, leading to a shift in responsibility.The legal and ethical implications of autonomous driving systems raise questions about liability and accountability.Chapters00:00 New Year Revelry and Responsibility07:24 Regulatory and Ethical Considerations