How to Study the Phenomenon of Tech Hype
From The Tech Policy Press Podcast by Tech Policy Press
March 29, 2026 · 46 min
About this episode
The episode explores the phenomenon of tech hype, particularly in relation to AI, through the lens of various experts studying 'Hype Studies'.
AI hype is everywhere, and the CEOs of many tech firms are promising that the tech will soon eclipse human intelligence. The trillions in investment towards this goal and the massive deployment of capital and the human and natural resources it purchases both requires this kind of hype and causes it to compound. Today’s guests are studying this phenomenon from a variety of perspectives, building out a line of inquiry they call " Hype Studies ." It's the subject of an occasional series of contributions to Tech Policy Press. Guests include: Jascha Bareis , a postdoctoral political scientist at the University of Fribourg; Andreu Belsunces Gonçalves , a sociologist of design and technology pursuing a PhD at the Tecnopolítica unit of the Open University of Catalonia; Marché Arends , a South African independent investigative journalist.
People in this episode
Guests: Jascha Bareis, Andreu Belsunces Gonçalves, Marché Arends
Topics covered
- AI hype
- Hype Studies
- technology investment
- sociology of technology
- political science
- journalism
Keywords
- AI
- hype
- investment
- technology
- sociology
- political science
- journalism
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Fribourg, Tecnopolítica unit of the Open University of Catalonia
Places: South Africa
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