A young tech entrepreneur rises early, grabs earbuds, makes her way to the outdoor park for a 5-mile run and hits play to continue the illuminating episode of the Lex Fridman podcast interviewing Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI.
Podcasts not only offer convenience but also help listeners stay updated on the latest industry information while on the go.
The history of podcasting can be traced back to 2004 when two friends, Adam Curry – a former MTV VJ, and Dave Winer – a software developer), hoped to find a way to download online radio broadcasts to an iPod. Back then iPods were all the rage, considered a game-changing device released in 2001.
They blended the term iPod and broadcast together and came up with the word ‘podcast’ which has now become a household name.
That’s why Adam and Dave are credited as inventors of podcasts. This paved the way for users to listen to radio broadcasts on-demand and on the go, all from their iPods.
Podcast listeners have grown by 29.5% in just the last three years. Now, technology-themed podcasts are on the rise.
With AI being the talk of the town, many companies, analysts, and experts have divulged into AI-themed podcasts.
The rise of AI podcasts
The rise of AI podcasts is owed to the accelerating advancements in artificial intelligence technology, which have captured the public's interest and curiosity. Listeners tune in to podcasts to hear experts explain new AI developments and simplify the technology for both adept AI users and enthusiasts interested in the field.
The increasing popularity of podcasting as a medium has created a receptive audience for AI-related content. Podcasts allow listeners to consume information at their own pace, making them ideal for learning about complex topics like AI.
These AI podcasts usually cover a range of topics including machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, ethical considerations, real-world applications, industry news and trends, and expert interviews.
The diversity of AI topics discussed in such audio/video-based content contributes to the growth and popularity of AI podcasts, strengthening their position as a valuable resource for staying informed about the field
What makes a good AI podcast?
An AI podcast can be considered compelling when the hosts ensure the conversation remains relevant to the subject and is easily comprehensible to both skilled AI users and new enthusiasts.
The context of each conversation often adheres to certain qualities including spotlighting informative content on a niche AI subject, ensuring guests are not only engaging but also able to discuss AI projections and present their area of AI expertise uniquely and simply.
Such insights help engineers, scientists, researchers, students business executives, and now also individuals interested in AI who may not have a scientific background.
Overall, AI podcasts provide valuable insights into the latest AI developments, feature experts in the field, and have high-quality audio or video. They tend to encourage interaction with listeners through social media or in-podcast discussions to help create a sense of community, ultimately fostering a more dynamic listening experience.
Best AI podcasts
Here are ten of the best AI podcasts you can listen to today, ranked on the quality of their episodes, guests, and popularity with listeners.
The AI Podcast by NVIDIA
The AI Podcast is a renowned podcast series launched by NVIDIA, an American multinational corporation and technology company. The podcast has a large audience that includes AI researchers, developers, students, and enthusiasts. The series is hosted by Noah Kravitz, a journalist and tech expert who interviews some of the most prominent figures in the AI industry from Mikhil Raja, the CEO of SonicJobs to NVIDIA’s Annamalai Chockalingam on the Rise of LLMs.
The show dives into a variety of topics within AI such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. Their first-ever podcast, titled 'Deep Learning 101' with Will Ramey, NVIDIA's senior manager for GPU computing, was also the top-performing episode of the show. Will discusses training artificial neural networks to learn from data and NVIDIA’s undertakings accelerating deep learning training and inference.
Each episode features insightful discussions with CEOs, leading researchers, developers, and industry experts, providing listeners with valuable insights and perspectives on the field. The host, Noah, facilitates the conversation and asks questions that are relevant not only for understanding AI concepts but also for breaking them down for new developers or individuals interested in pursuing similar projects.
Data Skeptic
Data Skeptic is a popular podcast engaging in discussions on data science, statistics, and machine learning, and also features interviews with experts in the field. Hosted by Kyle Polich, a digital nomad and failed ska musician turned data scientist, the podcast specializes in covering one topic for an entire season, exploring the concept through (mostly) academic literature.
The podcast show is in its 9th year of production, bringing weekly episodes to listeners exploring seasonal topics in a deep dive into contemporary literature through the lens of data science. The show explores contemporary research examining the space from a variety of perspectives with a strong bias towards topics that overlap computer science, statistics, econometrics, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. With each season, Kyle and a new co-host pick a new research area for discussion.
The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence)
The TWIML AI Podcast started in 2016 and has since come a long way to become a leading voice in the field of AI and machine learning (ML) with over seven million downloads and a large and engaged community following. It’s hosted by Sam Charrington, an industry analyst, speaker, commentator, and thought leader.
With an audience comprising a wide-ranging community of AI and ML researchers, data scientists, engineers, tech-savvy businesses, and leading IT professionals. The show covers technological topics including machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, natural language processing, neural networks, analytics, computer science, data science, and more. Sam spotlights new and upcoming AI-powered products, AI-enabled and -enabling technology platforms with his research centering around business and consumer application of AI and ML.
Eye On AI
Eye On AI is a biweekly podcast that often features senior researchers and entrepreneurs in the deep learning space. With an audience of up to 10,000 listeners per month, the show has established itself as a leading podcast in the tech space. Craig S. Smith, a longtime New York Times correspondent hosts Eye on AI where he talks to people about making a difference in the AI space. The podcast aims to put incremental advances into a broader context and consider the global implications of developing technology.
The show aims to provide news, insights, and data on the rapidly accelerating AI industry by inviting and interviewing guest speakers who are based in the AI field as well as the financing community. One of the most popular episodes of the show titled – The Mastermind Behind GPT-4 and the Future of AI featuring Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder and chief scientist at OpenAI, discusses his vision for the future of artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models like GPT-4.
The AI in Business Podcast
The AI in Business Podcast hosted by Daniel Faggella, the CEO of Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research talks to the top AI executives from Fortune 500 companies and unicorn startups asking them about trends, use cases, and best practices for practical AI adoption. The podcast caters to non-technical business leaders who are looking to explore AI opportunities, align AI capabilities with strategy, and deliver ROI.
The show comes out weekly and provides insights into how businesses can leverage AI to improve their operations, increase efficiency, and gain a competitive edge.
AI Today Podcast
AI Today Podcast is another AI-themed podcast conversing about current AI trends. With over 3 million downloads, it’s now regarded as the top podcast on iTunes and Spotify. AI in Business Podcast launched by Cognilytica is hosted by Kathleen Walch and Ron Schmelzer.
Both Kathleen and Ron are the founders and managing partners of AI and data-focused insight and influence firm Cognilytica. They bring their expertise and insights to the show, discussing pressing topics around AI in an easy-to-digest format. The podcast's content relies on relevant information about current AI developments, featuring interviews with guests and experts who discuss the subject. The hosts cut through the hype and noise to identify what is truly happening with the adoption and implementation of AI.
In Machines We Trust
In Machines We Trust is an award-winning podcast launched by Jennifer Strong and Emma Cillekenns and co-created with MIT Technology Review. The podcast examines the far-reaching impact of AI on daily life. The host – Jennifer discusses the rise of AI with people working or dealing with the technology. She talks to inventors and founders mainly whose ambitions are majorly contributing to the new forms of AI. They explore the broader consequences often unfathomable or incomprehensible implications of AI.
The final episode of the 2023 podcast series, 'When AI Hears a Problem,' won a silver award at the Signal Awards earlier this year. The episode featuring Hilke Schellmann, investigative journalist, author of "The Algorithm" and assistant professor of Journalism at New York University explores how signals that are hidden in our voices may hold clues to how we’re doing, what we’re feeling and even what’s going on with our physical health with a focus on AI systems tasked with analyzing these signals are moving into healthcare. The series launched in 2020 began with the ambition to show the world how AI touches lives every day.
Google DeepMind: The Podcast
Google DeepMind podcast is an award-winning podcast series focused on generative AI. It's hosted by Professor Hannah Fry, an award-winning science presenter, public speaker, best-selling author, and academic renowned for her ability to bring math to life for listeners of all interests and abilities. The podcast host answers the most basic questions to complex ones such as what is gen AI, how do you create safe and capable models or if AI is overhyped? Hanna goes behind the scenes of the world-leading research lab to uncover the extraordinary ways of AI transforming the globe without the hypes or spins.
The first season began by bringing world-class scientists and thinkers as guests on the podcast, speaking publicly for the first time to explain the foundations of AI. They join Hannah in her exploration of the challenges linked to AI that have led to breakthroughs like AlphaGo and AlphaFold. The second season is centered around innovators building futuristic technology to help people with degenerative diseases, conserving the unique wildlife of the Serengeti, and taking football to the next level. While the latest season spotlights the latest AI advancements directly from the people helping to shape the planet’s collective future.
Lex Fridman Podcast
The Lex Fridman Podcast is one of the most popular podcasts which often dives into conversations about the latest advancements, ethical considerations of AI, and real-world applications of AI. Although the podcast is not exclusively AI-themed, it covers a wide range of subjects, including science, technology, history, philosophy, and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power.
The host, Lex is an AI researcher at MIT, a podcaster, and an American computer scientist. He is widely popular for interviewing some of the most renowned figures in the world, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, and many others. Lex dives into the depths of each AI subject, from its fundamentals to its far-reaching implications. He is famous for his deep, engaging interviews with influential figures, exploring complex topics, and gaining unique insights from renowned individuals.
Tech Transformed
Tech Transformed is a podcast series about all things AI and emerging technologies, launched by EM360Tech, a technology, information, and media company. It's a go-to resource for everything you need to know about AI, from its complexities to its real-world applications. Listeners can find top resources exploring how tech shapes the future of business and sharing best practices for executing these innovations with the podcast featuring top professionals like C-suite executives, tech experts and analysts on the podcast. With expert interviews, in-depth analysis, and practical advice, the show helps listeners stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions for your enterprise.
Tech Transformed aims to debunk myths, explore the latest trends, and cut through the AI noise by providing insightful discussions and analysis. Tune in to transform your understanding of technology and its potential. With weekly episodes, the podcast talks about every subject in depth, offering listeners more opportunities to discover new areas of interest and potentially adopt them into their business models or simply be inspired.
