AI Freaky Facts

About AI Freaky Facts

AI Freaky Facts explores how artificial intelligence reshapes everyday life in shocking and surprising ways. Each episode delivers deep-dive investigative narratives on real AI stories — from generative AI and robotics to surveillance, AI risks, and digital identity. This BBC-documentary-style podcast covers large language models, automation, and ethics, going beyond the headlines and the hype. Hosted by Steve Atwal, a former enterprise technology manager. Consistently ranked in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide. https://AIFreakyFacts.com

Publisher

Steve Atwal

Category

technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Aug 2025

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   AI Was Driving When It Crashed: Who Is Responsible [63]

   AI is driving on public roads with no one behind the wheel, yet the law still assumes a human driver. A pedestrian dies in Dallas after two vehicles strike him, and only one has a driver. A Miami jury holds Tesla partly responsible for an Autopilot crash. States disagree on who counts as the driver. Who is responsible when artificial intelligence is behind the wheel? Episode notes at: https://aifreakyfacts.com/stories/ Topics Covered: AI, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, self driving cars, driverless cars, robotaxis, AI liability, AI accountability, autonomous vehicle law, product liability, Waymo, Tesla Autopilot, Tesla Full Self Driving, Benavides v Tesla, Mercedes Drive Pilot, NHTSA crash reporting, no fault compensation, operational design domain, autonomous vehicle insurance, Cruise license revocation References: 1. Tesla hit with $243 million in damages after jury finds its Autopilot feature contributed to fatal crash (August 2025): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna222344 2. Pedestrian killed in Dallas crash involving SUV and driverless Waymo (August 2026): https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/pedestrian-killed-suv-crash-waymo-dallas/4060058/ 3. Waymo strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school; NHTSA investigates (January 2026): https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/waymo-strikes-child-santa-monica-nhtsa/3838160/ 4. Benavides v. Tesla: Judge upholds $243 million jury verdict (February 2026): https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2026/benavides-v-tesla-judge-upholds-243-million-jury-verdict.shtml 5. Standing General Order on Crash Reporting: https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/standing-general-order-crash-reporting 6. Texas Legislature — SB 2807, enrolled text, automated driving system as operator (2025): https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB2807/2025 7. New York hits the brakes on robotaxi expansion plan (February 2026): https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/19/new-york-hits-the-brakes-on-robotaxi-expansion-plan/ 8. Mercedes to accept liability when autonomous Drive Pilot is engaged (2022): https://insideevs.com/news/575160/mercedes-accepts-legal-responsibility-drive-pilot/ 9. California suspends Cruise robotaxi operations over risk to public safety (October 2023): https://www.thedrive.com/news/california-suspends-cruise-robotaxi-operations-over-risk-to-public-safety 10. Safety Impact data hub (through June 2026): https://waymo.com/safety/impact/ Music Credits: 1. "Futuristic Ambient Technology Instrumental 01" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-futuristic-ambient-technology-instrumental-01-499759/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 2. "Dark Ambient Emotions Music" (DeusLower) https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-dark-ambient-emotions-music-259996/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 3. "Background Ambient Documentary" (AKTASOK) https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-background-ambient-documentary-173954/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 4. "Unreliable Witness" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/pop-unreliable-witness-600210/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ This podcast is narrated by the host's own voice, powered by AI.

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   AI Is Watching Your Flight: The Contract Nobody Saw [62]

   AI is being handed an $875 million contract to stabilize an air traffic control system already stretched past its limit. A helicopter collision near Reagan National killed 67 people. A runway crash at LaGuardia killed 2 pilots. Controllers worked 6 day weeks without pay. The FAA is now deploying an AI system called SMART into an agency still proving it can govern itself. What happens when artificial intelligence enters the skies before the organization beneath it is ready? Episode notes at: https://aifreakyfacts.com/stories/ Topics Covered: AI in critical infrastructure, aviation safety failures, air traffic automation research, human machine trust, algorithmic explainability, government contract oversight, workforce staffing crises, public agency governance, air traffic modernization References: 1. NTSB investigation page, Reagan National midair collision (DCA25MA108). https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA25MA108.aspx 2. NTSB press release, urgent recommendations on 15,000+ near misses near Reagan National. https://www-s.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20250311.aspx 3. NPR, NTSB finds "deep" systemic failures in DCA midair collision. https://www.npr.org/2026/01/27/nx-s1-5689091/ntsb-dca-midair-collision-black-hawk-helicopter 4. CBS News, two pilots killed in LaGuardia ground vehicle collision. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laguardia-airport-closed-arrving-air-canada-plane-ground-vehicle-collide/ 5. Aviation News, FAA selects Air Space Intelligence for $875 million contract. https://aviationnews.eu/news/2026/08/faa-selects-air-space-intelligence-for-875-million-modernization-of-us-airspace-management/ 6. NPR, controllers forced off during shutdown, patriotism remarks. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/10/nx-s1-5604664/trump-air-traffic-controllers-forced-time-off-bonus 7. U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, legislation to strengthen FAA safety management system. https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/dem/release/commerce-committee-passes-legislation-to-strengthen-faas-safety-management-system/ 8. Bainbridge, L. (1983), "Ironies of Automation," full paper. https://ckrybus.com/static/papers/Bainbridge_1983_Automatica.pdf 9. Wickens, C. D. et al., Frontiers in Psychology, open access study on automation misuse and disuse. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00519/pdf 10. The Conversation, University of Cape Town study on air traffic control automation and regulation. https://theconversation.com/air-traffic-control-is-becoming-more-automated-is-regulation-keeping-up-288444 Music Credits: 1. "You Left Me" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-you-left-me-350806/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 2. "Dark Ambient Emotions Music" (DeusLower) https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-dark-ambient-emotions-music-259996/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 3. "Background Ambient Documentary" (AKTASOK) https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-background-ambient-documentary-173954/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 4. "Across the Sky" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/pop-across-the-sky-485951/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ This podcast is narrated by the host's own voice, powered by AI.

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   AI Rejected Your Resume: The Vendor Nobody Could Blame [61]

   AI rejected your resume in 24 minutes, before any human was awake to read it. A lawsuit against Workday argues the vendor itself can be held liable for discrimination, challenging the idea that employers can hide behind an algorithm they claim not to understand. This episode investigates the hidden workers filtered out by automated screening and the growing legal push to make hiring software explain its decisions. Is artificial intelligence deciding who gets a chance before a person ever does? Episode notes at: https://aifreakyfacts.com/stories/ Topics Covered: AI hiring discrimination, automated resume screening, applicant tracking systems, disparate impact, Mobley v Workday vendor liability, NYC Local Law 144 bias audits, California AI hiring rules, hidden workers research, algorithmic black box defense References: 1. The Spokesman-Review (Baltimore Sun / Tribune News Service) — AI weeds out older and minority job applicants, lawsuit against Workday claims (August 3, 2026). https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/aug/03/ai-weeds-out-older-and-minority-job-applicants-law/ 2. Fisher Phillips — Another Employer Faces AI Hiring Bias Lawsuit: 10 Actions You Can Take to Prevent AI Litigation (August 15, 2025). https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/another-employer-faces-ai-hiring-bias-lawsuit 3. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge — How to Tap the Talent Automated HR Platforms Miss. https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/how-to-tap-the-talent-automated-hr-platforms-miss 4. New York State Office of the Comptroller (official audit) — Enforcement of Local Law 144, Automated Employment Decision Tools, Report 2024-N-6 (December 2, 2025). https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/audits/2025/12/02/enforcement-local-law-144-automated-employment-decision-tools 5. DLA Piper — Critical audit of NYC's AI hiring law signals increased risk for employers (January 30, 2026). https://www.dlapiper.com/insights/publications/2026/01/critical-audit-of-nyc-ai-hiring-law-signals-increased-risk-for-employers 6. Duane Morris LLP — All Eyes on AI Discrimination Suit (Mobley v. Workday ruling analysis). https://blogs.duanemorris.com/artificialintelligence/2024/07/16/all-eyes-on-ai-discrimination-suit/ 7. CyberNews — Workday faces claims its AI screened out disabled and older job applicants. https://cybernews.com/ai-news/workday-ai-screen-disabled-older-job-applicant/ 8. Today's General Counsel — EEOC's Latest Guidance on AI in Employment and the Four-Fifths Rule. https://todaysgeneralcounsel.com/eeocs-latest-guidance-on-ai-in-employment-and-the-four-fifths-rule/ 9. Seyfarth Shaw LLP (via JD Supra) — Colorado Enacts Artificial Intelligence Replacement Law, SB 26-189 (May 2026). https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/colorado-enacts-artificial-intelligence-8404600/ 10. UNC Civil Rights Law Journal — AI and Hiring Discrimination: The Impact Artificial Intelligence Hiring Tools Will Have on Companies. https://journals.law.unc.edu/nccivilrightslaw/?p=329 Music Credits: 1. "Shaken" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-shaken-350805/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 2. "Dark Ambient Emotions Music" (DeusLower) https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-dark-ambient-emotions-music-259996/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 3. "Background Ambient Documentary" (AKTASOK) https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-background-ambient-documentary-173954/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ 4. "Aftermath" (alanajordan) https://pixabay.com/music/pop-aftermath-521171/ Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ This podcast is narrated by the host's own voice, powered by AI.

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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