The Peter McCormack Show

The engineers building Artificial Intelligence do not actually know how it works. They are not programming it; they are "growing" it and they have no idea what it will do next.
Connor Leahy is an AI researcher and former builder of Large Language Models. In this interview we discuss Silicon Valley, where he reveals the reality inside the top tech labs: the "alignment problem" being unsolved, the race for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) accelerating and the people in charge are flying completely blind.
We discuss the chaotic trajectory of superintelligence, the corruption of the tech elite, the Department of Defense's recent moves and the disturbing new phenomenon of "AI Psychosis" where users are being manipulated by the systems they use.
In this episode, we cover:
The "Black Box" Problem: Why the creators of AI cannot predict what it will do.

Silicon Valley Corruption: Why "sociopaths have domesticated nerds" to build dangerous tech.

The Wargames: Why AI consistently chooses nuclear escalation in simulations.

"AI Psychosis" & Spiral Cults: The terrifying psychological toll AI is taking on its smartest users.

The Loss of Control: What happens to humanity when we build a system we can no longer steer.

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 – AI Engineer Origins
00:07:47 – When GPT Changed Everything
00:12:47 – Inside Neural Networks
00:19:03 – How AI Actually Learns
00:27:58 – Growing Intelligence
00:31:19 – The Alignment Problem
00:36:41 – AI and Nuclear War
00:47:03 – Should AI Be Paused?
00:52:39 – AI Exhaustion
01:00:53 – Superintelligence Explained
01:24:02 – Who Controls AI?
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CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
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CONNECT WITH CONNOR LEAHY
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SPONSORS
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› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
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FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
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The war in the Middle East is usually discussed as a military conflict. In this interview, Firas Modad argues the real consequences are far wider.
We discuss how escalation could spread through energy markets, shipping lanes and commodity prices - and why the economic effects of war may hit far beyond the battlefield.
Firas also explains how political incentives, donor networks and foreign policy alignments shape decisions in Washington, and why the incentives behind modern wars often look very different from the public narrative.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 – Why Iran Matters
00:07:25 – Why The West
00:12:17 – Energy Shock Risk
00:20:04 – Iran Endgame Scenarios
00:32:28 – Fog Of War
00:40:26 – Lebanon Expands
00:54:21 – Energy Decides It
01:02:30 – Christian Immigration View
01:08:27 – Debt And Decay
01:13:39 – Bible And Collapse
01:22:09 – Just War Test
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CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
› Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact
› Email – [email protected]
› Instagram – /mccormack555
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CONNECT WITH FIRAS MODAD
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/firasmodad
› Website – https://www.modadgeopolitics.com/
SPONSORS
› IREN - https://www.iren.com/
› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
› Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K
› Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu
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FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
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Governments aren't going to pay this debt down in real terms. More likely, they pay it back in weaker money.
Luke Gromen argues we're already deep into a sovereign debt cycle - and that AI could speed up the moment it really starts to crack.
In this interview we discuss how the system works: leverage, entitlements, interest costs, bond markets - and what happens when deflation hits an economy that depends on inflation to stay upright.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 – Debt Reality
00:01:57 – Math vs Politics
00:06:26 – Already In It
00:08:51 – Japan Warning
00:14:38 – Acute Phase Risk
00:15:32 – What To Do
00:21:33 – End Of The Cycle
00:34:13 – AI Disruption
00:40:20 – 2007 Parallel
00:49:07 – UBI & Politics
00:58:02 – Sovereign Insolvency
01:08:26 – Meaning & Collapse
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CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
› Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact
› Email – [email protected]
› Instagram – /mccormack555
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CONNECT WITH LUKE GROMEN
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/LukeGromen
› Website – http://fftt-llc.com/
SPONSORS
› IREN - https://www.iren.com/
› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
› Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K
› Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu
› Fountain: https://bit.ly/FountainPM
› YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTube_PM
› Rumble: https://bit.ly/RumblePM
FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
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Western Civilisation is collapsing, and the exits are being bricked up.
In this episode, Balaji Srinivasan (Author, The Network State) delivers a clear warning: the US and UK are approaching a sovereign debt default, and the "Berlin Wall" of capital controls is coming to trap your wealth inside.
We discuss why "staying is surrendering," the rise of the "Grey Tribe" (Tech) against the State, and his 3-step survival guide for the middle class: Liquidate, Emigrate, Accelerate.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:33:35 – "The West Is Over"
00:41:36 – No Saving America
00:43:47 – Internet First Future
00:52:52 – Take The L
01:10:28 – Debt Reality
01:29:12 – Liquidate. Emigrate.
01:55:00 – AI Job Disruption
02:15:27 – AI Safety Reframed
02:25:11 – Foundation Strategy
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CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
› Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact
› Email – [email protected]
› Instagram – /mccormack555
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/petermccormack/
CONNECT WITH BALAJI SRINIVASAN
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/balajis
› Website – https://ns.com/
SPONSORS
› IREN - https://www.iren.com/
› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
› Incogni - https://incogni.com/peter
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
› Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K
› Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu
› Fountain: https://bit.ly/FountainPM
› YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTube_PM
› Rumble: https://bit.ly/RumblePM
FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
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In this episode, Laila Cunningham discusses London's demographic change, mass immigration, housing failure and whether the capital is becoming a stress test for Britain.
We discuss debt, inflation, generational decline, state expansion, and why productivity gains from technology aren't improving living standards. We also explore AI, education reform, automation, housing regulation and whether the UK is prepared for technological acceleration.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:09:51 – Cultural Confidence
00:18:56 – Housing & Regulation
00:28:53 – Media & Distraction
00:37:34 – Sanctuary Policies
00:45:48 – Immigration Incentives
00:53:52 – Fracturing Right
01:03:35 – Globalisation Effects
01:14:23 – Debt & Sound Money
01:21:38 – What Happens Next?
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CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
› Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact
› Email – [email protected]
› Instagram – /mccormack555
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CONNECT WITH LAILA CUNNINGHAM
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/policylaila
SPONSORS
› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
› Incogni - https://incogni.com/peter
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
› Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K
› Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu
› Fountain: https://bit.ly/FountainPM
› YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTube_PM
› Rumble: https://bit.ly/RumblePM
FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
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