Exposing the Billionaire Funding Behind AI Safety Movements (w/ Kat Tenbarge)

In this pivotal episode of Team Human, Douglas Rushkoff sits down with investigative journalist Kat Tenbarge to unpack the hidden financial and political undercurrents behind the AI safety movement, particularly focusing on the 'Humans First' coalition. Tenbarge reveals how a group presenting itself as a grassroots, left-leaning coalition is in fact incubated by the Center for AI Safety and backed by major tech figures like Elon Musk, with significant ties to Steve Bannon and right-wing operatives like Joe Allen. She exposes the contradictions in their advocacy—supporting Ron DeSantis' controversial AI Bill of Rights, which mandates intrusive age verification systems that could exacerbate data privacy risks—while simultaneously claiming nonpartisanship. The episode also delves into Tenbarge’s own experiences as an independent journalist, detailing the psychological toll, online harassment, and legal vulnerabilities she faces while reporting on digital harms, including deepfake pornography and coordinated smear campaigns. Despite the dangers, she remains committed to truth-telling, emphasizing that real-world consequences stem from online actions and that media literacy and in-person community-building are essential antidotes to digital alienation.