BBC · Technology

The Interface

What happens when technology collides with real life? Hosted by BBC technology journalist Thomas Germain and social media expert Professor Jessica Maddox, The Interface dives into the stories, trends, apps, gadgets, algorithms and internet obsessions shaping how we live, work, think and connect. From AI and influencers to memes, data leaks, cybersecurity and the weirdest corners of the web, The Interface explores what happens when technology collides with real life. Cutting through the hype, the hosts unpack the platforms, products and online phenomena that increasingly shape our choices, our culture and our sense of self - whether we like it or not! Sharp, insightful and often very funny, The Interface examines our relationship with technology in all its messy, brilliant, absurd and world-changing glory. Along the way, it tackles one of the biggest questions of our age: what kind of future are the likes of Elon Musk, Chat GPT and all the other Silicon Valley giants building, and does anyone really want to live there?

Episodes

AI apocalypse fears and the rise of autonomous tools like Meta’s "Muse" agent are reshaping digital privacy and human agency. Industry leaders’ "P-Doom" predictions—the subjective probability of an AI-induced catastrophe—often rely on imagination rather than empirical data, serving as a strategic maneuver to influence ...

Is tech ruining the World Cup?

25 Jun 2026

37m

Teens banned from social media - what next?

18 Jun 2026

36m

Why is AI burying my CV?

11 Jun 2026

37m

What goes on in TikTok's Farlands?

04 Jun 2026

42m

Can Pope Leo save us from AI?

28 May 2026

46m

Are we entering a world without screens?

21 May 2026

42m

AI processed

Tech industry trends are shifting toward screenless, AI-integrated devices, such as rumored AirPods with cameras that allow users to interact with their environment through voice and vision. This transition parallels the rise of the "clipping" industry, where political campaigns pay gig workers to circulate short, enga...

Is AI harvesting your knowledge on the cheap?

14 May 2026

42m

Who is really paying the influencers?

07 May 2026

38m

AI processed

The AI industry is deploying a covert influence campaign, funneling millions through super PACs like "Leading the Future" to sway public opinion against Chinese AI and avoid domestic regulation. Beyond political maneuvering, heavy reliance on AI tools threatens human cognition, as the technology functions as a "shortcu...

Why is everything a conspiracy?

30 Apr 2026

36m

Is your iPhone about to change forever?

23 Apr 2026

38m

Is the new AI model really too dangerous to release?

16 Apr 2026

41m

Will algorithms increase your grocery bill?

09 Apr 2026

37m

AI processed

The podcast explores the increasing use of algorithms in pricing, potentially leading to personalized or dynamic pricing in everyday purchases like groceries. Concerns are raised about the power imbalance created as companies gather consumer data to determine individual willingness to pay, citing examples like Uber's s...

Why Can't People Stop Watching AI Fruit?

02 Apr 2026

38m

AI processed

The podcast explores the impact and future of AI-generated content, particularly in entertainment, sparked by the viral AI-generated "Fruit Love Island" show. It questions whether AI-generated content represents the future of entertainment or is merely a passing trend, considering the show's rapid rise and fall. The ho...