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Captured

The Secret Behind Silicon Valley’s AI Takeover

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Captured

By: Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockerell, Becky Lipscombe
Narrated by: Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockerell
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About this listen

Captured: The Secret Behind Silicon Valley’s AI Takeover is a thrilling journey into the hidden worlds of the tech elite, and a whistleblower’s look into the sci-fi future they’re building for all of us.

Seven years ago, a pink-haired young data analyst called Christopher Wylie blew the whistle on a company called Cambridge Analytica. The scandal he unleashed revealed how millions of Facebook users’ data was being harvested to influence elections. It was supposed to be a turning point—one where the tech companies were regulated, their power kept in check. But Silicon Valley is now more powerful than ever. President Trump is back in the White House with tech billionaire Elon Musk by his side, and the tech giants are racing to build AI systems that could give them unprecedented power over our lives.

Our destiny is being imagined for us by some of the richest and most powerful people in the world. They’re promising they can solve all our problems—end toil and suffering, and propel us into a utopia where we can live forever and never have to work.

AI has become the new religion. Are we going to follow it? Do we even have a choice? Or have the tech evangelists captured our future? Join Christopher Wylie and Coda Story’s Isobel Cockerell as they journey from exclusive crypto parties in Dubai, to the slums of Kenya where thousands of hidden workers are training AI models, to the hacker palaces of San Francisco where tech’s true believers talk about merging computers with our brains.

Note that this production incorporates limited uses of AI to illustrate how AI functions and is applied in various contexts.

©2025 Coda Story (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC
Future Studies Politics & Government Social Sciences
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Compelling and sometimes terrifying, this is a great listen - right from Chris’ opening voice memo recorded in whispered tones in a loo during a tech bro party amid an apocalyptic weather event. I don’t know whether to be more frightened of the eugenics revivalists or the cultists but this deep dive into the new religion of AI worship is essential listening. Chris & Isobel drew me in with their engaging, natural presentation and rapport with the characters they encounter. Stellar scripting too.

Urgent, necessary & human

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This was so well conceived and informative. Really important critique of the power of AI. Wonderful journalism

This was eye opening

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This podcast is honestly fascinating. Super interesting and actually made me think about AI and tech in a whole new way. The hosts are great and it’s really well put together. I couldn’t stop listening. Highly recommend if you’re into tech, power, or just good stories.

Everyone should listen to Captured!

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I was really impressed by this investigative storytelling. Learnt so much about the (kinda scary) future of AI. Highly recommend to anyone curious about where tech is taking us!

A Must-Listen!!!

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The podcast somehow manages to balance technically explanations with gripping storytelling. This is basically the story of our age so it’s refreshing to have it told through human stories. Some great (and frightening) candid interviews with industry insiders. So many insights I’d never read or heard elsewhere. Thank you!

Riveting, disturbing, brilliant

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Absolutely fascinating, in turns highly informative and a shocking listen. What have we allowed to happen and what does our collective future hold?
I was totally hooked from start to finish. Just listen, it's brilliant!

A well put together top listen.

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I found this series fascinating, insightful and enlightening, especially the part about content screening and how AI is developed. It’s also very scary when we think about where this might go in the future. Thank you for educating me.

Fascinating

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