In this episode, we explore the rise of the AI purity test, a new social instinct that quietly judges people based on how they use artificial intelligence in their work. From subtle comments about writing that feels too polished to deeper assumptions about effort and authenticity, we look at how these judgments are shaping creative and professional spaces. Through themes like Rich Reset Culture and Deepfake Normal, we examine how privilege influences who gets to reject AI and who relies on it to keep up. This is not just a story about technology but about status, design, and what it really means to think for yourself.

What if the future of AI wasn't about making machines more human, but about helping humans better understand themselves? In a world increasingly shaped by frictionless communication and emotionally polished chatbots, we’re beginning to trade the messy, imperfect, deeply human textures of interaction for something eerily seamless. This podcast explores how generative AI is not just changing how we talk—it’s quietly reshaping what we value in emotional labor, empathy, and connection. From the Eliza Effect to Her and Interstellar, we dig into the cultural and ethical stakes of designing AI that doesn't just imitate us—but influences how we define ourselves.

In a culture that often confuses performance with participation, quiet departures are becoming more common. Ghosting is no longer just avoidance—it reflects a shift toward self-preservation, emotional boundaries, and the desire for more intentional forms of presence. Amid digital fatigue and fractured generational norms, some are not just disappearing but learning how to exit with care.