FT Tech Tonic

Hosted by Financial Times

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Episodes

263

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

We are in the midst of a digital revolution, where the line between our physical world and cyberspace is blurring. Tech Tonic is the show that investigates the promises and perils of this new technological age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

October 14, 202630 min

FT Weekend Fest: Could AI make us happier?

Could AI help us understand ourselves and each other better? Writer and philosopher Alain de Botton speaks to the FT’s Madhumita Murgia about the challenges we face navigating human relationships, and how AI might be able to help. Recorded live at the FT Weekend Festival. Tech Tonic is produced by Edwin Lane, the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 30, 202631 min

FT Weekend Fest: How AI is really changing jobs

Murad Ahmed speaks to FT journalist Sarah O’Connor about her new book ‘We Are Not Machines’, which explores the impact AI is already having on workplaces. They discuss how Swedish miners dealt with the introduction of AI-powered vehicles, and how Czech translators found AI stealing the most creative part of their job. Recorded live at the FT Weekend Festival. Tech Tonic is produced by Edwin Lane, the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 16, 202621 min

FT Weekend Fest: Is the AI boom a bubble?

AI-related investments are now worth up to half of the entire value of the S&P 500. But is the AI investment boom a bubble waiting to burst? Tim Bradshaw, the FT’s global technology correspondent, speaks to Richard Kramer, founder of Arete Research, and Ophelia Brown, founder of Blossom Capital. Recorded live at the FT Weekend Festival on 5th September 2026. Tech Tonic is produced by Edwin Lane, the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 15, 202629 min

Rewiring sport: Hi-tech cheating

At the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas earlier this year, athletes used performance-enhancing drugs and banned equipment in an attempt to break world records. At the same time, companies such as Adidas are designing new types of equipment that fall within the rules, but give athletes an edge. So where is the line between cheating and innovation? This season of Tech Tonic is hosted by Josh Noble and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. Clips: Enhanced Games Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 8, 202625 min

Rewiring sport: Is tech ruining sports fandom?

Video-assistant refereeing (VAR) has proved to be one of the most controversial pieces of technology ever introduced in sports. But with the rise of everything from broadcasting gimmicks to data-driven gambling, it’s far from the only technology changing what it means to be a fan. The FT’s sports editor Josh Noble asks whether these advancements are making sport more fun to watch, or overshadowing the event itself. This season of Tech Tonic is hosted by Josh Noble and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. Special thanks to David Sheppard and Florian Müller. Clips: Wimbledon, BBC SPFL, Sky, TNT Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 1, 202626 min

Rewiring sport: How technology is helping athletes break barriers

For decades, sportspeople have been getting fitter, faster and reaching ever-higher levels of performance. But as the margin between winning and losing shrinks, athletes are turning to technology to make the difference. In this new season of Tech Tonic, Josh Noble explores how advanced ‘supershoes’ are helping to break marathon records, how young players are using AI to catch the eye of recruiters in the ultra-competitive world of American football, and how UFC is finding new ways to keep fighters healthier for longer. This season of Tech Tonic is hosted by Josh Noble and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. Clips: BBC, British Pathé, MMA World, Fight Network, @SportsRecruits Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 24, 20260 min

Coming soon: Rewiring sport

Are technological advances in sport leaving athletes, fans and competition itself better off? Or are they undermining the spirit of sport? With the World Cup underway, the FT’s sports editor Josh Noble presents a three-part series looking at how tech is transforming sports, from AI-enabled scouting and automated refereeing, to supershoes and performance-enhancing drugs. This season of Tech Tonic is hosted by Josh Noble and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 3, 202628 min

AI Labs: Zuckerberg’s $100bn gamble

Mark Zuckerberg created the world’s biggest social media company in Facebook, before deciding the future lay in the metaverse. Now he’s spending hundreds of billions of dollars to transform Meta again, this time into an AI company. Will it work? Murad Ahmed speaks to FT tech reporters Cristina Criddle and Hannah Murphy about Zuckerberg’s efforts to catch up in the AI race, and whether his vision of ‘personal superintelligence’ will win over consumers. FT articles free to read: Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s turbulent bet on AI Meta releases first AI model since Zuckerberg’s spending spree Meta to mine AI interactions to help target advertising Tech Tonic is hosted by Murad Ahmed and produced by Edwin Lane. The executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Tell us what you think of Tech Tonic! Complete this short survey and you’ll get the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones. Prize draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy . Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 202624 min

AI Labs: Elon Musk wants AI in space

Elon Musk’s xAI is lagging behind the likes of OpenAI and Google DeepMind in the AI race. Will a giant IPO of SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, change all that? Murad Ahmed speaks to FT technology correspondent Hannah Murphy and the FT’s bureau chief in San Francisco Stephen Morris. FT articles free to read: Inside SpaceX’s audacious IPO plan Elon Musk pushes out more xAI founders as AI coding effort falters ‘The race is on’: will Elon Musk be the first to put a data centre in space? Tech Tonic is hosted by Murad Ahmed and produced by Edwin Lane. The executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Tell us what you think of Tech Tonic! Complete this short survey and you’ll get the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones. Prize draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy . Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 202628 min

AI Labs: Sam Altman may make or break OpenAI

OpenAI sparked the generative AI boom with the release of ChatGPT. But along the way its chief executive Sam Altman has ruffled plenty of feathers. Colleagues have left to set up rival labs, co-founders have sued him in court and his own company even tried to sack him. Now OpenAI’s early lead in the AI race is evaporating. Can it stay ahead of its rivals, and is Altman the right person to lead the AI revolution? FT articles free to read: Elon Musk loses OpenAI case after 2 hours of jury deliberations OpenAI investors question $852bn valuation as strategy shifts OpenAI chief Sam Altman: ‘This is genius-level intelligence’ Tech Tonic is hosted by Murad Ahmed and produced by Edwin Lane. The executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Tell us what you think of Tech Tonic! Complete this short survey and you’ll get the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones. Prize draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy . Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.