The Era of Ambitious AI-Powered Cons Arrives

In a thwarted Marco Rubio impersonation, a new twist on a French-Israeli conman's legendary ploy.

Jul 9 • 

Evan Ratliff

12

April 2025

What's a little scamming among friends?

AI Evan becomes a mentor, plus: a Webby nomination for the podcast, go vote!

Apr 4 • 

Shell Game

4

February 2025

When AI doomerism spirals into violence

The backstory of my two years on the trail of the Zizians for WIRED, and a personal history of the ideas that set them on a path to mayhem.

Feb 25 • 

Evan Ratliff

13

2

January 2025

And how does that make you feel?

As AI’s are increasingly used as counselors and confidants, the research struggles to keep up.

Jan 27 • 

Evan Ratliff

2

December 2024

Guided by Voices

I looked into whether OpenAI was using my voice, and discovered how quickly human-AI bonds can form.

Dec 24, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

2

7:54

AI Granny to the rescue?

A UK phone company launched an AI voice agent to intercept scams. Will it do any good?

Dec 11, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

5

November 2024

Satoshi and the Dangers of Narrative Momentum

A new documentary claimed to unmask Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Does the evidence back it up?

Nov 18, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

6

October 2024

Machine vs. machine

Can AI voice detection software work on my clone, and the voice agents that call it?

Oct 31, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

4:00

Voice agents in the NYT, and the twisting tale of a lawsuit over AI origins

Two Shell Game-adjacent articles, in other venues.

Oct 16, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

1

How do I know this is actually you?

Plus: A new scam and spam call feed for paying subscribers

Oct 10, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

7

AI Evan's conversations with scammers and spammers

A running feed of good times and madness

Oct 10, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

3

Auto-generated AI podcasts have arrived

Plus: Shell Game on the Pivot podcast, a dream review Down Under, and a shout in The New Yorker

Oct 1, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

18

3