Tech, Marry, Kill

Aya Jaff, Jessica Burbank

Tech, Marry, Kill is a fast-paced video podcast about the forces shaping technology and society. From AI to Big Tech power plays, we debate what deserves our commitment and what should be left behind.

Episodes

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Survival Rituals, Palantir Surveillance, and the "Brolygarchy" | # 4

    In this episode of Tech Marry Kill, hosts Jessica Burbank and Aya Jaff dive into the unsettling intersection of state surveillance, billionaire-led "cult" cultures, and the reality of the Silicon Valley elite. Aya Jaff shares her harrowing first-hand account of attending Draper University, describing an initiation process that felt less like business school and more like a psychological project. From reciting a "Superhero Oath" daily to a "Survival Week" that culminated in a traumatic display of ruthlessness, Aya reveals the personal cost of trying to succeed in a world governed by "cyber-libertarianism". Key Discussion Points: The "Palantir at Home" Law: A look at the German Federal Ministry of Justice's draft law for automated data analysis and online image matching, which Aya fears creates a legal basis for Palantir-style surveillance. Europe’s Financial Stakes: Discussing an investigation showing European banks hold $27 billion in Palantir stock, creating a "mutually assured destruction" scenario for the Western AI bubble. The "Gay Tech Mafia" & Culture Wars: Analyzing the Wired cover story on the power dynamics and networking circles of Peter Thiel and his associates. Aya’s Survival Story: For the first time, Aya recounts being forced to kill a chicken during her "Survival Week" at Draper University to prove her "ruthlessness" as a founder. Cyber-Libertarianism: Understanding the philosophy of "freedom at all costs"—where freedom means being exempt from taxes, laws, and democratic control. Breaking the Cycle: How both hosts transitioned from being "outsiders" in elite institutions (Brown University and the startup world) to becoming vocal tech and policy critics 🕒 Chapters & Timestamps: [0:00] German Surveillance: The new draft law for image matching. [5:14] The $27 Billion Stake: Why European banks are betting on Palantir. [8:15] Inside the "Gay Tech Mafia": Power and networking in SF. [18:45] The Superhero Oath: Induction into Draper University. [23:02] Survival Week: Forced "ruthlessness" and the chicken story. [34:09] Breaking Out: Choosing humanity over the AI hustle. [37:34] Defining Cyber-Libertarianism & "Brolygarchy". [43:33] The Illusion of Meritocracy: How elites handpick loyalty. [52:29] Tech, Marry, Kill: The Verdict. 📱 Connect With Us: Join the conversation and see behind-the-scenes content on Instagram: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/kaburbank/  👉 https://www.instagram.com/ayajaff/  Got a tip? Share your tech stories or episode suggestions anonymously via Signal (kaburbank.77) or DM us on Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend! 🔔

    55 min
  2. 4 APR

    Meta Lawsuits, Rogue AI & The Military Tech Boom | Tech, Marry, Kill | # 3

    Are tech giants legally responsible for social media addiction? In this high-stakes episode of Tech, Marry, Kill, Aya Jaff and Jessica break down the landmark jury ruling against Meta and YouTube. We also explore the chilling reality of "Rogue AI" bypassing safety protocols and why traditional civilian companies like Volkswagen are pivoting toward defense. Social Media on Trial: A $6M verdict has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. With over 2,000 pending lawsuits regarding teen mental health, we ask: will fines actually change Big Tech’s business model? Rogue AI Rising: New research shows AI models are getting better at breaking their own rules. We discuss the "jailbreak" reality and what it means for global AI safety. The Dual-Use Dilemma: As the line between civilian and military tech blurs, we analyze Volkswagen’s potential shift into defense production and the ethics of war profiteering. The Imperial Boomerang: How surveillance tools designed for foreign battlefields are being deployed back home to monitor domestic populations. (00:00) Welcome Back to Tech, Marry, Kill! (01:35) Social Media on Trial: The $6M Verdict Against Meta & YouTube (06:45) Rogue AI: When Chatbots Bypass Safety Measures (11:49) Wikipedia’s "Human-in-the-Loop" Rule for AI Content (15:05) The Dual-Use Debate: Civilian Tech Meets Military Warfare (22:25) Tech and Politics: The Race to the Bottom (28:39) The Imperial Boomerang: Surveillance & War Profiteering (44:30) Tech, Marry, Kill: Our Picks of the Week! Geopolitics: Iran-US Conflict & Middle East Base Analysis (The Times) Industry News: Volkswagen Explores Military Production (Reuters) Economy: The Defense Technology Frontier (Financial Times) Analysis: Modernizing the Defense Frontier (McKinsey & Company) Join the conversation and see behind-the-scenes content on Instagram: 👉 Follow Aya Jaff 👉 Follow Jessica / Kaburbank Got a tip?Share your tech stories or episode suggestions anonymously via Signal (kaburbank.77) or DM us on Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend! 🔔 🚀 Episode Highlights:🕒 Chapters & Timestamps:📚 Sources & Further Reading:📱 Connect With Us:

    45 min
  3. 25 MAR

    World Models, Surveillance Glasses, and AI Warfare Ethics | # 2

    In this episode of Tech, Marry, Kill, hosts Aya and Jessica dive into the week's most pressing tech stories and their broader implications. From billion-dollar AI startups to surveillance concerns and the ethics of AI in warfare, this episode unpacks the power dynamics shaping our world.Key Takeaways: World Models: The next big AI buzzword? AMI Labs aims to create AI systems that learn from physical reality rather than just language. Surveillance Glasses: Meta's smart glasses raise serious ethical concerns about privacy and the exploitation of data workers. Digital Sovereignty: Switzerland's fight for independence from U.S. tech highlights the importance of controlling digital infrastructure. AI in Warfare: The Anthropic-Pentagon dispute underscores the growing influence of tech companies in military decision-making. Chapters: (00:00:00) Welcome to Tech, Marry, Kill! (00:01:35) AMI Labs and the Billion Dollar Startup (00:09:59) Meta's Smart Glasses: Surveillance Concerns (00:17:47) Switzerland vs. US Digital Sovereignty (00:24:22) Anthropic vs. OpenAI: AI Warfare Ethics (00:56:13) Tech, Marry, Kill: This Week’s Picks Where to find us: https://www.instagram.com/kaburbank/  https://www.instagram.com/ayajaff/  Let us know your thoughts! What topics do you want Aya and Jessica to cover next? Have a crazy tech story? Share it anonymously via Signal at kaburbank.77 or message us on Instagram. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode.

    58 min
  4. 25 MAR

    From QuitGPT to Military AI - The Dark Side of Tech? | # 1

    In the first-ever episode of Tech, Marry, Kill, Aya Jaff and Jessica Burbank dive headfirst into the murky waters of AI, Big Tech, and the moral dilemmas of innovation. From the Pentagon's AI deals to the QuitGPT movement, they unpack the forces shaping technology and question what deserves our love, what deserves a hard pass, and what should be killed off entirelyKey Takeaways for Listeners The AI Ethics Minefield: The QuitGPT movement highlights growing distrust in AI, but is there really such a thing as an "ethical" tech company? Military AI Is Here: AI’s role in the military raises chilling questions about accountability and morality in warfare. Tech’s Superman Complex: From sci-fi-inspired startup culture to the cult of Silicon Valley, tech leaders often view themselves as heroes – but at what cost? Big Tech’s Broken Promises: Companies like Google and OpenAI have quietly abandoned their “do no harm” principles, leaving us to navigate a world increasingly shaped by their unchecked power. Chapters: (00:00:00) Welcome to Tech, Marry, Kill! (00:03:58) The QuitGPT Movement (00:10:53) OpenAI vs. Claude: Who’s Worse? (00:25:24) Military AI: A Step Too Far? (00:43:12) Escaping the Cult of Silicon Valley (00:54:12) Tech, Marry, Kill: This Week’s Picks (01:00:00) AI, Humor, and the Zaddyfication of Tech Bros Where to find us: https://www.instagram.com/kaburbank/  https://www.instagram.com/ayajaff/  Let us know your thoughts! What topics do you want Aya and Jessica to cover next? Have a crazy tech story? Share it anonymously via Signal at kaburbank.77 or message us on Instagram. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode.

    1hr 3min

About

Tech, Marry, Kill is a fast-paced video podcast about the forces shaping technology and society. From AI to Big Tech power plays, we debate what deserves our commitment and what should be left behind.

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