Episode 38: Talking to AI Without Losing Your Mind – with Jamie Bartlett

Why prompts, psychology and sycophancy matter.

About this episode:

What happens when one of the world's leading technology writers turns his attention to AI?

In this episode, I sit down with journalist, author and broadcaster Jamie Bartlett to discuss his latest book, How to Talk to AI (And How Not To). We explore why the way we talk to AI matters, how prompting is as much about mindset as technique, and why understanding AI has become an essential skill.

Along the way, we unpack AI safety, governance and the concept of sycophancy—AI's tendency to tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear.

Whether you're already using tools like ChatGPT and Copilot or simply trying to make sense of the rapid pace of change, this conversation offers a thoughtful and refreshinglybalanced perspective on AI and its growing role in our lives and work.

About Jamie Bartlett:

Jamie is a journalist, author, broadcaster and one of the UK's leading writers on technology and society. He is the bestselling author of The Dark Net, Radicals, The People vs Tech and his latest book, How to Talk to AI (And HowNot To), which explores how AI is changing the way we think, work and create.

Jamie is also the creator and host of several acclaimed BBC and The Observer podcasts, including The Missing Cryptoqueen, the fascinating investigation into the OneCoin fraud, and End Game: Can We Leave with Artificial General Intelligence?.

Throughout his work, he examines the complex relationship between technology, power, democracy and human behaviour, helping audiences make sense of an increasingly digital world.

He is also teaching a masterclass, based on his latest book, How To Talk To AI, that will be delivered in London on September 24 and October 22, 2026.