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Artists And Criminals Sci-fi authors like William Gibson foresaw what the Internet would bring. Inspired by their visions, NPR's Laura Sydell set out to see what artists and criminals think about and do with technology.
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Artists And Criminals

Artists And Criminals: On The Cutting Edge Of Tech

Sci-fi writer William Gibson says the best way to imagine new technologies and how they could affect society is not through current expertise but by talking to "either artists or criminals." Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images hide caption

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Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Opinion

All Tech Considered

Artists And Criminals: On The Cutting Edge Of Tech

Sci-fi authors like William Gibson foresaw what the Internet would bring. Inspired by their visions, NPR's Laura Sydell set out to see what artists and criminals think about and do with technology.

Artists And Criminals: On The Cutting Edge Of Tech

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The Father Of The Internet Sees His Invention Reflected Back Through A 'Black Mirror'
Jenn Liv for NPR

All Tech Considered

The Father Of The Internet Sees His Invention Reflected Back Through A 'Black Mirror'

The titans of Silicon Valley have a grand vision of the future. But they have a tendency to miss the downside of their inventions — think cybercrime and online harassment.

The Father Of The Internet Sees His Invention Reflected Back Through A 'Black Mirror'

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This 'Gray Hat' Hacker Breaks Into Your Car — To Prove A Point
Jenn Liv for NPR

All Tech Considered

This 'Gray Hat' Hacker Breaks Into Your Car — To Prove A Point

Everything from cars to thermostats is being connected to the Internet, raising security concerns. Samy Kamkar, who once hacked MySpace, hopes exposing vulnerabilities will make these things safer.

This 'Gray Hat' Hacker Breaks Into Your Car — To Prove A Point

Listen · 7:02
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Sometimes We Feel More Comfortable Talking To A Robot
Jenn Liv for NPR

All Tech Considered

Sometimes We Feel More Comfortable Talking To A Robot

Artist Alexander Reben wants to know whether a robot could fulfill our deep need for companionship. He created a robot named BlabDroid that asks people to share their raw emotions and deep secrets.

Sometimes We Feel More Comfortable Talking To A Robot

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An Artist Sees Data So Powerful It Can Help Us Pick Better Friends
Jenn Liv for NPR

All Tech Considered

An Artist Sees Data So Powerful It Can Help Us Pick Better Friends

It can feel intrusive to have so much data collected about us, but Laurie Frick is optimistic about how big data will evolve. She says it could help us evaluate how we respond to other people.

An Artist Sees Data So Powerful It Can Help Us Pick Better Friends

Listen · 7:30
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An Anarchist Explains How Hackers Could Cause Global Chaos
Jenn Liv for NPR

All Tech Considered

An Anarchist Explains How Hackers Could Cause Global Chaos

On the TV show Mr. Robot, the lead character is a hacker who breaks into computer systems to promote a cause. Real-life hacktivist Barrett Brown believes the U.S. government is fundamentally corrupt.

An Anarchist Explains How Hackers Could Cause Global Chaos

Listen · 7:24
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