Ex-New York Times Journalist Explains the Psychology of Billionaire AI CEOs

Rich Roll

Apr 13, 2026

Episode description

Nick Bilton is a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair, New York Times bestselling author, and screenwriter currently working with Martin Scorsese on a film about the Hawaiian mob starring Dwayne Johnson. We discuss the power of story, Silicon Valley's reality distortion field, the existential risks of AI, and more. READ MORE👉🏼http://bit.ly/richroll981
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:13 Billionaires as Master Storytellers
00:05:22 Reality Distortion Fields & Tech Titans
00:10:31 The Dangers of Tech Mythmaking
00:18:29 AI, OpenAI, and the Race for AGI
00:22:01 Incentive Structures & Media Extremism
00:25:13 Social Media’s Harm & Tech Responsibility
00:26:46 Sponsor Break
00:31:00 Nick’s ADHD & Multidisciplinary Career
00:33:15 Work Habits & Writer’s Block in the Age of AI
00:35:36 Nick’s Troubled Youth & Turning Point
00:39:34 Imposter Syndrome & Meaningful Encounters
00:41:06 Art School & Creative Beginnings
00:42:42 Early Career & The War Photographer Dream
00:45:15 Transition to Tech Journalism
00:47:23 Unlikely Path to NYT Columnist
00:49:26 Advice for Aspiring Writers
00:54:24 Visual Storytelling & Dyslexia
00:55:27 The Craft of Storytelling
00:58:16 The Godfather & Screenwriting Challenges
01:01:23 The State of the Book Industry
01:06:05 Sponsor Break 2
01:09:03 AI’s Existential Risks
01:13:29 Speculating on AI Catastrophe Scenarios
01:19:00 AI in Creative Work & Writers’ Rooms
01:27:12 Interviewing Dead Characters with AI
01:29:09 Will AI Replace Human Creativity?
01:33:55 The Recursive Loop of AI Degradation
01:37:21 AI, Storytelling, and Manipulation
01:40:00 Rapid AI Advancement & Human Powerlessness
01:47:12 Advice for the Next Generation
01:49:30 Finding Meaning Amid Uncertainty
01:54:02 Appreciating the Present & Technology’s Downside
01:55:20 Collaborating with The Rock & Scorsese
01:57:52 Conclusion & Plugs

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Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
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