This week, in the wake of recent natural disasters, we dig into the rise of A.I.-generated slop that’s polluting the internet and disrupting rescue efforts. Then we talk with the investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback about his new documentary on the history of Bitcoin and about why, after so many others have failed, he thinks he has found the real Satoshi Nakamoto. And finally, we hear the train whistle approaching, and that can only mean one thing: It’s once again time to board the Hot Mess Express.

Guest:

  • Cullen Hoback, documentary filmmaker

Additional Reading:

Illustration by The New York Times; Photo Illustration: John M Lund Photography Inc./Getty Images

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“Hard Fork” is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton and produced by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones. The show is edited by Jen Poyant. Engineering by Chris Wood and original music by Dan Powell, Rowan Niemisto, Pat McCusker and Leah Shaw Dameron. Fact-checking by Will Peischel.

Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Dahlia Haddad and Jeffrey Miranda.