Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?

How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads.  Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Alex Davies, author of Driven: The Race To Create the Autonomous Car. Chris Urmson, co-founder and C.E.O. of Aurora. Don Burnette, founder and C.E.O. of Kodiak AI. PJ Vogt, reporter, writer, and host of the Search Engine podcast. Sebastian Thrun, roboticist, C.E.O. of Sage AI Labs, adjunct faculty at Stanford University. Timothy B. Lee, author of Understanding AI newsletter.   RESOURCES: "Very few of Waymo’s most serious crashes were Waymo’s fault," by Kai Williams (Understand AI, 2025). Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car, by Alex Davies (2021). "An Oral History of the Darpa Grand Challenge, the Grueling Robot Race That Launched the Self-Driving Car," by Alex Davies (WIRED, 2017). Understanding AI, newsletter on Substack. Waymo Safety Dashboard.   EXTRAS: "The Fascinatingly Mundane Secrets of the World’s Most Exclusive Nightclub," by Freakonomics Radio (2024). Search Engine, podcast by PJ Vogt. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it.   SOURCES: Kati Daffan, former assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Marketing Practices. Marti DeLiema, assistant professor of social work at the University of Minnesota. Mark Frank, professor of communications at the University at Buffalo.   RESOURCES: "Cambodian Scam Tycoon Wanted by U.S. Extradited to China," by Gabriele Steinhauser (Wall Street Journal, 2026). "The Rise and Fall Of Accused Cambodian Scam Kingpin Chen Zhi," by Low De Wei (Bloomberg, 2026). "Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025," by the Federal Trade Commission (2025). "Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show," by Jeff Horwitz (Reuters, 2025). "Exposed to Scams: What Separates Victims from Non-victims?," by Marti DeLiema, Emma Fletcher, Christine Kieffer, Gary Mottola, Rubens Pessanha, and Melissa Trumpower (Stanford Center on Longevity, 2019). "Why do Nigerian Scammers Say They are from Nigeria?," by Cormac Herley (Microsoft Research, 2016). Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2013). FTC Fraud Reporting Portal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate.   SOURCES: Joel Mokyr, economic historian at Northwestern University.   RESOURCES: Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000, by Avner Greif, Joel Mokyr, and, Guido Tabellini (2025). "The Outsize Role of Immigrants in US Innovation," by Shai Bernstein, Rebecca Diamond, Abhisit Jiranaphawiboon, Timothy McQuade, and Beatriz Pousada (NBER, 2023). A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy, by Joel Mokyr (2016). Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson (2012). "The Economics of Being Jewish," by Joel Mokyr (Critical Review, 2011). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.   SOURCES: Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. Jack Farchy, energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News. RESOURCES: The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources, by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021) The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich, by Daniel Ammann (2010). EXTRAS: "How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update)" by Freakonomics Radio (2024). "The First Great American Industry," by Freakonomics Radio (2023). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth.   SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor.   RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir, by Werner Herzog (2023).   EXTRAS: "When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries?" by Freakonomics Radio (2025). "Werner Herzog Thinks His Films Are a Distraction," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle.   SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, co-founder and president of Every Cure, physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Heather Stone, health science policy analyst at the Food & Drug Administration. Sarrin Chethik, senior policy analyst at the Market Shaping Accelerator.   RESOURCES: Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir, by David Fajgenbaum (2019). Strong Medicine: Creating Incentives for Pharmaceutical Research on Neglected Diseases, by Michael Kremer and Rachel Glennerster (2016). Market Shaping Accelerator. CURE ID Registry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard Thaler, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. RESOURCES:Nudge: The Final Edition, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (2021).Sludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do About It, by Cass Sunstein (2021)."Sludge: Americans Spend 11.4 Billion Hours Filling Out Federal Paperwork," by Cass Sunstein (Big Think, 2021)."Carbon Taxation in Sweden," by Government Offices of Sweden Ministry of Finance (2021)."The Climate Club: How to Fix a Failing Global Effort," by William Nordhaus (Foreign Affairs, 2020)."Organ Donation: Presumed Consent and Focusing on What Matters," by Rebecca Brown (The Journal of Medical Ethics Blog, 2017). EXTRAS:"Sludge," series by Freakonomics Radio (2025).“People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard. (Ep. 340 Rebroadcast),” by Freakonomics Radio (2018). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The science says no, at least not in the athletic sense. But the psychic benefits can be large — just ask former N.F.L. star Ricky Williams. He says athletes should consider cannabis a healing drug, not a party drug. Even the N.F.L. is starting to agree. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Angela Bryan, professor, associate chair for faculty development in the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder.Ricky Williams, former N.F.L. running back, founder of Highsman. RESOURCES:"Using A Lab On Wheels To Study Weed From Dispensaries," by Science Friday (2024)."Exercise-induced euphoria and anxiolysis do not depend on endogenous opioids in humans," by Michael Siebers, Sarah Biedermann, Laura Bindila, Beat Lutz, and Johannes Fuss (Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2021)."Endocannabinoids mediate runner’s high," by Sudhakaran Prabakaran (Science Signaling, 2015)."Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions," by Angela Bryan, Arielle Gilman, and Kent Hutchison (Sports Medicine, 2015).Run Ricky Run, documentary (2010). EXTRAS:"Is America Switching from Booze to Weed?" series by Freakonomics Radio (2024). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In sports, the rules are meant to be sacrosanct. But when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, the slope is super-slippery. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:April Henning, associate professor of international sport management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.Aron D'Souza, founder of the Enhanced Games.Floyd Landis, former professional cyclist, founder of Floyd's of Leadville.Louisa Thomas, staff writer at The New Yorker. RESOURCES:Doping: A Sporting History, by April Henning and Paul Dimeo (2022)."The Man Who Brought Down Lance Armstrong," by Matt Hart (The Atlantic, 2018).Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong, by Juliet Macur (2014).Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France, by Floyd Landis (2007).Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (1865). EXTRAS:"Has Lance Armstrong Finally Come Clean?" by Freakonomics Radio (2018). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They used to be the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, with paychecks to match. Now their salaries are near the bottom, and their careers are shorter than ever. In this updated episode from 2025, we speak with an analytics guru, an agent, an economist, and some former running backs to understand why. SOURCES:Brian Burke, sports data scientist at ESPN.Roland Fryer, professor of economics at Harvard University.LeSean McCoy, former running back in the N.F.L., co-host for Fox's daily studio show, "The Facility."Robert Smith, former running back for the Minnesota Vikings, N.F.L. analyst.Robert Turbin, former running back, N.F.L. analyst for CBS Sports HQ, college football announcer.Jeffery Whitney, founder and president at The Sports & Entertainment Group. RESOURCES:"The Economics of Running Backs," by Roland Fryer (Wall Street Journal, 2024).Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper, by Stephen Dubner (2007).The Rest of the Iceberg: An Insider’s View on the World of Sports and Celebrity, by Robert Smith (2004). EXTRAS:"Roland Fryer Refuses to Lie to Black America," by Freakonomics Radio (2022)."Why Does the Most Monotonous Job in the World Pay $1 Million?" by Freakonomics Radio (2022). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.