A dying dog, a desperate owner, and an LLM walk into an oncology lab — and somehow it works. This week we’re still celebrating AI’s good side, alongside the usual chaos: CEO shake-ups, OpenAI’s romantic misfires, and Anthropic accidentally spilling the secrets of its most dangerous model. Disclaimer: The medical treatment discussed in this episode is anecdotal. Consult a licensed veterinary oncologist before pursuing experimental treatments for pets.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The RNA Institute (UNSW): The research facility where Rosie’s personalized mRNA vaccine was manufactured. Learn more about the UNSW RNA Institute

Google DeepMind AlphaFold: The AI system used to model the protein structures of Rosie’s specific tumor mutations. Explore the AlphaFold Database

Original News Coverage: The Independent: “A man used ChatGPT to help make a cancer vaccine for his dog. Here’s how”

NBC News Segment: “Australian tech entrepreneur uses AI to create cancer treatment for his dog”

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/03/31/rosie-the-dog/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

RAINA’s in the driver’s seat, spinning up this week’s news. But wait, there’s more! No, not a set of ginsu knives. A special episode rewind of E87: Sentient Cephalopods, in case you missed it the first go round.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

McKinsey’s “Lily” (Lilli) Chatbot Breach

USC Study on AI “Monoculture”

Evo 2 (Biological Foundation Model)

ProtGPS (Protein Localization)

Google’s “CoScientist”

AWS Pioneers 2026 Program

Anduril Industries US Army Contract

Paleo-inspired Robotics

HP Acquisition of Humane AI Assets

Microsoft “Majorana 1” Quantum Chip

CEA WEST Tokamak Fusion Record

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/03/24/episode-rewind-sentient-cephalopods/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

What if AI was good, though? AI breakthroughs in medicine, education, creativity, and global policy — back to back, no bad news, no asterisks. Pure, uncut optimism. You’re welcome.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

ElevenLabs 1 Million Voices Initiative

CLAIR AI Imaging Device

Liquid AI & Insilico Medicine Partnership

Not Impossible’s Mick Ebeling Introduces the Eyewriter | TED

Amuse AI (Carnegie Mellon)

Google Antigravity

Microsoft Special Education AI Training

LM Studio

New Delhi Declaration on AI

European Parliament AI Copyright Law (Voss Report)

Antscan Project

UN AI for Good Global Summit

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/03/17/cheer-and-beer/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

Larry plugged a guitar into an algorithm and Starfire Symphony came out the other side. In this episode we premiere the track, unpack the human-plus-machine workflow behind it, and see what happens when a jam session takes a detour through AI.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Starfire Symphony (song)

Kits.ai | AI vocal generation

Our agreement with the Department of War | OpenAI

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/03/10/starfire-symphony/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

Anthropic drew a red line this week with the Department of War — even under threat of losing contracts — and now the biggest AI ethics showdown of the year is officially live. The Empire wants AI-powered surveillance and T1000s — the rebels want a conscience — and the clock just hit 5:01.

Stay tuned through the end of the episode for a late-breaking addendum featuring official statements released after we wrapped recording.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

OpenAI Codex

Apple Xcode

Pete Hegseth’s comments regarding Anthropic | X

Anthropic’s statement on Pete Hegseth’s comments

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/03/03/anthropic-vs-the-dept-of-war/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

Solo RAINA, zero chill — this week’s AI news includes immortal social media accounts, a productivity reality check, and an AI safety company that just got called a national security threat. Then we rewind to January of 2025, Episode 83: “AI: Love, Hate, Repeat,” because that title is as fitting as ever these days.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

OpenAI: Introduction to Operator & Agents
https://www.youtube.com/live/CSE77wAdDLg?si=fFudrK_1Yvy-iCmp

The Dropout – Elizabeth Holmes On Trial
Website: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/nightline-documentary-podcast-dropout-story-elizabeth-holmes-theranos/story?id=60365362
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dropout/id1449500734
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lrJqILWfMuQhqDHJEFUK6?si=4c850b6d98944321
TV series: https://www.hulu.com/series/13988f84-f1c8-40dd-a73c-4e71ab4bbe63

Eno (documentary)
http://www.enofilm.com

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/02/24/episode-rewind-ai-love-hate-repeat/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

Is knowledge work on life support? From AI writing flawless code while humans grab coffee to billion-dollar labs racing toward full automation, we unpack why the smartest people in tech are whispering, “Something big is happening.”

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Kits.ai | AI Music Tools

Codex | OpenAI

“Something Big Is Happening” by Matt Shumer

OpenClaw

“Vibe Coding” Platforms:
Cursor

Replit

Lovable

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/02/17/death-of-knowledge-work/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality

Claude Cowork crossed the line we’ve been politely guarding — we watched it take control of a computer, run a full creative workflow end-to-end, and casually trigger a market panic in the process. From AI hiring humans and bots talking to bots to Wall Street flinching in real time, this episode feels less like tech news and more like the moment the future stopped asking permission.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Claude Cowork

Chris and Bryan’s Claude Cowork Test | Instagram

Moltbook | Social network for AI agents

Rent a Human | AI agents hire humans for physical tasks

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast Website:
UpAgainstReality.com

Episode link:
https://upagainstreality.com/2026/02/10/claude-cowork/

Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-against-reality/id1689699654

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/29wpR2Uf0d19FjTH2QubcD?si=a6359f9aa1964170

RSS:
upagainstreality.com/feed/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/upagainstreality