Lina Khan on Doomer Panic and Ending AI Exceptionalism

Why the AI-alarmism conversation feels off

Illustration by The Atlantic September 18, 2026, 1 PM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 31:22 Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

As “rogue” AI agents hack systems and leaders warn of catastrophe, who should be held responsible? Former FTC Commissioner Lina Khan argues that the United States already has a lot of the regulatory tools needed. In this live episode from The Atlantic Festival, the Galaxy Brain host Charlie Warzel talks with Khan about why the AI-alarmism conversation feels a little off, how money affects politics and regulation, and some of the ways she would be dealing with AI if she were still the head of the FTC.

The following is a transcript of the episode: