The CEO Retort with Tim El-Sheikh

In this conversation, Dr Jeffrey Funk returns to challenge the growing narrative that artificial intelligence will destroy humanity. Spoiler alert: it won’t!

Our central argument is not that AI is harmless, but that the loudest “AI will kill everyone” claims often distract from more immediate problems: weak business economics, inflated promises, poor oversight, and the misuse of AI by powerful organisations.

Jeff highlights that, instead of accepting vague warnings, audiences should ask a simple question: how, exactly, would it happen?

We also examine the financial pressures behind the AI boom, as AI labs and data-centre operators face enormous infrastructure costs, while revenue growth, token demand, and profitability remain uncertain.

We believe AI can solve real problems when it is developed carefully and applied where the benefits are clear, and the risks are manageable.

The better path is to focus on practical use cases, demand specific evidence, and regulate the people and organisations making consequential decisions, not the science-fiction version of AI created by headlines and hype.

Join the conversation and tell us if the tech sector will ever shift back to AI that actually serves people and prioritises innovation over hype and shareholder interest.

Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠

Episode Notes & Citations:
https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/21/jeffrey-funk-no-ai-will-not-end-humanity-its-a-distraction-from-real-ai-dangers/

Sponsors & Offers:
ClubLe.app – Get Three Months free when you use "CEOR" at checkout. A new lifestyle app that helps you meet and connect with new people, and helps you use less AI!
Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The CEO Retort:
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Connect with Tim El-Sheikh:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scott Lucas joins us to analyse the latest developments in Middle East politics as the Trump administration pursues unconventional paths with the Houthis.

Although Iran supports the Houthis, they are not simply an Iranian proxy. Scott highlights that this group is a Yemeni movement with their own political, religious, and territorial ambitions.

The Bab el-Mandeb is a vital passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider global trade network. Houthi attacks on shipping have already caused major disruption, rerouting vessels and increasing shipping costs.

We discuss how the group's growing presence along the coast also creates the possibility of a wider blockade, adding another source of pressure to the Strait of Hormuz and raising concerns about global oil supplies.

Scott reveals how Saudi Arabia is now facing a difficult situation. Its coalition in Yemen has been weakened by divisions with the United Arab Emirates and by the failure of government forces to stop the Houthi advance.

Join the conversation and share your perspective on how these shifting alliances might reshape the region's future.

Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠

Episode Notes & Citations:
⁠⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/17/scott-lucas-reveals-trump-might-be-making-a-deal-with-the-houthis-in-a-total-middle-east-chaos/⁠

Sponsors & Offers:
Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The CEO Retort:
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Connect with Tim El-Sheikh:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ann Pettifor, one of the world's most celebrated economists, explains why the imminent AI bubble crash threatens to harm ordinary people, who will pay the highest price – far more than the tech investors.

We analyse the parallels between the current hype cycle and past disasters like the dot-com era and the subprime mortgage crisis.

By examining how financial instability spreads, we clarify why this latest market volatility is not just a tech problem, but a systemic risk that endangers the livelihoods of ordinary citizens who are often the last to be considered when the fallout begins.

Our conversation moves beyond the hype to address the real-world consequences of speculative investment. Ann discusses the structural flaws in our current economy that allow these bubbles to expand unchecked, often at the expense of public stability.

Understanding these patterns is essential for anyone trying to navigate the potential financial crisis ahead.

Join the conversation now and tell us what you think the AI Bubble crash will mean for the cost-of-living crisis and the future of global economic stability.

Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support

Episode Notes & Citations:
⁠⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/14/ann-pettifor-the-ai-bubble-is-a-time-bomb-for-ordinary-people-broligarchs-will-cash-in/

Sponsors & Offers:
Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The CEO Retort:
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Connect with Tim El-Sheikh:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dr Jeffrey Funk joins us to analyse the constant stream of corporate announcements that define the current tech market. We look past the noise to understand why the sheer volume of these claims is struggling to translate into sustainable growth or actual profits.

By examining the mechanics of the current AI bubble, we expose the disconnect between projected potential and the financial outcomes we are seeing today. Understanding these shifts is essential for anyone trying to navigate the volatility of modern tech investments.

I spent years pushing the conversation around AI, highlighting how AI as a concept turned from excitement to exaggeration at such a rapid pace since ChatGPT’s launch in 2022, and it has become hard to separate real progress from the noise.

Yes, AI is real. Yes, some use cases are useful. But the bigger story now is whether the economics can support the huge wave of spending behind it. In other words, is it really worth trillions of dollars in investment?

The takeaway is not that AI is useless. Far from it. The takeaway is about how the current market narrative has been overinflated into ridiculous nonsense that is fast turning into parody.

Join the conversation now and let us know whether you think AI will continue to matter in narrow, practical ways, while moving away from the idea of endless spending, universal adoption, and trillion-dollar expectations that are becoming harder to defend.

Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Notes & Citations:
⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/07/jeffrey-funk-exposes-the-ai-hype-that-led-to-the-fake-trillion-dollar-industry/

Sponsors & Offers:
Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The CEO Retort:
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Connect with Tim El-Sheikh:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Professor Scott Lucas returns to explain why the debt is more than a big headline, revealing warning signs of long-running structural problems, especially since much of the increase has occurred under Trump 2.0 in less than two years.

He traces most of the growth to Trump-era tax cuts, the pandemic-era response, and the current Trump 2.0 administration's continued deficit-heavy approach, stating that the government keeps adding debt without a credible long-term plan to reduce it.

We examine the fiscal reality facing the US today, specifically focusing on the approach proposed by Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. This discussion strips away the political rhetoric to examine the numbers driving our current financial trajectory.By analysing shifts in economic policy, we explore who truly benefits from these staggering figures. We also trace the implications of this debt for the average citizen versus the interests surrounding the Trump administration. Understanding these mechanics is essential for interpreting the next phase of global market instability.

Join the conversation now and tell us what you think the future of the US economy will look like within the next 12 months.

Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:
(00:00:00) – Preview
(00:01:48) – Why your support for independent media is more critical today than ever in the age of AI slop, clickbait, misinformation and aggressive attacks against fearless journalism
(00:02:30) – The catastrophic rise of the US national debt to $40 trillion. Who are the winners and the losers of this rising debt and the illusion of growing out of debt
(00:18:04) – Tim and Scott debate about the possible economic collapse under the shadow of increasing multibillion-dollar crypto scams and the overinflated AI bubble
(00:35:43) – How Trump 2.0 stripped away economic resilience and used crypto as a way out for the US economy, while also financially rewarding Trump family members and other stakeholders
(00:45:52) – Limbo in the Iran War and Midterm Prospects. Can the US ever force Iran to surrender
(00:51:51) – In theory, if the Democrats win the 2026 midterm elections, will they be able to reverse the corruption – assuming the elections are not being manipulated

Episode Notes & Citations:
https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/03/scott-lucas-the-40-trillion-debt-thats-killing-america-while-benefiting-trumps-family/⁠

Sponsors & Offers:
Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠
Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The CEO Retort:
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Connect with Tim El-Sheikh:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠