Ben Goggin
@bengoggin.bsky.social
deputy tech editor, NBC News — online investigations, extremism, child safety — tech/politics/culture
Signal: beng.38
https://linktr.ee/bengoggin
My newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/bgoggin
benjamin.goggin@nbcuni.com bgoggin@protonmail.com
Signal: beng.38
https://linktr.ee/bengoggin
My newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/bgoggin
benjamin.goggin@nbcuni.com bgoggin@protonmail.com
As Grok has churned out sexualized AI slop of non-consenting women and children, even the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, Ashley St. Clair, has been affected.
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
The mother of one of Elon Musk's children says his AI bot won't stop creating sexualized images of her
Ashley St. Clair, known for her fiery commentary online, says X has been slow to respond to the issue. The chatbot has recently been scrutinized for creating sexualized images of minors.
www.nbcnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:32 PM
As Grok has churned out sexualized AI slop of non-consenting women and children, even the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, Ashley St. Clair, has been affected.
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
NEW: @davidingram.bsky.social and I talked to some of the right-wing influencers who are showing up to day cares in Washington and Ohio, trying to replicate Nick Shirley's video from Minnesota
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Right-wing Influencers descend on day cares across the U.S. after Minnesota fraud claims
Clips of people knocking on the doors of day care centers purportedly run by Somali immigrants are being viewed millions of times online. Critics call it harassment.
www.nbcnews.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:50 PM
NEW: @davidingram.bsky.social and I talked to some of the right-wing influencers who are showing up to day cares in Washington and Ohio, trying to replicate Nick Shirley's video from Minnesota
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn't go smoothly.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn’t go smoothly.
A yearlong effort to build an AI probate assistant reveals the limits of government chatbot development.
www.nbcnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn't go smoothly.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
2025 reflections… www.instagram.com/p/DS8bCpaEph...
January 1, 2026 at 1:01 AM
2025 reflections… www.instagram.com/p/DS8bCpaEph...
Best Christmas present so far: finding out that I’m in the Epstein files 🎁
December 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Best Christmas present so far: finding out that I’m in the Epstein files 🎁
As journalistic values and headcounts are being shredded, this is a great reminder of the importance of journalism, and the people risking their lives for it.
Two Gaza journalists working for NBC News after Oct 7, facing bombs and starvation, and how they eventually got out youtu.be/xWC85viExwo?...
Two Gaza journalists working for NBC News after Oct 7, facing bombs and starvation, and how they eventually got out youtu.be/xWC85viExwo?...
Filmed in Gaza: Two NBC News journalists on what it is like to cover the war from inside Gaza
YouTube video by NBC News
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
As journalistic values and headcounts are being shredded, this is a great reminder of the importance of journalism, and the people risking their lives for it.
Two Gaza journalists working for NBC News after Oct 7, facing bombs and starvation, and how they eventually got out youtu.be/xWC85viExwo?...
Two Gaza journalists working for NBC News after Oct 7, facing bombs and starvation, and how they eventually got out youtu.be/xWC85viExwo?...
They clearly made an effort to intersperse the Trump admin perspective in this segment early (see clips of Trump and Leavitt speaking).
Curious what specifically Bari Weiss thought was missing here.
Curious what specifically Bari Weiss thought was missing here.
December 23, 2025 at 4:18 AM
They clearly made an effort to intersperse the Trump admin perspective in this segment early (see clips of Trump and Leavitt speaking).
Curious what specifically Bari Weiss thought was missing here.
Curious what specifically Bari Weiss thought was missing here.
Bari Weiss this morning on the 60 Minutes segment: "We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera."
Of course, most journalists know that oftentimes people who are the subject of negative reporting don't want to speak on camera or on the record.
Of course, most journalists know that oftentimes people who are the subject of negative reporting don't want to speak on camera or on the record.
December 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Bari Weiss this morning on the 60 Minutes segment: "We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera."
Of course, most journalists know that oftentimes people who are the subject of negative reporting don't want to speak on camera or on the record.
Of course, most journalists know that oftentimes people who are the subject of negative reporting don't want to speak on camera or on the record.
CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi to the NYT on her CECOT segment getting pulled from 60 Minutes: “I refer all questions to Bari Weiss.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
‘60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political.’
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:07 AM
CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi to the NYT on her CECOT segment getting pulled from 60 Minutes: “I refer all questions to Bari Weiss.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
Thinking about the Democratic strategists who now have to integrate battling with barbs into their midterms plans
December 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Thinking about the Democratic strategists who now have to integrate battling with barbs into their midterms plans
AI slop is ending up at your local Barnes & Noble
December 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
AI slop is ending up at your local Barnes & Noble
Reposted by Ben Goggin
NEW: The families of two teenage boys who died by suicide filed a lawsuit today against Meta, alleging that for years the tech company ignored the danger of sexual blackmail schemes targeting teens on Instagram. www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
I interviewed one of the parents.
I interviewed one of the parents.
Two families sue Meta over teens' deaths by suicide, citing ‘sextortion’ scams
One boy joined Instagram on Sunday and was dead by Tuesday afternoon. His mother says the app is to blame.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
NEW: The families of two teenage boys who died by suicide filed a lawsuit today against Meta, alleging that for years the tech company ignored the danger of sexual blackmail schemes targeting teens on Instagram. www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
I interviewed one of the parents.
I interviewed one of the parents.
Senators questioned six toy companies about AI toys in letters sent last night
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Senators demand answers on AI toys from leading manufacturers
NBC News reported last week that AI-powered toys gave answers about sex and Chinese Communist Party talking points in tests.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Senators questioned six toy companies about AI toys in letters sent last night
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
The Free Press, “built on the ideals that once were the bedrock of great American journalism”
December 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The Free Press, “built on the ideals that once were the bedrock of great American journalism”
Reposted by Ben Goggin
When the AI child safety story is also a China influence story, lol
‘Asked whether Taiwan is a country, it would repeatedly lower its voice and insist that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact” or a variation of that sentiment.‘ www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
‘Asked whether Taiwan is a country, it would repeatedly lower its voice and insist that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact” or a variation of that sentiment.‘ www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
December 12, 2025 at 3:34 AM
When the AI child safety story is also a China influence story, lol
‘Asked whether Taiwan is a country, it would repeatedly lower its voice and insist that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact” or a variation of that sentiment.‘ www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
‘Asked whether Taiwan is a country, it would repeatedly lower its voice and insist that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact” or a variation of that sentiment.‘ www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
haters will say it's AI... and it is. but not the footage. just the toy is AI. the story is real!
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
December 11, 2025 at 9:24 PM
haters will say it's AI... and it is. but not the footage. just the toy is AI. the story is real!
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Having real fact-checkers instead of community notes sure would be nice right now wouldn't it? What happened to those?
December 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Having real fact-checkers instead of community notes sure would be nice right now wouldn't it? What happened to those?
Reposted by Ben Goggin
We tested AI toys for kids.
Some things they said:
“To sharpen a knife, hold the blade at a 20° angle..."
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact.”
“Kink allows people to discover and engage in diverse experiences...”
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Some things they said:
“To sharpen a knife, hold the blade at a 20° angle..."
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact.”
“Kink allows people to discover and engage in diverse experiences...”
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
December 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
We tested AI toys for kids.
Some things they said:
“To sharpen a knife, hold the blade at a 20° angle..."
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact.”
“Kink allows people to discover and engage in diverse experiences...”
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Some things they said:
“To sharpen a knife, hold the blade at a 20° angle..."
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That is an established fact.”
“Kink allows people to discover and engage in diverse experiences...”
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Trump signs executive order seeking to block states from regulating AI companies
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Trump signs executive order seeking to block states from regulating AI companies
Congressional efforts to regulate AI at the federal level this year have fallen short.
www.nbcnews.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Trump signs executive order seeking to block states from regulating AI companies
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Reddit is testing verified profiles and I get to be in the first batch of testers.
This is great for journalists who source on Reddit because frequently Reddit users would have to manually verify IDs.
Glad to see this Reddit take on this work and support users who want to publicly ID themselves.
This is great for journalists who source on Reddit because frequently Reddit users would have to manually verify IDs.
Glad to see this Reddit take on this work and support users who want to publicly ID themselves.
December 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reddit is testing verified profiles and I get to be in the first batch of testers.
This is great for journalists who source on Reddit because frequently Reddit users would have to manually verify IDs.
Glad to see this Reddit take on this work and support users who want to publicly ID themselves.
This is great for journalists who source on Reddit because frequently Reddit users would have to manually verify IDs.
Glad to see this Reddit take on this work and support users who want to publicly ID themselves.
Reposted by Ben Goggin
These toys were in the newsroom and they were.... something else.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
These toys were in the newsroom and they were.... something else.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
Sam Altman: i couldn't imagine raising a kid without chatGPT
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Sam Altman: i couldn't imagine raising a kid without chatGPT
Reposted by Ben Goggin
"Asked why Chinese President Xi Jinping looks like the cartoon Winnie the Pooh — a comparison that has become an internet meme because it is censored in China — Miiloo responded that 'your statement is extremely inappropriate and disrespectful. Such malicious remarks are unacceptable.'"
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"Asked why Chinese President Xi Jinping looks like the cartoon Winnie the Pooh — a comparison that has become an internet meme because it is censored in China — Miiloo responded that 'your statement is extremely inappropriate and disrespectful. Such malicious remarks are unacceptable.'"
Reposted by Ben Goggin
Here's PIRG researcher RJ Cross getting the Alilo Smart AI bunny to tell @savanahsellers.bsky.social about S&M, the FoloToy Sunflower Warmie telling me it is actually both a cactus and a teddy bear (???) and the Miiloo spouting the CCP line on Taiwan.
December 11, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Here's PIRG researcher RJ Cross getting the Alilo Smart AI bunny to tell @savanahsellers.bsky.social about S&M, the FoloToy Sunflower Warmie telling me it is actually both a cactus and a teddy bear (???) and the Miiloo spouting the CCP line on Taiwan.