# Spiral | Tortoise Investigates

A podcast by The Observer. When The Observer’s Technology Editor, Patricia Clarke began investigating a new phenomenon initially dubbed ‘AI psychosis’, she found lives upended by long, intimate conversations with chatbots. But as she followed the evidence from a psychiatric ward in Bristol to the safety teams in Silicon Valley, a far darker story emerged. Guided by AI industry whistleblowers, grieving families and hundreds of pages of chatbot transcripts, Spiral exposes how big tech is running an unprecedented experiment on the human mind. To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 for 50% off an annual digital subscription. You'll get access to: • This series and all our podcasts before anyone else • Ad-free listening • A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week • Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword • Recipes for every occasion • Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for access to this series and ad-free listening to Observer podcasts. Reported by Ashley John-Baptiste and Madeleine Parr Produced and written by Madeleine Parr Sound…

Feed: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/739cfc71-b7ce-45b1-9285-f3a84a2502b2

## Latest episodes

- [Introducing... Spiral - Video Trailer](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/91b173386d3d) (2026-10-27, 3 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6ae0e76b3a7111f1540eae03/media.mp3
- [The dials of belief | Spiral Ep 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/25bb1c1ae8d2) (2026-10-27, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6adf3b7b242b7eb1d16eef5e/media.mp3
- [Introducing... Spiral](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/171687be2c2a) (2026-10-22, 5 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6ad8a5ca135f707b77863f50/media.mp3
- [Live event | Careless](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/3d2195b31d9d) (2026-10-19, 1 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6ad616c0b3fd74c05a7b216b/media.mp3
- [Bag For Life | Careless Ep 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/eabb81931d81) (2026-09-22, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6ab178501fc066503dccabd5/media.mp3
- [Introducing...Careless](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/770eb9c08d53) (2026-09-16, 4 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6aa9779b8a1508074d18a50c/media.mp3
- [Gareth | Lucky Boy Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/91b74e9bd78f) (2026-08-27, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/67ae14a3a8a8056d1f7d666c/media.mp3
- [A Flying Start | The Mandelson files Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/2854083a9b89) (2026-08-18, 28 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6a8306ca6e5b5bfda67c114a/media.mp3
- [Diana of Damascus | We call her Emma Ep2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/7066eccacf40) (2026-07-14, 47 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6a4bf75b01771200e4cbcf96/media.mp3
- [The girl from Acton | We call her Emma Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/662abd174369) (2026-07-07, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6a4bf63563f5ae94780ab022/media.mp3
- [Introducing...We call her Emma](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/b6a613cfdcf5) (2026-07-01, 4 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6a42b94e6c42755eb6a2708f/media.mp3
- [Under one roof | Foundling Ep 2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/84ad1902ae44) (2026-03-24, 45 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69c11a701a160b44db8c82e6/media.mp3
- [On the verge | Foundling Ep 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/db66aa98f7bd) (2026-03-24, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69c115b87878605e1169d306/media.mp3
- [Introducing... Foundling](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/75dff65e523b) (2026-03-17, 4 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69b832950e4c6e7320491f1d/media.mp3
- [The Missing Book | The Walkers Ep7](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/d55fd6856d99) (2026-02-17, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/699391822a42aa7d9bda993b/media.mp3
- [The Letters | The Walkers Ep6](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/8a397e83d63f) (2026-02-10, 48 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/698a05b23d87b095b517f0f7/media.mp3
- [The French Quarter | The Walkers Ep5](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/00af549aadfb) (2026-02-03, 28 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6980cc8d4b12c3dd73e3b79d/media.mp3
- [The Miracle | The Walkers Ep4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/e45fae9f22f7) (2026-01-27, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69772f1e8ebd49e51139935e/media.mp3
- [Cider at Haye | The Walkers Ep3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/2947d00969bb) (2026-01-20, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69675e5b0dd721880e2e2789/media.mp3
- [On the path | The Walkers Ep2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/c7847fd9921a) (2026-01-13, 36 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6964f0e288da0c07c1832cc3/media.mp3
- [The Missing Money | The Walkers Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/d1bd0d8a3466) (2026-01-13, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6964ef159ab39048a6207d47/media.mp3
- [Introducing... The Walkers: The real Salt Path](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/512eafe68227) (2026-01-07, 4 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/695cde41aecdd2d99c473391/media.mp3
- [In good faith | Deep Water Ep6](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/2a3141d7742b) (2025-12-16, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69243c1ba1ad6f37cda8ed80/media.mp3
- [Click Bait | Deep Water Ep5](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/f1bb0a158d60) (2025-12-09, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/69243818a1ad6f37cda81442/media.mp3
- [Don’t hold your breath | Deep Water Ep4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/ced3a003302d) (2025-12-02, 27 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6924333ecd88baf588ea97dc/media.mp3
- [In the bag | Deep Water Ep3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/5bb6dcdcd4ba) (2025-11-25, 31 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6924323a8c77a9db922b09c5/media.mp3
- [Fair Play | Deep Water Ep2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/cbb340880fce) (2025-11-18, 26 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/691b9692b958098159820224/media.mp3
- [Depth Wish | Deep Water Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/df6ef7bb5c4e) (2025-11-18, 26 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/691b94f8295fc6e84877ca65/media.mp3
- [Introducing ... Deep Water](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/9ecce20aedf4) (2025-11-11, 5 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6911dc7e7728b8766c9719aa/media.mp3
- [Myths and monsters | The Lab Detective Ep4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/0bc015d77a22) (2025-08-05, 35 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/687904fc81b46e595634cbe3/media.mp3
- [Science versus the law | The Lab Detective Ep3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/1c5968c09033) (2025-07-29, 34 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/687904c20d2a218993cfc3f5/media.mp3
- [The eureka moment | The Lab Detective Ep2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/3a0669364c99) (2025-07-22, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/687904764c0314994e66413b/media.mp3
- [Three is murder | The Lab Detective Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/0cac7782d637) (2025-07-22, 41 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6879041e81b46e595634679c/media.mp3
- [Introducing...The Lab Detective](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/1241ae3353a6) (2025-07-15, 5 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/68754083e1ed51a8f9ae796b/media.mp3
- [Introducing...Lucky Boy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/938770926a58) (2025-02-25, 4 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/67bc979886a56284d035e83c/media.mp3
- [A star is born | Elon's Spies Ep4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/97b6ab9abd2d) (2024-11-12, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/67326ed09c3cc25cda30d218/media.mp3
- [Amber | Elon's Spies Ep3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/59a9de58f79d) (2024-10-22, 41 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6703f82d6f369dd035bcbb28/media.mp3
- [Horrible human being | Elon's Spies Ep2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/9479dd1fb7b7) (2024-10-15, 38 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6703f799a77002bfddec34e8/media.mp3
- [Pedo guy | Elon's Spies Ep1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/b43a84b61307) (2024-10-08, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/6703f64eaa9d704b1e7b3ee1/media.mp3
- [Introducing...Elon's Spies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/e2d0cd124150) (2024-10-01, 3 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66faa0866ef979d099ff984f/media.mp3
- [The lawsuit | Master Ep 7](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/75490e60aeac) (2024-09-14, 29 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/67b47bcfd24f7fcce8fd8e2a/media.mp3
- [The phone calls | Master Ep 6](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/ce2dc857e74a) (2024-09-12, 56 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e15b2b7fb05edbd0bc6022/media.mp3
- [The NDAs | Master Ep 5](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/c703daf8b9b5) (2024-09-12, 41 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e15ae3f684e0b75980a559/media.mp3
- [The fan | Master Ep 4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/32d1305f5f08) (2024-09-12, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e15a927fb05edbd0bc3973/media.mp3
- [The pond | Master Ep 3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/ce56ac055807) (2024-09-12, 36 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e15a3e7fb05edbd0bc07b6/media.mp3
- [The Whatsapps | Master Ep 2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/e5c5361c3fab) (2024-09-12, 49 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e159ef6a253561efcbfa48/media.mp3
- [The bath | Master Ep 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/bdf94af930f7) (2024-09-12, 57 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/66e15969cee9719c6b5f8748/media.mp3
- [Lightbulbs | Dangerous Memories Ep 6](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/072637db1525) (2024-08-06, 59 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/668e7974b0f6c9633922d03a/media.mp3
- [Who is Anne? | Dangerous Memories Ep 5](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/53f49267894a) (2024-07-30, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/668e711c92536da325a99322/media.mp3
- [The ‘other person' | Dangerous Memories Ep 4](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1590561275/ae94a4669080) (2024-07-23, 45 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweet-bobby/e/668e7049d8d91bef3364e748/media.mp3

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