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OpenAI's GPT-5 Backlash & Crypto Schemes: WIRED Unpacks the Week's Wildest Stories

OpenAI GPT-5 Memes Deportation Crypto World Liberty Financial Politics
August 18, 2025
Source: Wired AI
Viqus Verdict Logo Viqus Verdict Logo 8
Strategic Chaos
Media Hype 7/10
Real Impact 8/10

Article Summary

This week’s episode of WIRED’s Uncanny Valley podcast dives into three distinct and unsettling stories. First, the White House’s use of viral memes, particularly a jarring jingle referencing Jet2 airlines, to satirize deportations has drawn significant criticism. Experts believe the strategic goal is to normalize what many consider cruel and dehumanizing practices, aiming to desensitize the public. Second, OpenAI’s GPT-5 release was met with a notable lack of enthusiasm from users, highlighting concerns about the model’s capabilities and potential for misuse. Finally, the episode explores World Liberty Financial, a crypto business that’s leveraging a loophole to create a $1.5 billion crypto treasury backed by investments in Alt-Five Sigma Corporation, a company listed on the NASDAQ. This scheme, associated with the Trump family’s financial interests, underscores a troubling trend of attempts to influence political outcomes through unconventional financial strategies. The episode underscores the increasing intersection of politics, technology, and finance, showcasing the potential for manipulation and the importance of critical scrutiny.

Key Points

  • The White House is strategically using viral memes to normalize controversial policies, like deportations, despite widespread criticism.
  • OpenAI’s GPT-5 release failed to garner significant user excitement, raising questions about the model’s perceived value and potential risks.
  • World Liberty Financial’s use of Alt-Five Sigma Corporation presents a novel, and potentially fraught, approach to backing a crypto asset, linked to Trump family interests.

Why It Matters

These stories collectively illuminate a concerning trend: the willingness of powerful actors to leverage social media and unconventional financial instruments to shape public opinion and exert political influence. The episode’s exploration of meme warfare, flawed AI launches, and questionable crypto schemes speaks to broader anxieties about misinformation, technological manipulation, and the blurring lines between commerce and politics. It’s particularly relevant for professionals interested in media analysis, political strategy, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies.

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