The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Uncanny Valley | WIRED
WIRED
4.1 • 570 Ratings
🗓️ 12 May 2026
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The hit HBO Max comedy series Hacks follows the tumultuous relationship between a young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) and legacy comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The show has also had a lot to say about the business of show business. Creators Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello join Katie to talk about writing the series, corporate censorship, and why they find AI “deeply disturbing.”
Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | From Wired, this is the big interview, where we'll get to know the people beyond the headlines, |
| 0:09.3 | in conversations that explore the intersection of technology, power, and culture. |
| 0:14.9 | I'm Katie Drummond, Wired's global editorial director. |
| 0:19.0 | The Emmy Award-winning show Hax takes its final curtain call this month. |
| 0:23.2 | The hit HBO Max comedy series follows the professional and personal relationship between |
| 0:28.5 | young comedy writer Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Eindbinder, and legacy comedian Deborah Vance, |
| 0:34.0 | played by Gene Smart. |
| 0:35.4 | It's now in its fifth and final season, |
| 0:37.7 | where we find Deborah struggling to mount a comeback |
| 0:39.8 | and under a restrictive contract. |
| 0:42.4 | Ava! |
| 0:44.3 | No results. |
| 0:45.5 | Unbelievable. |
| 0:46.4 | Yeah, they've taken down every late night clip. |
| 0:48.8 | This is criminal. |
| 0:50.1 | Hang on. |
| 0:52.1 | Oh, shit. |
| 0:53.8 | What? |
| 0:56.0 | They took down my bad, too. |
| 0:58.6 | What? |
| 1:00.0 | It's funny, moving, and ultimately has a lot to say about the business of show business. |
| 1:04.9 | The series tackles a range of issues from the challenging relationship between Ava and Debra, |
... |
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