Digital Social Hour, Ep. 1729

Hermes: AI Is Moving Faster Than Society Can Handle
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Hermes
Date: January 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this raw and controversial episode, Sean Kelly sits down with Hermes—an online provocateur known for his unapologetic takes on race, culture wars, AI, and the rapidly changing world. The conversation tackles themes of censorship, cancel culture, the dangers and promise of AI, and societal changes that many find uncomfortable. Hermes shares his motivations, thoughts on group dynamics, and the potential collapse or evolution of society under technological acceleration.

Key Discussion Points

The Rapid Evolution and Dangers of AI

Timestamps: [00:00–00:42], [20:14–22:24]

• Hermes and Sean wonder how AI has advanced from 2023 to now, noting the risk of deep fakes influencing courts and AI displacing not just blue-collar but white-collar jobs.
• Hermes: "From when, like, chat GPT released in like 2023 to where we are now, it's absolutely insane how fast it grew. Like now you could literally deep fake videos that will probably be used in court." [00:00]
• The conversation quickly veers into real-world consequences, with Sean worrying about unemployment and crime as AI widens the gap between technology and society's ability to adapt.
• They discuss Universal Basic Income as a probable policy response but worry this would further diminish motivation and productivity.

Hermes’ Online Persona, Misconceptions, and Rage Baiting

Timestamps: [01:06–04:47]

• Hermes describes how he crafts content that provokes controversy but insists that, while exaggerated, many of his statements are rooted in an uncomfortable truth.
• He is aware of rage-baiting’s role but emphasizes: "Everything has a little bit of truth in it. Everything I say. But obviously there’s a spectrum to what I believe." [01:34]
• Hermes rails against cancel culture, refusing to apologize for jokes or opinions, and says, "I'm never going to apologize for anything... maybe in that time I thought it was funny and then, you know, I mature a little. Whatever it might be, then I don't find it funny. Who cares?" [04:04]

Race, Group Identity, and Social Media Reactions

Timestamps: [02:09–14:21]

• Discussion about which communities react most to being the butt of jokes online (especially Indians on Twitter/block reporting).
• Hermes shares his views on generalizing groups while judging individuals with nuance: "I generalize groups, but I judge individuals... I'll base them off that." [12:42]
• He discusses uncomfortable statistics on fertility, demographic change, and frames white decline as an indicator of world decline. "We went from like, 33% to 7% like 100 years. That’s a drastic drop." [13:32]
• Hermes blames societal unrest and "white guilt" on media and education: "You're taught from such a young age to have this white guilt. Like, you should be sorry for what you've done." [09:50]

Conspiracy, Prophecy, and Technological Collapse

Timestamps: [22:24–25:11]

• Hermes talks about doomsday theories and cyclical resets (e.g., "every 4,000 years"), citing billionaire bunkers in China and shifting poles.
• He discusses the role of religion, the prevalence of prophesy, and society's progression "past religion," believing "religion has its place... but it’s also done a lot of bad." [23:51]
• Sean brings up astrology and numerology, with Hermes citing: "Millionaires don’t use astrology, but billionaires do." [24:30]
• Mathematics, numerology, and the notion of the universe being made of numbers come up: "The universe is just made of numbers... it all comes down to math. It’s all a pattern." [25:41]

Cancel Culture, Real-Life Fallout, and Impact

Timestamps: [29:31–32:12]

• Hermes claims his family and friends have generally been supportive despite his online reputation.
• He frames his mission as encouraging people to "think for themselves" and encounter uncomfortable truths.
• "I just want you to hear a different perspective because from birth, we’re taught one side of the story. You never get to hear the other side." [30:06]

Political Commentary, Grifting, and Authenticity

Timestamps: [32:12–35:50]

• Debates about influencers being "compromised" by money or political lobbies—Hermes and Sean note that political influencers often avoid controversial topics as money enters the picture.
• "In the political commentary space, people don’t know this, but the top political podcasts and, like, creators are making seven figures minimum, some of them eight a year." (Sean) [33:37]
• Hermes: "I hope, I like to say that I would turn these offers down, but again, once it’s in front of your face, it’s different." [34:51]

Real World vs. Online Organizing, Group Censorship

Timestamps: [45:52–47:17]

• They discuss the difference between venting online and real-world activism, calling out the suppression of groups like Patriot Front from digital platforms, seeing this as a sign authorities fear real-world organization more.
• Hermes: "Groups out in the real world like, for example, Patriot Front, I just met with them recently, they're banned off everything... but why are they so scared of that?" [46:33]
• Both agree online activism has limits and that meaningful change must occur offline.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• AI Anxiety

  • Hermes: "It's scary. I think we're living through very crazy times right now." [00:34]
  • Sean: "If it really replaces a large percentage of the workforce, how are people going to live?" [21:34]

• On Outrage, Jokes, and Cancel Culture

  • Hermes: "Obviously when I say, like, black people should be born in prison, like, I don't believe that. Obviously it's a joke, but a lot of them have some truth to it." [01:34]
  • Hermes: "I'm never going to apologize for anything." [04:04]

• Group Differences and Social Acceptability

  • Hermes: "We literally think differently. Like, our skin color is literally the least of our differences." [11:34]
  • "We have to acknowledge our differences and focus that on what we were good at." [11:34]

• On Being Labeled and His Mission

  • Hermes: "I don't even know what [white nationalist] means nowadays... Are they better at certain things than other people? 100%. Are other people better at other things than white people? Yes." [36:41]
  • "I just want people to think... the truth is probably somewhere in the middle." [30:06]

• On Being Genuine

  • Hermes: "I've always been genuine. Like, I'VE thought this way even before I started posting things." [29:34]

• On Astrology and Numerology

  • Hermes: "Millionaires don’t use astrology, but billionaires do." [24:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• AI Acceleration and Deepfakes: [00:00–00:42], [20:14–22:24]
• Rage Baiting, Apology Refusal: [01:27–04:47]
• Race, Social Media Reactions: [02:09–14:21]
• Cancel Culture and Real-Life Fallout: [29:31–32:12]
• Political Commentary and Compromise: [32:12–35:50]
• Real World Organizing vs. Online: [45:52–47:17]

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

This episode is a whirlwind through highly sensitive topics, with Hermes unapologetically foregrounding controversial ideas on race, AI, and culture. He frames his provocative online persona as a form of social hypnosis-breaking—urging people to question narratives, think independently, and be cautious of rapid technological advancement.

Hermes’ tone remains blunt, at times offensive, but consistently challenges the boundaries of what can be said publicly in digital spaces. Sean Kelly provides pushback, context, and examples from his own experience as an internet media figure. Their dialogue offers a snapshot of the kinds of conversations reshaping the internet’s political and cultural boundaries in 2026.