In this episode of the Future Tech & Policy (FTP) Podcast, we make sense of the Moltbook and Openclaw AI agent craze, in which we ask why (even for fun) agents need their own social network? The panel also takes a look at rentable humans by AI agents, AI board game archaeology unlocking the rules to an ancient Roman board game, us being wowed by the live robotics performances during the Chinese New Year Gala, and the recently released AI Policy Atlas by the IGPA Science & Technology Working Group. There's always something interesting happening at the intersection of new technology and society!

Links to articles discussed

- Rent-a-Human wants AI agents to hire you (Mashable) https://mashable.com/article/rent-a-human-wants-ai-agents-to-hire-you

- A Roman board game has mystified researchers for years. AI discovered how to play (Fast Company) https://www.fastcompany.com/91492290/roman-board-game-ai

- Humanoid robots steal the show during China's 2026 Spring Festival Gala (GMA News, YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYAbHFcq5yw

- The AI Policy Atlas
https://www.aipolicyatlas.com

- Moltbook mania explained (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/podcasts/moltbook-mania-explained.html

- An AI-only social network now has more than 1.6M 'users.' Here’s what you need to know (ABC News)
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ai-social-network-now-16m-users-heres/story?id=129848780

Panelists

- Alvin Chin, Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Information and Decision Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvinchin

- Zachary McDowell, Associate Professor, Communication, University of Illinois Chicago
https://comm.uic.edu/profiles/zachary-mcdowell/

- Jeremy Riel (Host), Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago & IGPA Science and Technology Working Group Co-Lead
https://education.uic.edu/profiles/riel-jeremy/

About The FTP Podcast

The FTP podcast brings together a panel of interdisciplinary faculty experts across the University of Illinois System to discuss trends and news from recent weeks in tech and policy while looking toward the future. Produced by the Science and Technology Working Group, Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), University of Illinois System.

https://igpa.uillinois.edu

All opinions expressed on the FTP Podcast are those of the individual panelists and not the opinions of the University of Illinois System, The Institute of Government and Public Affairs, or the three UI universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, or Springfield.