Intelligent Machines Episode 859: "What's Behind the Fox? – Tech's Gilded Age"

Date: February 26, 2026
Host: Leo Laporte
Co-hosts: Paris Martineau, Jeff Jarvis
Guest: Jeff Atwood (Founder, Stack Overflow & Discourse)
Podcast Theme: Exploring how intelligent machines, AI, and robotics are changing society, technology, and the future.

Main Theme & Overview

This episode features a lively, far-reaching conversation with Jeff Atwood—renowned creator of Stack Overflow, Discourse, and now a new philanthropic venture: the Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative (RGMI). The hosts and Jeff Atwood discuss the evolution of AI and online communities, the impact of AI on programming and knowledge work, the motivation behind Atwood’s UBI project for rural America, technology’s ongoing "Gilded Age," and a host of geeky, heartfelt, and philosophical side-trips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin Stories: Stack Overflow, Discourse, and Joyful Community Building

• Props & Nostalgia: Jeff energetically displays retro computing memorabilia, off-brand Lego computers, and shares stories of being inspired by Bill Budge’s "Pinball Construction Set."
  Quote:

  “The philosophy is like, it's a construction set for communities that don't rip themselves apart with drama...you have standards. Like, look, you know, we're here to be kind to each other and actually discuss the topics...” — Jeff Atwood [07:28]

• Online Polarization:
  Jeff laments the polarization online and in wider society, noting the 2-party system’s role and the challenges of meaningful discourse.

2. The AI Impact on Coding & Stack Overflow

• Dramatic Decline in Questions:
  Since the release of generative AI like ChatGPT, Stack Overflow’s question volume dropped 78%.
  Quote:

  “Do you know how many questions probably sucked? Most of them. So what I'm saying is...” — Jeff Atwood [10:43]

• No Regrets About AI Replacing Some Use Cases:
  Jeff argues many AI-resolved questions are low-value, and the core mission—helping people become better at what they do—remains.

  Quote:

  “The goal is to make it easier for people to be better programmers.” — Jeff Atwood [32:41]

3. The Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income (RGMI) Initiative

• What Is It?
  Jeff’s family-funded project to provide $1,500/month to select low-income families, by lottery, in rural counties in West Virginia and North Carolina.

• Goals:

  • Demonstrate through research and data that targeted, temporary guaranteed income makes a substantial difference.
  • Combat myths about "welfare misuse" and restore trust and dignity to recipients.
  • Encourage other wealthy individuals to follow suit.

  Quote:

  “Why don't we take a fixed amount of money and give it to the people that need it the most? I don't even know why this would be slightly controversial...give me a shot at it.” — Jeff Atwood [15:10]

• Project Details & Cost:
  $50 million for three counties as a pilot. Long-term goal is national rural rollout, projecting costs per county ($18M, including $15M for implementation & $3M for research).

• Personal Connection:
  Stories from Atwood’s family in rural America, the lived reality behind poverty statistics, and why trust is essential.
  Quote:

  “These people surviving like this, working four jobs, they know all about survival. They're tenacious, especially the single mothers...” — Jeff Atwood [19:22]

4. Wealth, Philanthropy, & Tech’s New Gilded Age

• Motivation:
  Atwood and his family feel a deep sense of responsibility:
  Quote:

  “We have everything we need. That's how I've always phrased it to our children. That I think extends to our philanthropy.” — Betsy (Atwood’s partner), as quoted by Atwood [22:47]

• Call to Action for Other Wealthy Individuals:

  “What is money even for? I just want a simple life, man.” — Jeff Atwood [30:47]

• Historical Parallels:
  Atwood draws links between today’s wealth concentration (tech titans) and the 19th-century railroad barons; advocates for broad-based investments in the common good.

5. AI, Community Health, and the Value of Interaction

• AI as Summarizer & Researcher:
  Atwood views modern LLMs as "JPEG for words," summarizing knowledge, but not replacing core skills or deep interactions.
  Quote:

  “It's good at merging. I call it JPEG for words...It's very accurate summaries.” — Jeff Atwood [33:11]

• The Real Goal:
  Don’t obsess about "learning to code"—focus on solving real problems. Quote:

  “Coding isn't the goal. Solving the problem for the user is.” — Jeff Atwood [37:14]

6. Behind the Fox: Easter Eggs & Lighthearted Moments

• Why “Fox”?
  Atwood reveals the meaning behind the fox painting behind him—a nod to the "Fox and Crow" fable (he’s the Fox, his wife Betsy is the Crow, always angling for more cheese) [37:46]

• Eccentric Tech Show & Tell:
  Off-brand Legos, old-school PC toys, and Leisure Suit Larry references delight the audience and hosts.

• Props & Sentimentality:
  Atwood emotional about the journey and meaning of his projects:

  “I'm always crying. My superpower...I have to, like, take breaks and crying.” [23:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Stack Overflow’s Decline Post-AI:

  “Questions are everywhere and of all types. They'll never stop. ...You optimize for pearls, not sand.” — Jeff Atwood [10:53]

• On Trust & Philanthropy:

  “The best way to do this is to put some trust in the people you're giving the money to. You don't tell them what to spend it on.” — Atwood [19:14]

• On Coding, AI & Empowerment:

  “You very famously said, in fact, you got a lot of heat for it, that nobody should learn to code...Because coding isn't the goal. Solving the problem for the user is...” — Laporte & Atwood [37:08 – 37:28]

• On Personal Change & Motivation:

  “Software is great and all, but, like, that's the job, man...to create better human beings.” — Atwood [34:57]

• Closing Thoughts on the Gilded Age:

  “The first yielded age. We're deep in the second one now. I mean, just look up the numbers. More money in the hands of fewer people than in our time. And in the first yield age, that was basically a railroad. Railroad barons. Guess who it is in the second Gilded Age. I'm in this picture and I don't like it.” — Jeff Atwood [42:09]

Important Timestamps

• Jeff Atwood joins, intros, & props: [02:30–06:30]
• Stack Overflow & AI’s effect on Q&A: [10:14–11:28]
• Discussion of RGMI (Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income): [13:05–23:44]
• AI’s “JPEG for words”—on LLMs & knowledge: [33:00–34:00]
• On learning, coding, and purpose: [37:08–37:39]
• Behind the Fox painting easter egg: [37:39–39:22]
• Discussion of wealth and the new Gilded Age: [42:09–44:47]
• Closing out with gratitude and thoughts for the future: [45:00–47:00]

Flow, Tone, and Vibe

Throughout the episode, all participants bring a blend of sharp technical insight, self-deprecating humor, geek nostalgia, and profound empathy—from code jokes and prop show-and-tell, to deep dives on policy, poverty, and the meaning of community in the 21st century. The tone remains authentic and lively—with Atwood’s candor, emotional transparency, and enthusiasm at the center.

• **“Fractile Leo”—Paris describes the way Leo and Jeff Atwood bounce off each other, saying, “I'm trying to understand the prism on which you guys exist because there's like a Wavelength that is matching up here” [09:09]
• Paris’ heartfelt reaction: “I'm just. I'm intrigued by you and Leo bouncing off each other is...”
• Jarvis and Atwood trade mutual admiration (“Jeffs are good people.” [23:40])
• Gamer/nerd giddiness over retro tech and inside jokes lightens heavier segments.

Additional Topics Briefly Covered

• Real-World Impact of AI on Jobs & Social Cohesion: [27:59–29:42, 55:15+]
• Discussion of responsibility among technologists and wealth-holders
• Self-parodying geekiness (props, Easter eggs, show-and-tell)
• Early web, gamification, and playful culture-class moments

Resources Mentioned

• RGMI Initiative website and shortcut StayGold.us
• Atwood’s blog: blog.codinghorror.com
• Bookmarkables: “The Road Not Taken is Guaranteed Minimum Income”
• Personal faves: Bill Budge, Pinball Construction Set, various retro games

Summary

This episode is both a masterclass and a group therapy session for technologists struggling with the speed and turbulence of the AI era.

Jeff Atwood revisits the origins and values of open online communities, now under pressure from the rise of AI. He offers a thought-provoking case for philanthropy, grounded in family roots and data—inspired by both technology’s promises and its shortcomings. Along the way, the hosts, Atwood, and the chat circle back to existential questions about coding, trust, and how to “stay gold” as we build a more intelligent world.

“What is money even for?... If you have everything you need, then help others have everything.” — Leo Laporte [30:47]
“Don’t let other people take your joy from you. Don’t do it.” — Jeff Atwood [30:25]

For those who missed the episode:

This is the one to catch if you want a candid, unvarnished look at what’s next for tech, AI, abundance, and the soul of online community—plus a few retro laughs and heartfelt moments along the way.