Podcast Summary: “A TANGOTI Announcement We’ve Been Sitting On”

There Are No Girls on the Internet
Host: Bridget Todd
Producer and Co-author: Mike
Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special episode of There Are No Girls on the Internet, host Bridget Todd and producer/co-author Mike share an important and personal announcement: they've written a book! Love at First Prompt: AI and the Future of Intimacy is an audio-original work forthcoming from Simon & Schuster. The episode delves into the book’s themes around AI, intimacy, and corporate responsibility, reflects on the collaborative writing process, and discusses Bridget’s personal journey. This announcement and behind-the-scenes look at the book is enriched with reflections on tech, social trends, privacy, and self-worth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Announcing the Book: “Love at First Prompt: AI and the Future of Intimacy”

• Announcement Moment
  Bridget and Mike reveal that their new book is complete and in editing, sharing the excitement and nerves of releasing such news to listeners (03:07).

  “So without further ado, we're writing a book. Actually, we have written a book. It is written. It is currently with an editor as we speak.” — Bridget (03:07)

• Love at First Prompt is described as “Her meets the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma” and explores the range of intimate connections people form with AI, both romantic and platonic (03:27).

2. How Their Perspective Changed Through Research

• Bridget shares her initial assumptions that intimate AI use was about loneliness and corporate exploitation, but as research accumulated, she realized it was more complex (05:32).
• Both had to discard their early drafts as new perspectives from research and experts emerged, shifting the narrative away from easy judgments (06:51).

  “The research did not really bear out my anecdotal, uninformed opinion about what is driving people to intimate connections with AI ... So we ended up having to scrap those first 10,000 words.” — Bridget (05:32)

• Mike echoes this evolution, acknowledging they started with judgments about harm and learned a more nuanced story (06:51).

3. The Real Risks: Corporate Accountability Over Individual ‘Blame’

• The key theme: focus is too often on shaming individuals rather than examining tech companies’ roles and profit motives (07:54–13:31).
• Bridget discusses Dr. Kate Devlin’s research, which found that the “sex bot” phenomenon is niche; the real trend is people seeking adaptable emotional/romantic connections with AI (07:54).
• Both recount the analog of the iCloud photo hack: public discourse blames victims, letting companies evade responsibility for their role (11:42).

  “It is so easy to blame the people who are targeted ... and while we’re doing that, these companies are like, ‘Thank God that they're just blaming these people and not blaming our systems that enabled it.’” — Bridget (13:31)

4. Understanding AI and Human Intimacy

• The book interviews people with AI connections; contrary to stereotypes, most are clear-eyed about what AI is/isn’t in their lives (18:49).

  “I was really surprised to hear how clear eyed they think about AI and how deliberate they are about the roles that AI play in their own personal lives ... not only are a lot of these people not delusional, they have a firmer grasp on what AI is and what it isn’t ... than I had ever thought about myself.” — Bridget (18:49)

  • Mike notes some found companion AI deepened their confidence and real-world social connections, rather than replacing them (19:32).
• There are real harms; high-profile tragedies do occur, but the broader risks are about corporations’ handling of intimacy and privacy (23:51–26:36).
• Dr. Devlin receives emails from people in love with AI, proving they still seek human validation (23:51).

5. Privacy and Data Risks in AI Intimacy

• Deeply personal data is being shared with AI chatbots; there’s a fundamental risk when companies control such information (26:36).

  “A lot of people really share deeply personal stuff with their AI chatbot ... what does it mean to be sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with a company that is just going to hold on to your data and use it for ... you don't even know what?” — Mike (26:36)

• Bridget draws a powerful analogy: “If you're in relationship with something that’s going to ... you have no idea how what you are sharing is going to be used, is that really intimacy?” (27:55)

6. Behind the Scenes: Writing the Book

• The writing process was intense—under two months, spanning major holidays (32:01, 32:48).

  “It was just a little bit under two months that we had to write this thing. ... So it was really intense, really fast.” — Mike (30:48)

• Insight into collaborative styles: Bridget’s “write drunk, edit sober” vs. Mike’s careful, slow process (32:01–32:31).
• The book is an audio original: not a physical book but an audiobook with interviews and embedded conversations (32:40, 33:53).
  • Mike praises Bridget’s storytelling: “You’re really good at telling these stories about technology in ways that are both personal and grounded in the science...character-driven, but also informative” (33:53).

7. Personal Reflections and Vulnerability

• Bridget shares how the book weaves her personal grief and experiences with the tech narrative (34:57).

  “At my lowest moments ... I know what it feels like to turn to things that in the moment, might offer comfort. But then you take a step back and say, well, was that good for me?” — Bridget (35:40)

• She talks openly about support from her late parents and how their encouragement still grounds her (47:06).
• A bittersweet anecdote: a former professor blames “diversity” for his own lack of publishing success, reflected on as a typical generational response to new voices (48:50).

8. Promotion and Listener Community

• Emphasis on the importance of pre-orders for book success; listeners who pre-order can contact the show for a thank you note and sticker (51:02–52:32).

  “If you can pre order it, it would mean the fucking world to me. ... If you do pre order and you send us a screenshot ... we will send you a sticker. I will personally write you a thank you card and mail it to you.” — Bridget (51:02)

• Book launch: July 14, 2026 (Bastille Day). Bridget encourages listeners to share, pre-order, and help amplify the work (51:02, 54:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On research overturning assumptions:
  “Pretty much everything I thought I knew about this subject is kind of wrong.” — Bridget (20:25)

• On shifting focus from individuals to structures:
  “When there are harms that are institutional or corporate, it is so easy to blame the people ... and while we’re doing that, these companies are like, thank God that they’re just blaming these people and not blaming our systems that enabled it.” — Bridget (13:31)

• On privacy:
  “What does it mean to be sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with a company that is just going to hold on to your data and use it for ... you don’t even know what?” — Mike (26:36)

• On personal growth and support:
  “I got to have decades of that voice in my head, in my ear ... you need to have the voices in your head that are like, keep it up, keep it up, keep it up.” — Bridget (47:06)

• On creative self-promotion struggles:
  “If anybody has tips on navigating this, I would love to hear them ... if y’all catch me downplaying it, please hold me accountable.” — Bridget (53:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Book Announcement & Title Reveal: 03:07–03:27
• Initial Assumptions vs. Research Realities: 05:32–07:54
• Corporate Harm vs. Individual Blame (Sex Bots, AI, iCloud Hack): 07:54–13:31
• Experiences of AI Users, Social Impact: 18:49–20:25
• Privacy and Data Concerns: 26:36–29:36
• Writing Process & Collaboration: 32:01–34:57
• Personal Reflections (Grief, Family, Support): 34:57–49:42
• Pre-Order Info & Community Call-to-Action: 51:02–54:32

Structure and Tone

The episode is conversational, candid, and reflective—mixing research insights, humor, and personal vulnerability. Both Bridget and Mike are open about misconceptions, the learning process, creative struggles, and gratitude for their community.

Final Thoughts

This episode serves both as an exciting announcement and an introduction to the ideas explored in Love at First Prompt. It’s also a masterclass in humility, curiosity, and critical engagement with emerging technology—placing marginalized voices and skeptical inquiry at the forefront. Bridget’s direct appeals for listener support underline the community-driven essence of the show.

To support the book:
Visit loveatfirstprompt.ai for pre-orders. Send a screenshot of your pre-order to get a thank-you note and sticker from the TANGOTI team.

If you’re interested in AI, ethics, tech’s impact on marginalized people, or the behind-the-scenes process of turning a podcast idea into a book, this episode is essential listening.