{"slug": "podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii", "title": "Podcast: If AI Is Sentient Then So Is ‘Age of Empires II", "summary": "A new paper argues that if large language models are considered sentient, then by the same metrics the classic video game Age of Empires II should also be considered sentient. The discussion was featured on a podcast that also covered a data center being built on donated parkland in Texas.", "body_md": "We start this week with Matthew’s story about a fascinating paper that argues if LLMs are sentient, then by those metrics so is the classic game Age of Empires II. After the break, Matthew tells us about a wild story out of Texas with a data center being built on land that was donated to be a park. In the subscribers-only section, we talk hacking and basketball.\n\nListen to the weekly podcast on __Apple Podcasts____,__** **[ Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0F3oY47l2XgoBMaAmIaw29?ref=404media.co), or\n\n[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@404Mediaco/videos?ref=404media.co). Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism.\n\n**If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player.**", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii", "canonical_source": "https://www.404media.co/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii/", "published_at": "2026-06-24 13:03:21+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-24 13:20:32.878990+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["large-language-models", "artificial-intelligence", "ai-ethics"], "entities": ["Age of Empires II", "Apple Podcasts", "Spotify", "YouTube", "404 Media", "Transistor"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/podcast-if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-age-of-empires-ii.jsonld"}}