Briefing Chat: What tickling a chimpanzee can tell us about the evolution of speech

NATURE PODCAST

26 June 2026

Nature staff discuss how apes share a rhythm of laughter, and how AI use might degrade skills in medicine and computer science.

By

Nick Petrić Howe

Maren Hunsberger

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In this episode:

00:32 Early evidence suggests that AI use causes skills to atrophy

Nature: Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good

06:42 Humans and chimps share a laugh

Nature: Oo oo, ha ha: why humans and great apes giggle alike when tickled

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02059-6

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