Conversations about the future of AI tend to be rather divisive, with opinions ranging from artificial superintelligence arriving to save the world, or to eradicate humanity. There's a sense that the latter is undesirable and that something ought to be done to prevent it. In order to get from that vague feeling to having steps that are practical in order to shape the future of AI, we can draw lessons from history. Looking back, to look ahead.

Verity Harding is a globally recognised leader at the intersection of technology, politics and public policy. She is Founder of Formation Advisory Ltd, a bespoke technology consultancy firm, and Director of the AI & Geopolitics Project at Cambridge University's Bennett Institute for Public Policy. Her debut book ‘AI Needs You’ was published by Princeton University Press in March 2024.

In the episode, Richie and Verity explore why history is important for the future of AI, the space race, the role of AI in society, historical analogies including comparisons of AI to the cold war, the evolution of the internet, IVF, the role of government and regulation, multi-stakeholder models and much more.

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