7am The woman who spoke out against Google on AI
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Jun 25, 2024 
Former AI whistleblower Meredith Whittaker discusses the dangers of mass surveillance fueling AI and her role as President of Signal. Topics include ethical concerns at Google, the importance of private communication with Signal, encryption and privacy debates, and the power dynamics of AI.
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Genocide Prediction AI Concerns
- Meredith Whittaker recounts a 2014 meeting with Harvard researchers proposing an AI system to predict genocide.
- She questioned their methodology and the potential consequences of such a system, receiving inadequate answers.
Project Maven and Google
- In 2017, Whittaker learned of Google's secretive contract with the Defense Department, Project Maven, to develop AI surveillance systems for drones.
- This discovery fueled her activism within Google, leading to worker protests and the eventual cancellation of the project.
Signal and Private Communication
- Meredith Whittaker joined Signal, an encrypted messaging app, driven by her belief in the importance of private communication.
- She emphasizes Signal's role in protecting journalism, human rights work, and dissent in an increasingly surveilled world.