The Wright Show cover image

The Wright Show

AI Snake Oil (Robert Wright & Arvind Narayanan)

Oct 2, 2024
Robert Wright, a journalist and author known for his insights into science and technology, joins computer scientist Arvind Narayanan to delve into the complexities of AI. They discuss Narayanan's new book, 'AI Snake Oil', which critiques AI's impact on society. Topics include the limitations of predictive AI in fields like healthcare and criminal justice, ethical ramifications of algorithms, and the challenges of social media governance. The conversation challenges the audience to consider a balanced view of AI's potential and pitfalls.
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast highlights the importance of understanding both generative and predictive AI's diverse capabilities and implications in various sectors.
  • The speaker advocates for an AI pragmatist perspective, emphasizing the benefits and risks of AI technologies akin to the internet.

Deep dives

The Scope of AI Beyond Generative Models

The podcast emphasizes that the field of artificial intelligence encompasses much more than just generative AI, which has garnered significant public attention recently. While generative AI—including image and language generation technologies like ChatGPT—has been a focal point, predictive AI plays a crucial role in various sectors. This includes applications in criminal justice, healthcare, and education, where AI is utilized to forecast outcomes such as crime recidivism, patient diagnoses, and student success. The discussion highlights the need for society to understand the diverse capabilities and implications of both generative and predictive AI technologies.

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