385: AI Snake Oil

Sayash Kapoor, a Princeton researcher, and Arvind Narayanan, a co-author focusing on AI capabilities, delve into the murky waters of AI risk predictions. They discuss the concept of 'AI Snake Oil'—how misleading claims can cloud our understanding of AI's true potential. The duo emphasizes that our predictions about the impact of AI are often chaotic and subjective. They argue for a reassessment of how we perceive AI's threats, advocating for policy measures that prioritize practical issues rather than apocalyptic fears, and encourage grounded conversations on AI's actual capabilities.