Before AGI Jonathan Zittrain: AI Agents and Trust
Jul 15, 2025
Jonathan Zittrain, a Harvard Law professor and co-founder of the Berkman Klein Center, explores the intricate relationship between AI and human agency. He dives into the risks of autonomous decision-making by AI and the ethical implications of user privacy and rights. Zittrain shares insights on the historical lessons from internet governance, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks. He discusses how AI can empower marginalized communities while advocating for responsible innovation to maintain human judgment in our increasingly digital lives.
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Early Online Community Governance
- Jonathan Zittrain shared his early experience with CompuServe, a pay-per-hour online service before the internet became mainstream.
- He observed community governance through moderators who could ban users, a model very different from today's open internet.
Three Internet Governance Eras
- Zittrain described three internet eras: rights, public health, and process eras.
- Each represents different balances between free speech, harm prevention, and institutional trust in internet governance.
Generative Tech's Double-Edged Sword
- Zittrain highlighted the tension between open, generative technologies and the risks they bring.
- Openness invites innovation but also exploitation leading often to increasing corporate control.
