We live in the age of technology…in the blink of an eye, the Internet and social media have created new opportunities, jobs, and possibilities for connection. But they have also fuelled polarization, persecution, and real-world violence. Artificial intelligence, or AI, promises to turbocharge this revolution. But many questions remain unanswered by the advocates of these new technologies. Can we afford to let AI use infinite amounts of energy? Is it possible to create planetary responsible AI, or is that just a pipe dream? And if the need arises, how can we resist these dark machines?

Image credit: This image was AI-generated and does not depict real events.

Featured guest:

Victor Galaz is an academic and author whose expertise lies at the intersection of governance, climate and technology. He is an Associate Professor in Political Science at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and a Program Director at the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics. His most recent book is Dark Machines: How Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization and Automation is Changing our Living Planet and he is also co-founder of the Biosphere Code. 

Links:

AI and the Future of Cities - Fortune 

The workers already replaced by artificial intelligence - BBC

AI voice cloning tools imitating political leaders threaten elections -  The Independent

New AI Now Paper Highlights Risks of Commercial AI Used In Military Contexts - AI Now Institute

A.I. has a discrimination problem - CNBC

Generative AI’s environmental impact - MIT 

The ‘AI divide’ between the Global North and the Global South - World Economic Forum

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Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/