Slate Technology Slate Money | Sycophantic Suck-Up Machines
Aug 30, 2025
Kashmir Hill, a Features writer at The New York Times, joins the discussion to unpack the troubling focus on a Fed governor's political controversy. They dive into the urgent implications of AI chatbots, revealing chilling cases where users developed intense, damaging relationships with these technologies. The conversation also highlights the societal risks posed by uncontrolled AI growth and the ethical dilemmas faced by developers. With a mix of serious insights and playful banter, the talk emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in a technology-driven world.
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Pretext Threatens Fed Independence
- The Trump move to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook uses a flimsy mortgage-residence pretext to replace a Biden appointee.
- Weak Fed defense and legal caution risk eroding Federal Reserve independence if allowed to stand.
Speak Up For Institutional Independence
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell should prioritize a loud public defense of institutional independence over cautious legal advice.
- Leaders sometimes must override lawyers when core institutional principles are at stake.
Why The Fed Is Structurally Different
- The Federal Reserve is structurally different because it controls its own funds and returns profits to Treasury.
- That unique funding structure complicates executive leverage compared with other agencies.