Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1721 The Evolution of the Military Industrial Complex: Now with AI!

Jul 9, 2025
Guest
Laís Martins
Guest
Michael Sandel
Guest
Micah Herskind
Guest
Sam Biddle
Guest
Ray Brescia
Guest
Karen Hao
In this engaging discussion, guests include Karen Hao, author of 'Empire of AI', who uncovers the labor exploitation in AI, and Ray Brescia, who highlights surveillance capitalism's effects on democracy. Sam Biddle delves into the influence of tech billionaires on military contracts, while Micah Herskind critiques Atlanta's racial dynamics amid policing issues. Michael Sandel raises ethical questions surrounding AI's purpose, and Laís Martins discusses Brazil's struggles to regulate big tech. Together, they explore the intricate ties between technology, power, and society.
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INSIGHT

Music Streams Funding War Machines

  • Gigantic private investment in war tech shows how creativity funds destruction.
  • Popular anti-war songs streaming revenue paradoxically supports arms companies.
INSIGHT

Cop City Highlights Policing Priorities

  • Atlanta’s Cop City debate reveals how police budgets grow even amid social service cuts.
  • Public-private partnerships prioritize corporate interests, revealing policing as protecting wealth over community.
INSIGHT

AI as Modern Empire

  • AI companies operate like modern empires exploiting data, labor, knowledge, and narratives for dominance.
  • They claim resources, monopolize research, and justify control as necessary to counter "evil empires" like China or Google.
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