Tech Won't Save Us Generative AI is Not Inevitable w/ Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
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May 22, 2025 
Emily M. Bender is a linguistics professor at the University of Washington, while Alex Hanna is the Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges and misconceptions surrounding generative AI. They critique how the industry keeps the public engaged despite failed promises. The discussion includes the implications of AI in education, emphasizing critical thinking over commercialization. They advocate for greater accountability in AI's development and stress that the future of technology is not predetermined, encouraging public engagement.
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AI Inevitability Narrative Critiqued
- The narrative that AI development is inevitable steals public agency and choice.
- AI or AGI's continued presence in our lives is not predetermined or unavoidable.
Book Originated From Podcast
- The AI Con book grew from a podcast called Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 that was made without initial plans.
- The podcast informed the authors on how to present a coherent argument about AI hype to a larger audience.
Why AI Hype Persists
- AI hype persists because it exploits linguistic and sociological dynamics that amplify belief and investment.
- This hype masks harms and keeps the public misinformed about AI's real capabilities and industry goals.
