AI Hype Distracted Us From Real Problems w/ Timnit Gebru
Jan 18, 2024
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Timnit Gebru, founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute, discusses AI hype, the influence of tech companies on regulation, and tech's connection to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. They cover topics such as discriminatory AI systems, labor exploitation, OpenAI drama, and the involvement of tech companies in military contracts.
Addressing labor exploitation is crucial for creating a more ethical and sustainable AI industry.
The ideologies of AI industry leaders serve to legitimize their accumulation of wealth and power.
The tech industry's involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raises concerns about complicity and human rights violations.
Deep dives
Labor exploitation is key in the AI industry
The main point of discussion in the podcast episode revolves around the exploitation of labor in the AI industry. Whether it's discriminatory AI systems, face recognition technology, generative AI, or AI art, the ability to exploit labor is crucial for these AI companies to succeed. The podcast emphasizes that if these companies couldn't exploit labor, their market calculations would show that their products are not viable. Therefore, it is argued that the focus should be on addressing labor exploitation in the AI industry to create a more ethical and sustainable framework.
The ideologies shaping the AI industry
The podcast delves into the ideologies prevalent in the AI industry. It highlights the tendency of tech leaders and AI proponents to position themselves as saviors or guardians of humanity. They often present AI as a solution to all problems or as a potential existential risk. These ideologies serve to legitimize the accumulation of wealth, power, and influence by these industry players. The viewpoints of influential figures like Sam Altman and Jeffrey Hinton are scrutinized, revealing contradictions and inconsistencies in their stance on AI regulation, while also downplaying issues like discrimination and labor exploitation.
The complicity of the tech industry in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The podcast addresses the complicity of the tech industry, specifically OpenAI and its staff, in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It highlights posts made by OpenAI's head of research platform, Tal Broda, which seemingly support and justify the violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The discussion emphasizes the silence and lack of action from tech industry leaders, such as Sam Altman, in response to these inflammatory statements. It also draws attention to how the tech industry's support and provision of technological tools to the Israeli military contributes to the ongoing oppression of Palestinians, linking the industry's involvement to the broader issue of apartheid and international human rights violations.
AI and Media Coverage
The podcast episode explores the influence of media coverage on the AI industry. The speaker criticizes the media's tendency to focus on individuals and certain perspectives while overlooking alternative viewpoints. The examples discussed include the coverage of AI in Africa and its potential impact on labor in developing countries.
AI, Power, and Militarization
The podcast episode also delves into the intersection of AI and power. It highlights the increasing collaboration between tech companies and the military, focusing on the unlimited military budgets that incentivize such partnerships. The discussion extends to the use of AI in conflict zones, specifically examining how AI technologies can perpetuate harm on targeted populations while shielding those deploying the technology from direct consequences.
Paris Marx is joined by Timnit Gebru to discuss the past year in AI hype, how AI companies have shaped regulation, and tech’s relationship to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.
Also mentioned in this episode:
Paris is speaking in Montreal on January 20. Details here.
Billy Perrigo reported on OpenAI lobbying to water down the EU’s AI Act.
Nitasha Tiku wrote about the push to train students in a particular idea of AI.
Politico has been doing a lot of reporting on the influences on AI policy in the US and UK.
OpenAI made a submission in the UK to try to get permission to train on copyrighted material.
Arab workers in the tech industry fear the consequences of speaking out for Palestinian rights.
972 Magazine reported on Israel’s use of AI to increase its targets in Gaza.
Jack Poulson chronicles the growing ties between military and tech.
Timnit mentioned No Tech for Apartheid, Antony Loewenstein’s The Palestine Laboratory, and Malcolm Harris’ Palo Alto.
