Burning Platforms Bursting Bubbles with Dan McQuillan
Oct 7, 2025
Dan McQuillan, a professor and author of "Resisting AI," joins a panel to dissect the complicated landscape of artificial intelligence. They explore the launch of the Sora video platform and its potential for deepfakes, highlighting the thin veneer of safety measures. A lively debate ensues about AI's impact on film and advertising, revealing its manipulative potential. McQuillan argues for resisting AI's rapid development instead of mere regulation, citing ethical implications and systemic risks that could harm workers and society.
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Synthetic Video Undermines Trust
- Sora and synthetic video tools dangerously degrade trust by making all video evidence suspect.
- Dan McQuillan warns this will amplify misinformation, scams, and social distrust at scale.
AI Actors Cheapen Creative Labour
- Synthetic actors like 'Tilly Norwood' signal a cultural cheapening of creative work.
- Dan McQuillan predicts blockbuster content will become mass AI-generated slop, displacing human artistry.
Chat Interfaces Invite Surveillance Ads
- Embedding chat interfaces into ad ecosystems predictably converts conversational AI into surveillance advertising.
- Dan McQuillan expects most users to be monetised via ads while a tiny minority pay subscriptions.
