Kinley Salmon, the Africa correspondent for The Economist, provides keen insights into the upcoming election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, delving into the incumbent's potential advantages and the pervasive skepticism among voters. Abby Bertix, a science correspondent, discusses the groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence, addressing the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated content. Lastly, the podcast touches on New York's new congestion charge, aiming to tackle traffic woes while navigating public opinion challenges.
Voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo lack faith in the electoral process, following the disputed results of the previous election in 2018, raising doubts about the credibility and fairness of the upcoming elections.
Advancements in artificial intelligence in 2023 have raised concerns about misinformation, bias, and the safety of AI's growing capabilities, with debates emerging regarding the ethics of AI ownership and commercial use.
Deep dives
Democratic Republic of Congo Elections: Hope for Change Amidst Doubt
The upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo hold promise for reducing poverty and progressing towards peace. However, many voters lack faith in the electoral process following the disputed results of the previous election in 2018. President Chisaketti's tenure has seen some economic growth, but issues of extreme poverty, currency devaluation, and failure to bring peace to the war-stricken eastern region remain unsolved. While a few contenders, including Moise Khatumbi, challenge the president, the opposition is split, making it difficult to unseat the incumbent. Concerns about irregularities and potential rigging persist, raising doubts about the credibility and fairness of the elections.
The Advancement and Ethical Implications of AI in 2023
The year 2023 witnessed major developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Language models like chat GPT-4 took center stage, generating fluent and human-readable text. However, these advancements raise concerns about the potential for misinformation, bias, and the safety of AI's growing capabilities. Researchers are exploring avenues to make models even bigger or smaller, while addressing issues of alignment and the prevention of hallucinations in text generation. Additionally, debates surrounding the ethics of AI ownership and commercial use have emerged, as AI increasingly becomes a commercial product.
The Implementation of Congestion Pricing in New York City
After years of consideration and debate, New York City is set to introduce a congestion pricing scheme similar to London's. The plan aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve the economy, and generate funds to upgrade the city's transit system. Under the scheme, drivers entering Manhattan's central business district will be required to pay fees, with varying charges based on vehicle type. Despite some resistance from New Jersey drivers and concerns about toll rebates, the plan has gained approval and is expected to be implemented in May 2024.
After a dubious win in 2018, Felix Tshisekedi is running for office again in the Democratic Republic of Congo – and an incumbency bias could work in his favour. Is there any hope for a fair election? 2023 has brought a flurry of news on the developments of artificial intelligence, so let’s take stock (13:45). And, why New York is introducing a congestion charge (21:50).
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