The Dissenter

#976 Azim Shariff: Social Robots, Free Will, Rags-To-Riches Stories, and the Moralization of Effort

Aug 5, 2024
Dr. Azim Shariff, a professor and Canada Research Chair, explores cultural attitudes towards AI and robots, revealing stark contrasts between North America and East Asia. He discusses the role of robot preachers, highlighting their influence on religious engagement. The conversation delves into beliefs about free will and moral responsibility, examining how they affect political ideologies. Shariff also tackles 'rags-to-riches' narratives, illustrating how societal beliefs about effort shape views on poverty, wealth, and social mobility.
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