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The Sunday Show

Gary Marcus Wants to Tame Silicon Valley

Sep 22, 2024
In this insightful discussion, Gary Marcus, an author and advocate for responsible AI development, highlights the critical moral implications of artificial intelligence. He argues that tech companies should be held accountable for the societal harms caused by their products, such as misinformation and cybercrime. Marcus emphasizes the need for stronger governance, proposing a dedicated digital agency and policy innovations to ensure AI benefits democracy rather than jeopardizing it. His call for collective consumer action against unethical practices in AI sets the stage for a more responsible technological future.
44:31

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Artificial intelligence companies often externalize societal harms like misinformation and cybercrime, urging the need for accountability and regulation.
  • A shift towards profit-driven motives in Silicon Valley compromises ethical AI development, highlighting the necessity for responsible consumer choices to influence industry practices.

Deep dives

The Ethical Costs of Generative AI

Companies developing artificial intelligence systems are often criticized for externalizing negative consequences of their technologies onto society, particularly regarding issues like misinformation and cybercrime. The tools they create can lead to serious societal harms, such as deepfakes being used in kidnapping schemes or teenage girls being targeted by malicious software to create fake nudes. Companies are not held accountable for these externalities and often fail to compensate affected individuals whose intellectual property is exploited without remuneration. The expectation is that society will absorb these costs, further entrenching the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by generative AI.

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