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Pioneers of AI

Flourishing in the age of AI, with Eric Horvitz

Jan 8, 2025
Eric Horvitz, Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft and an expert in AI ethics, joins his longtime colleague Rana el Kaliouby for a thought-provoking discussion. They explore how AI can enhance human flourishing, balancing creativity and ownership with ethical standards. Horvitz highlights the importance of genuine human connection in an automated world and addresses the darker aspects of AI evolution, including disinformation risks. He also offers insights on navigating career choices in an AI-driven landscape, emphasizing mentorship and personal growth.
32:39

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Eric Horvitz emphasizes the necessity of contemplating human dignity while integrating AI into various facets of society.
  • Microsoft's Ether Committee exemplifies a structured approach to ethical AI, ensuring accountability and assessing risks to serve humanity positively.

Deep dives

Significance of AI in Human Experience

AI is poised to revolutionize various aspects of human life, influencing how we work, learn, and communicate. Eric Horvitz highlights the need to contemplate the nature of human dignity and authenticity amidst this technological advancement. Despite AI's capacity to produce high-quality outputs, there remains a longing for human-crafted work, exemplified by the joy in writing emails that reflect genuine human thought. This emphasis on the human touch underscores a fundamental question: how can we coexist with AI while preserving what it means to be truly human?

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