Life with Machines
From Division to Dialogue—How AI Can Save Democracy | Deb Roy (Ep. 16)
Apr 15, 2025
Deb Roy, an MIT professor and former Twitter scientist, discusses how better technology can nurture trust and dialogue in democracy. He shares insights on fostering empathy through storytelling, leveraging AI for community engagement, and the importance of diverse voices in public discourse. The conversation also highlights innovative platforms like Cortico that improve civic collaboration, alongside a light-hearted coffee rivalry between Tim Hortons and Starbucks. Roy's vision reimagines how tech can turn division into constructive dialogue.
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Quick takeaways
- Deb Roy's journey underscores the importance of personal history in shaping one's dedication to civic dialogue and engagement.
- The podcast addresses the need for healthier communication in a polarized society, emphasizing the value of listening over shouting to facilitate understanding.
Deep dives
The Journey from Childhood Experiments to Civic Engagement
Deb Roy's unexpected journey from a childhood of making smoke bombs in his neighbor's yard to becoming a key player in civic engagement showcases how early experiences shape one's passions. Growing up in diverse environments in Canada and India, he developed an understanding of cultural differences, which would later inform his work in dialogue and communication. His youthful curiosity about machines and technologies laid the groundwork for his academic pursuits in AI and language acquisition. These formative experiences highlight the vital connection between personal history and professional undertakings in fostering better civic dialogue.
