Data & Society Challenging AI Hype and Tech Industry Power | Book Talk
Jun 11, 2025
In this engaging discussion, guests Karen Hao, an award-winning journalist, Alex Hanna, Director of Research at DARE, and Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor, dive into the hype surrounding artificial intelligence. They debunk misleading AI marketing, revealing its manipulative nature, and highlight the critical role of journalism in fostering public awareness. The trio explores AI's ties to colonialism and environmental issues while advocating for equitable tech practices. They emphasize the importance of empowerment and local narratives in shaping AI policy and challenging industry narratives.
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Episode notes
AI Hype as Marketing Tool
- AI as marketed does not meet its name or expectations and is fundamentally a marketing tool.
- This hype serves to veil the tech industry's real motives and impacts on society.
AI as Modern Empire
- Silicon Valley's AI development model parallels imperial power structures.
- This model threatens democracy by eroding people's agency and fostering exploitation.
The AI Con Supports Empire
- The "con" of AI ideologically supports empire building by fabricating intelligence and value.
- The AI hype conceals lack of substance and serves as an ideological tool for tech monopolies.
