Misha chats with Amba Kak, a globally recognized technology policy expert currently working as the executive director at AI Now.
They discuss the dominance of big tech companies over AI development and deployment, why it matters, and the possible implications if it continues unchecked.
Amba also shares her insights on the trajectory of AI and how it's shaped and controlled by power structures, infrastructure and data.
This conversation also explores the need for more public involvement in shaping technology's future, alongside the pursuit of decentralization and democratic control over AI.
00:00 Introduction and Overview of AI
00:35 Guest Introduction and Background
01:56 Journey from India to the UK and the US
02:18 Deep Dive into AI and its Future
02:35 Guest's Experience and Insights on Global Understanding
02:52 Exploring the Unconventional Path to AI
03:43 Understanding the Global Impact of AI
04:54 Guest's Early Career and Aspirations
05:15 The Role of Law and Activism in Tech
08:13 The Journey to Oxford and Beyond
12:39 Working on Net Neutrality in India
18:23 Transition to Mozilla and Advocacy for Privacy Rights
22:16 Joining AI Now Institute and Its Purpose
31:01 The Influence of Big Tech on AI
33:44 The Scarcity of Compute Resources and Its Impact on AI Development
34:21 The Role of Big Tech Firms in AI Research
34:30 The Influence of Microsoft on OpenAI
35:12 The Importance of Data in AI Development
35:39 The Dominance of Large Tech Firms in AI
36:04 The Debate on AI Safety and Acceleration
36:31 The Control of Infrastructure in AI
37:01 The Existential Risk of Concentrated Power in AI
37:56 The Impact of AI Narratives on Tech Companies' Profits
39:03 The Infrastructural Dependencies and Climate Impact of AI
39:44 The Growing Awareness of the Problem of Concentration in AI
40:06 The Role of Competition Regulators in AI
42:12 The Future of AI and Big Tech
54:27 The Business Model Powering AI
55:20 The Vision for AI in the Public Interest
57:02 The Future of AI and Its Impact on Society
Connect with Amba Kak:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambaonadventure
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amba-kak-48569b108/
Learn more about AINow Institute:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ainowinstitute
Website/Newsletter: https://ainowinstitute.org/
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Misha da Vinci is a futurologist, tech thinker, and writer.
Connect with Misha:
Newsletter: https://mishadavinci.substack.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mishadavinci
Website: https://www.mishadavinci.com/
