Amba Kak

Amba Kak and Sarah Myers West, both Senior Policy Advisors at the AI Now Institute, dive into the intricacies of the AI boom. They challenge the ‘too big to fail’ narrative surrounding AI companies and unpack how corporate power is consolidating in tech. The duo also critiques Trump’s AI agenda, highlighting Silicon Valley's support and the dangers of political narratives overshadowing public interests. Their insights illuminate the need for a more democratic and accountable AI landscape, while advocating for workers' rights and ethical practices in tech.

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/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Listen, subscribe, and follow on our YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts. Let's get ready for the future! 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/