Ben Zhao

Ben Zhao, a computer science professor at the University of Chicago, focuses on adversarial machine learning and safeguards against AI-related harms. He unveils tools like Glaze and Nightshade designed to protect artists from A.I. misuse and shares strategies to counter surveillance tech. Zhao warns of the A.I. bubble's burst, examines the ethical dilemmas within tech, and discusses the tension between innovation and protecting intellectual property in the creative realm. His insights draw a vivid picture of the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on art.

In this discussion, guest Ben Zhao, a Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago and expert in generative AI, dives into the complex interactions between individuals and big tech companies. He explores how AI's increasing need for data raises ethical questions about privacy and copyright. Zhao highlights innovative solutions to protect creatives and the urgency for regulatory clarity. The conversation also touches on how tech benefits and societal trade-offs affect everyday life, prompting listeners to rethink their relationship with technology.

In this engaging conversation, Ben Zhao, a Neubauer professor of computer science at the University of Chicago, dives into the critical intersection of security and generative AI. He introduces innovative tools like Fawkes, which masks images from facial recognition, and Glaze, designed to protect artists from style mimicry by subtly altering their work. Zhao also unveils Nightshade, a sophisticated defense mechanism that disrupts generative AI's ability to replicate artistic creations, raising vital questions about data poisoning and copyright in the AI era.