Emily M. Bender

In this discussion, AI research scientist Margaret Mitchell, linguistics professor Emily M. Bender, and Vox's Seagal Samuel examine the unsettling consequences of AI. They delve into ethics and responsibility when AI causes harm, reflecting on real-world impacts on minority populations. The trio also tackles biases in technology, the challenges of emotional complexity in AI, and the urgent need for ethical oversight. Their candid insights stress the pressing concerns over AI's future and highlight the balance between innovation and societal responsibility.

Emily M. Bender is a linguistics professor at the University of Washington, while Alex Hanna is the Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges and misconceptions surrounding generative AI. They critique how the industry keeps the public engaged despite failed promises. The discussion includes the implications of AI in education, emphasizing critical thinking over commercialization. They advocate for greater accountability in AI's development and stress that the future of technology is not predetermined, encouraging public engagement.

Paris Marx is joined by Emily M. Bender to discuss what it means to say that ChatGPT is a “stochastic parrot,” why Elon Musk is calling to pause AI development, and how the tech industry uses language to trick us into buying its narratives about technology. Emily M. Bender is a professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Washington and the Faculty Director of the Computational Linguistics Master’s Program. She’s also the director of the Computational Linguistics Laboratory. Follow Emily on Twitter at @emilymbender or on Mastodon at @emilymbender@dair-community.social. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon. The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.  Also mentioned in this episode:Emily was one of the co-authors on the “On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots” paper and co-wrote the “Octopus Paper” with Alexander Koller. She was also recently profiled in New York Magazine and has written about why policymakers shouldn’t fall for the AI hype.The Future of Life Institute put out the “Pause Giant AI Experiments” letter and the authors of the “Stochastic Parrots” paper responded through DAIR Institute.Zachary Loeb has written about Joseph Weizenbaum and the ELIZA chatbot.Leslie Kay Jones has researched how Black women use and experience social media.As generative AI is rolled out, many tech companies are firing their AI ethics teams.Emily points to Algorithmic Justice League and AI Incident Database.Deborah Raji wrote about data and systemic racism for MIT Tech Review.Books mentioned: Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil, Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff, Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin, Ghost Work by Mary L Gray & Siddharth Suri, Artificial Unintelligence by Meredith Broussard, Design Justice by Sasha Costanza-Chock, Data Conscience: Algorithmic S1ege on our Hum4n1ty by Brandeis Marshall.Support the show

Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor at the University of Washington, and Alex Hanna, Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute, dive deep into AI's environmental impacts and ethical dilemmas. They challenge the sustainability claims of tech giants, revealing the hidden costs of large language models. The duo debates whether AI tools are genuinely beneficial or just sophisticated tricks, critiquing benchmark practices and discussing the implications of AI in fields like medicine. Their candid exchange leaves listeners questioning the true cost of generative AI.

In a thought-provoking conversation, linguist Emily Bender and AI researcher Alex Hanna challenge the inflated promises of AI technologies in their new book, 'The AI Con'. They discuss the misleading narratives around AI's artistic capabilities, questioning the illusion of creativity it presents. The duo emphasizes the importance of confronting current AI-related challenges, like bias and environmental impact. They also highlight the need for community-focused AI development, urging a balanced perspective on technology's true potential.

Emily Bender and Alex Hanna, authors of 'AI The Con,' delve into the myths surrounding AI technology. They simplify how systems like ChatGPT work, comparing them to ‘synthetic text extruding machines’ built from basic origins. The duo critiques the hype, especially regarding AI’s role in education, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach as it can complicate academic integrity. Additionally, they discuss the ethical implications of massive datasets and advocate for a community-oriented mindset in integrating AI into learning environments.

Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor and influential figure in AI, teams up with Alex Hanna, director of research at DAIR, to dissect the misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence. They discuss the urgent need for clarity in AI terminology and the societal impact of technology hype. The duo challenges the dichotomy between optimistic and pessimistic views on AI and highlights how educators must navigate its impact on teaching and student engagement. Their insights encourage a community-focused approach to understanding and regulating AI developments.

Tech futurists have been saying for decades that artificial intelligence will transform the way we live. In some ways, it already has: Think autocorrect, Siri, facial recognition. But ChatGPT and other generative A.I. models are also prone to getting things wrong—and whether the programs will improve with time is not altogether clear. So what purpose, exactly, does this iteration of A.I. actually serve, how is it likely to be adopted, and who stands to benefit (or suffer) from it? On episode 67 of The Politics of Everything, hosts Laura Marsh and Alex Pareene talk with Washington Post reporter Will Oremus about a troubling tale of A.I. fabulism; with science fiction author Ted Chiang about ramifications of an A.I-polluted internet; and with linguist Emily M. Bender about what large-language models can and cannot do—and whether we’re asking the right questions about this technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily M. Bender is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Washington, while Alex Hanna leads research at the Distributed AI Research Institute. They discuss their new book, which critiques the exaggerated hype surrounding AI and advocates for a more realistic view of its societal impact. The conversation highlights AI's effects on labor, the importance of worker advocacy, and the challenges of algorithm-driven governance. They also share insights on promoting critical thinking in education and their commitment to fighting misinformation.

Emily Bender, a Linguistics Professor at the University of Washington, and Alex Hanna, a sociologist and Director of Research at DAIR, dive into the AI hype we encounter every day. They clarify the misuse of 'AI' and why community-driven projects may better serve marginalized groups. The conversation unpacks the real-world harms of generative tools, questions the limits of automated creativity, and emphasizes the need for accountability in tech. Their insights reveal a path toward ethical and inclusive AI that reflects diverse voices.