Sendhil Mullainathan

Sendhil Mullainathan, a Professor at MIT and a behavioral economics expert, shares his insights on the rapidly shifting AI landscape. He discusses the implications of Elon Musk's bid to control OpenAI and the emergence of competitors like DeepSeek AI. The conversation delves into the complexities of regulating AI, emphasizing accountability, ethical considerations, and the challenges of balancing profit with public welfare. Mullainathan also highlights the necessity for innovative governance and citizen participation in shaping AI regulations to protect societal interests.

Prof. Sendhil Mullainathan discusses the firing and rehiring of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, governance of AI and innovation, regulating AI in comparison to the nuclear industry, profit vs. non-profit strategies in AI, citizen governance in various sectors, expressing viewpoints and regulating competition in the AI field, AI as a winner-takes-all business, and Larry Summers' stance on technology and AI.

Sendhil Mullainathan, a Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and co-founder of Ideas42, dives into pressing issues like racial bias in hiring practices. He discusses landmark findings from his research that show stark disparities in job callbacks based solely on race. The conversation also touches on the challenges of integrating AI with social sciences, highlighting the need for accurate data representation. Mullainathan advocates for innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand human behavior and tackle societal issues.

In this discussion, economist Sendhil Mullainathan and psychologist Eldar Shafir dive into their book "Scarcity: The True Cost of Not Having Enough." They reveal how scarcity impacts decision-making and cognitive abilities, especially in poverty, loneliness, and time constraints. The conversation touches on personal experiences and strategies for overcoming the traps of scarcity, highlighting the necessity of effective support systems. Together, they explore societal projects related to mental health and the influence of technology, emphasizing collaboration for better outcomes.

Daryl Morey, President of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers and a trailblazer in sports analytics, teams up with Sendhil Mullainathan, an MIT professor specializing in algorithms and behavior. They explore how AI is revolutionizing basketball strategies and decision-making, including the use of language models in scouting. The conversation dives into the balance between entertainment and efficiency, the potential for algorithmic bias, and the future roles of experts in sports amidst this tech evolution.