IRL: Online Life is Real Life

There are some good reasons to let AI into our brains. But how much do we know about the privacy of brain data? Host Bridget Todd explores how AI is interacting with our thoughts, memories and (dis)abilities, and what it all means for brain privacy. Ian Burkhart had an experimental brain implant that allowed him to move his hand and fingers after he was paralyzed in an accident. Now Ian leads a coalition to help others have the same opportunity.Maria Paz Canales is a digital rights advocate who argues against creating a new set of rights focused solely on the privacy of brain data.Pau Aleikum Garcia, co-founder of Domestic Data Streamers, uses generative AI to help people preserve their core memories.

This episode dives into the impacts of AI on dating and love. Host Bridget Todd uncovers biases in dating algorithms, revealing how they affect attractiveness and perpetuate discrimination. With insights from users and founders of innovative apps, the discussion highlights a new platform that values personality over superficial traits. Privacy in dating apps is also scrutinized, as the line between human connection and AI companionship blurs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of inclusive design and genuine interactions in a tech-driven world.

Bridget Todd is on a journey to find out how AI affects us on a personal level. From her love life to her city, to the privacy of her memories, Bridget digs deep to uncover the relationship between us and AI.  She talks to people who question the status quo, and pour their hearts into shaping AI that will change our lives without invading our privacy.

We’re excited to share that Mozilla's IRL podcast is a Shorty Awards finalist in the Science and Technology Podcast category! If you enjoy IRL you can show your support by voting for us.The Shorty Awards recognizes great content by brands, agencies and nonprofits. It’s really an honor to be able to feature the voices and stories of the folks who are putting people over profit in AI. A Shorty Award will help bring these stories to even more listeners. How to vote1. Go to mzl.la/shorty2. Click 'Vote in Science and Technology Podcast'3. create a username and password (it's easy, we promise!)4. Come back and vote every day until April 30thWe believe putting people over profit is award-worthy. Don’t you?  Thanks for your support!

Artists negotiating boundaries of consent for AI use in creative industries; concerns of screenwriters replaced by AI; negotiations in film industry to protect rights of writers; intersection of AI and music production; consent and exploitation in AI; AI in hip-hop and challenges in rap generators; impact of generative AI on creative process and importance of aesthetics.

In this episode, Bridget Todd talks to AI community leaders from the US, Kenya, and New Zealand about the power of big tech over language. They discuss the importance of defending data rights from big AI companies and the survival of languages in the future. The podcast also explores the challenges of voice technology, language as a form of resistance, and revitalizing indigenous languages using AI and storytelling. It touches upon data sovereignty, grassroots AI communities, and the struggle for startups against big tech. The episode concludes with insights on community control and reclaiming the internet.

This podcast explores the challenges of AI in real life, including the testing of autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, uncovering discriminatory AI in welfare fraud prediction, prioritizing people over profits in AI governance, and addressing the fear and control of AI through regulations and personalized infrastructure.

They’re the essential workers of AI — yet mostly invisible and exploited. Does it have to be this way? Bridget Todd talks to data workers and entrepreneurs pushing for change.Millions of people work on data used to train AI behind the scenes. Often, they are underpaid and even traumatized by what they see. In this episode: a company charting a different path; a litigator holding big tech accountable; and data workers organizing for better conditions.Thank you to Foxglove and Superrr for sharing recordings from the the Content Moderators Summit in Nairobi, Kenya in May, 2023.Richard Mathenge helped establish a union for content moderators after surviving a traumatic experience as a contractor in Kenya training Open AI’s ChatGPT.Mercy Mutemi is a litigator for digital rights in Kenya who has issued challenges to some of the biggest global tech companies on behalf of hundreds of data workers.Krista Pawloski is a full time data worker on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform and is an organizer with the worker-led advocacy group, Turkopticon.Safiya Husain is the co-founder of Karya, a company in India with an alternative business model to compensate data workers at rates that reflect the high value of the data.IRL: Online Life is Real Life is an original podcast from Mozilla, the non-profit behind Firefox. In Season 7, host Bridget Todd talks to AI builders that put people ahead of profit.

The podcast discusses the risks and rewards of open sourcing large language models. They cover topics such as the potential harms of LLMs, downsizing responsible AI teams, auditing biased and harmful content, and prioritizing privacy and democratizing AI development.

This podcast discusses the impact of AI on people and the need to prioritize their well-being over profits. It highlights responsible alternatives to AI technology, showcases trailblazers creating language tools for their communities, and emphasizes the importance of ethical datasets for generative AI.