Life with Machines

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a leading voice in AI ethics and accountability. As the former Director of Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability at Twitter—before the Elon Musk era—she’s seen firsthand how power, politics, and algorithms collide. She and Baratunde discuss moral outsourcing (why we blame AI instead of its creators), the failure of responsible AI, and the challenge of holding tech accountable when it’s designed to evade scrutiny. Rumman also breaks down her work as CEO of Humane Intelligence, where she’s building tools to expose bias and keep AI systems in check. Plus, BLAIR—the show’s AI co-producer—joins the discussion, proving that auditing AI is anything but simple.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction and Early Tech Memories02:05 Formative Years and High School Experience04:55 Career Beginnings and Responsible AI06:55 Challenges and Innovations in AI15:27 Moral Outsourcing and AI Ethics26:15 Right to Repair and Ownership of Technology36:23 Exploring Worst-Case Scenarios in AI36:37 Addressing Bias in Image Cropping Algorithms37:21 Generative AI for Everyone37:44 National AI Testing Standards38:14 The ARIA Program and Public Involvement38:49 Balancing Rights and Responsibilities in AI41:21 The Importance of Discernment in AI43:07 The Role of Humane Intelligence51:40 Red Teaming Explained54:51 Challenges and Future of Red Teaming56:50 Engaging with AI Ethically01:07:05 Final Reflections and Future Vision01:08:23 Blair: The AI Assistant Producer------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to BLAIR: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LifeWithMachines #X #Twitter #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #AlgorithmicBias #BigTech #AIRegulation #DataPrivacy #SurveillanceCapitalism #GPT #AGI #LLMs

Baratunde Thurston sits down with long-time friend and comedy writer Matt Klinman, co-creator of 'High Science' and former Onion colleague. They delve into the current state of the internet, AI's impact on creativity, and the challenges of modern digital platforms. Klinman shares his skepticism towards AI, the pitfalls of targeted advertising, and reminisces about his comedic journey. The episode also features Meta’s interactive AI-driven game and a joke-writing contest between Matt and Blair, our AI co-producer, highlighting the humorous yet complex interplay between human creativity and machine learning.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Matt Klinman01:31 The Internet and AI: A Critical Perspective03:55 Challenges in the Creative Industry07:29 Comedy and Tech: A Unique Blend19:47 Meta AI Role-Playing Game: Deserted Earth29:16 The Value of Human Connection29:39 Automation in Everyday Life31:19 AI's Practical Uses and Limitations32:37 Experimenting with AI in Creative Work34:08 The Future of AI in Comedy39:55 AI in Media and Entertainment42:08 The Human Touch in Technology43:04 Blair's Comedy Challenge46:36 Refining AI's Humor50:05 Concluding Thoughts and Farewells------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #LifeWithMachines #TechAndComedy #AIHumor #TheOnion #CreativeTech #ComedyHackathon

A week in which Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has upended the AI industry is the perfect moment for tjis prescient episode of Life with Machines. Host Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sara Hooker, head of Cohere for AI, to discuss the future and current limitations of artificial intelligence. From her childhood in Mozambique to her role as a leader in AI research, Sara shares her personal journey, give us her “grumpy takes” on current AI models (spoiler: bigger isn’t necessarily better), and reveals her mission to create smarter, more efficient AI. They discuss the flaws in current models, the need for multilingual AI, the importance of data fairness, and the ethical dilemmas the industry faces. At the end, our AI co-producer BLAIR stops by and Sara straight-up breaks its brain.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Blair and Technology00:35 The Power of the Human Brain vs AI01:08 Meet Sarah Hooker: AI Researcher01:41 Sarah's Journey into Technology03:13 Early Fascinations: Garbage Collection and Fences06:45 Transition from Economics to Machine Learning07:56 Challenges and Breakthroughs at Google Brain10:51 Founding Cohere for AI17:32 Multilingual AI and Future Goals23:32 Open Source AI Models and Collaboration26:41 The Future of AI and Prompt Engineering34:17 Tea Leaf Reading and Prompting as Modern Astrology34:55 The Adversarial Nature of Technology35:28 Bias in Data and Model Design38:04 Understanding Linear Models and Expressiveness40:08 Challenges in Facial Recognition and Bias43:52 The Importance of Multilingual Models47:21 Tokenization and Language Representation57:09 Energy Efficiency and Climate Impact of AI01:02:39 The Need for a New AI Paradigm01:06:50 Blair's Grumpy Take on AI01:12:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #DeepSeek #GenerativeAI #MachineLearning #FutureOfAI #LLMs #AIethics #TechNews #DigitalTransformation #Automation #EmergingTech #AIChatbots

Baratunde sits down with James Andrews, the Chief Innovation Artist at Creator Mode Studios, to explore the intersection of AI and the creator economy, particularly in the music industry. Drawing on his deep experience in the music world, James shares how the creative ethos of hip-hop, with its emphasis on sampling and remixing, foreshadowed the principles of AI. He sees AI not as a replacement for human artists but as a powerful tool to amplify and expand creative expression. James highlights his work with artists like King Willonius, the creator of the AI-generated hit “BBL Drizzy,” as an example of AI's potential to push creative boundaries. He also advocates for fairness and equity in the evolving AI-powered music industry, ensuring that artists' rights and ownership are protected as they embrace these new technologies, and offers some choice words for Hollywood’s business leaders. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about how AI can democratize creativity and empower a new generation of innovative artists around the world.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Intro to the show01:22 Digital Twins and AI Innovations02:17 Behind the Scenes and Setup04:21 James Andrews' Journey and Ventures09:40 Early Life and Tech Memories15:04 AI in Music and Creative Industries22:12 Challenges and Opportunities in AI29:46 Hip Hop, Technology, and Innovation35:20 Balancing Artistry and Technology47:15 The Importance of Data Ownership in the Music Industry48:13 The Evolution of Marketing and Insights49:16 Web 3.0 and the Future of Artist Data Control50:52 AI and Creative Innovation in Music52:02 Case Study: Willonius and AI-Generated Music56:52 Legal Challenges and the Future of AI in Music59:37 Empowering Artists Through Blockchain and Smart Contracts01:19:59 The Role of Education and Imagination in the AI Age01:22:51 Final Thoughts and Future Speculations------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #DigitalInnovation #CreatorEconomy #HipHopTech #AIandCreativity #Blockchain #AIInMusic #FutureOfTech #ArtistEmpowerment #AIRevolution #DigitalTwin #Web3

In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston discusses the ethical, social, and emotional ramifications of AI with digital anthropologist and bestselling author Rahaf Harfoush who offers her perspective from France. They explore how AI is reshaping society in ways similar to fast fashion, creating an abundance of cheap and ubiquitous content, and the growing consumer desire for more ethical, sustainable, and human-centric alternatives. Rahaf shares insights from her research on AI's potential and risks, and her unique perspective on how AI intersects with human life. The conversation delves into the importance of conscious attention, technological impacts on culture, and the broader implications of AI in everyday life. The episode also includes thought-provoking audience questions that touch on topics like AI's role in religion and the potential revival of handcrafted practices in response to automation.------------CHAPTERS00:59 Welcome to Life with Machines01:51 Introducing Rahaf Harfouch03:15 The Role of a Digital Anthropologist06:00 The Evolution of Online Relationships07:45 The Impact of AI on Society20:14 What Do Tech Leaders Believe?28:08 How To Empower Communities Through Technology31:09 Exploring Solar Punk and Technological Harmony32:23 Help Chains on TikTok33:32 The Power of Attention and Human Spirit35:04 Interacting with AI: Pronouns and Human Emotions43:30 AI's Impact on Religion and Spirituality47:00 Crafting and DIY in an Automated World53:41 AI in Pop Culture: Emotional Journeys57:25 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #LifeWithMachines #AIandHumanity #TechAnthropology #DigitalCulture #FutureOfAI #HumanTechInteraction #EmotionalTech #TechSustainability #SolarPunk

Dr. Alondra Nelson, a leading voice in AI policy and former advisor to President Biden, discusses the critical need for regulation in artificial intelligence. She explains how the AI Bill of Rights was conceived and highlights the potential dangers of AI, including misinformation and surveillance that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in democratic elections and the importance of public engagement in shaping ethical technology policies. A quirky AI co-producer even challenges their assumptions, adding an unexpected twist.

Host Baratunde Thurston and Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan delve into the foundations and aspirations of AI development, discussing Anthropic's mission to create safe and beneficial AI systems. Jared shares his early passion for science, his transition from theoretical physics to AI, and Anthropic's unique approach to AI alignment through 'Constitutional AI.' The episode also features an engaging interaction between Blair, the AI co-producer of the show, and Claude, the AI responsible for creating Blair. They discuss AI's ethics, roles, potential for creativity, and the balance of using AI to enhance human productivity while maintaining human values and agency. Jared emphasizes the importance of society's active participation in addressing the evolving role and control of advanced AI systems and the potential for AI to significantly improve human welfare while highlighting the potential risks. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the nature of AI progress and its implications for the future.------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction: The Importance of AI00:15 Meet Claude: The AI Behind the Scenes00:42 Exploring AI's Impact on Society01:09 Special Episode Announcement01:31 Interview with Jared Kaplan02:55 Jared's Early Life with Technology07:20 From Physics to AI15:49 Understanding AI Alignment and Safety17:10 Constitutional AI: Principles and Practices27:51 Claude's Unique Features and Capabilities34:26 The Future of AI and Society49:02 AI's Creative Boundaries51:01 Cultural Sensitivity in AI54:58 The Future of AI Progress01:00:03 Data and Intellectual Property01:02:22 Human-Level AI by 203001:08:55 Ethical Considerations in AI01:11:43 AI Collaboration and Creativity01:19:25 Blair Meets Claude01:34:41 Conclusion and Credits------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandEditor, Videographer, and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media.Theme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production.Sponsored by Lenovo #ClaudeAI #BlairAI #AIConstitution #AIAlignment #AIExperiment

In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston speaks with Peter Loforte, a tech visionary who spent over three decades at Microsoft, and now helps us explore the future of AI integration into our daily lives. He is a tech patent holder and the creative force behind BLAIR, our custom AI assistant powering "Life with Machines.” Peter recounts his early experiences with technology, dives deep into the development and potential of AI, and discusses the ethical concerns surrounding AI's growing role. We also chat with BLAIR, exploring the sometimes awkward, sometimes insightful interactions that will define our collective future as AI becomes more embedded in our daily lives. From the worldview of tech pioneers to the impact on children and the business interests driving AI development, this episode offers a unique perspective on the "Life with Machines" podcast.------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Life with Machines00:45 Meet Peter Loforte: Tech Visionary03:07 Early Encounters with Technology06:31 The Fascination with AI and Sci-Fi11:16 The Rise and Fall of Clippy17:41 The Evolution of AI and Machine Learning20:29 The Role of AI in Modern Technology21:45 The Impact of ChatGPT27:20 The Future of Software Engineering30:13 Concerns About AI and Human Interaction34:14 The Impact of Technology on Children35:27 Exploring AI Systems and Their Differences38:03 The Rapid Deployment and Risks of AI40:21 The Ethical Dilemmas of AI Development45:33 Building Blair: A Behind-the-Scenes Look50:20 The Future of AI and Human Interaction54:36 Blair's Role and Potential in AI Development01:10:48 Final Thoughts and Reflections on AI------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandEditor, Videographer, and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media.Theme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production.Sponsored by Lenovo #microsoft #creatingAI #clippy #earlyinternet #techfounder #behindthescenes #machines

In this special, bonus episode, I sit down with executive producer and co-creator Elizabeth Stewart, an entrepreneur and civic innovator deeply devoted to human collaboration. She is also my wife and life partner. We discuss our different approaches to tech and why Elizabeth thinks this show is important: from the worldview of tech founders to who gets a seat at the table, the business interests driving AI, what inspires our guest choices and Life with Machines’ unique approach to AI. Plus, we chat with our AI co-producer, Blair, to practice the sometimes-awkward human-machine interactions that will be part of all of our futures.------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandEditor, Videographer, and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media.Theme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production.Sponsored by Lenovo #AI #Tech #ElizabethStewart #UrbanPlanning #Design #WorldView #Ethics

Can AI help us thrive? Arianna Huffington thinks it can. We discuss her new AI wellness venture aimed at hacking health and happiness. Plus, our AI co-producer, BLAIR, explores mindfulness—with some unexpected results.---------Chapters0:00 Intro3:01 What's Arianna Huffington doing with AI and why?11:00 How does Arianna Huffington's Thrive AI Health help us reconnect to our souls?17:31 The why behind Arianna's latest venture.21:47 Ad25:54 How does Thrive AI work?42:10 Who is Thrive for?51:08 Making money by appealing to our better angels.56:07 Arianna Huffington's personal Thrive reset01:02:43 The spiritual motivations of tech leaders01:09:02 Arianna Huffington meets our AI co-producer, Blair---------More Arianna Huffington: Arianna HuffingtonThrive GlobalXSign up for our newsletter! www.lifewithmachines.mediaFollow us!InstagramTikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media---------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandEditor, Videographer, and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media.Theme Music: Andy ClausenSet design: Elizabeth Stewart, Cesar Reyes, and Layne Deyling CherlandSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production.Sponsored by: Lenovo#AI #AriannaHuffington #Wellness #Mindfulness #HealthTech