Center for AI Policy Podcast

Gabe Alfour, Chief Technology Officer at Conjecture, joined the podcast to discuss superintelligence, AI-accelerated science, the limits of technology, different perspectives on the future of AI, loss of control risks, AI racing, international treaties, and more. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and relevant links, visit the Center for AI Policy Podcast Substack.

Bill Drexel, a Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, dives into the alarming intersection of AI and national security in the context of U.S.-China relations. He discusses China's aggressive surveillance tactics, particularly in Xinjiang, and the ominous potential for AI to enhance biological weapons. The conversation also touches on the competitive landscape of AI development, the implications of autonomous systems, and the need for the U.S. to navigate these challenges while upholding its core values.

Anton Korinek, a University of Virginia professor specializing in AI's economic and workforce impacts, dives into AI's transformative potential. He discusses the balance between AI-driven productivity gains and automation's threats to white-collar jobs. The conversation touches on universal basic income, career planning in the age of AI, and the need for workforce adaptation. Korinek also highlights the implications of AI in sectors like fintech and podcasting, emphasizing equitable access to technology and the necessity for reskilling workers in a rapidly evolving economy.

Nick Whitaker, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute with a rich background in emerging tech policy and AI investment, discusses a range of vital topics. He emphasizes the interplay between AI and economic growth while warning about the socio-economic risks it brings. The conversation navigates the global AI landscape and the need for ethical guidelines and cybersecurity. Whitaker also explores future AI companionship, its effects on human interaction, and strategies to enhance AI talent recruitment and strengthen international collaboration among allies.

Dr. Michael K. Cohen, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley, specializes in advanced AI safety and regulation. He discusses OpenAI's superalignment research and highlights the potential dangers of AI surpassing human control. The conversation touches on policy proposals like California's SB 1047, the challenges of evaluating AI actions, and the importance of designing constrained AI systems. Cohen also delves into the complexities of long-term planning agents and the ethical concerns surrounding advanced AI technologies.

Ellen P. Goodman, a distinguished professor of law at Rutgers Law School, dives into the pressing issues surrounding AI accountability. She discusses the NTIA's AI accountability report, advocating for clear standards and effective regulation. Topics include the need for transparency in AI-generated content and the importance of watermarking to track data origins. Goodman contrasts U.S. and European regulatory approaches and emphasizes the necessity for a cultural shift in both academia and industry to prioritize societal impacts. Her insights shed light on the intricate balance of liability in AI governance.

Stephen Casper, a PhD student at MIT specializing in AI safety, dives into the intricacies of AI interpretability and the looming challenges of deceptive alignment. He explains the subtle complexities behind unobservable failures in AI systems, emphasizing the importance of robust evaluations and audits. The discussion also touches on Goodhart's law, illustrating the risks of prioritizing profit over societal well-being, as well as the pressing need for effective governance alongside AI advancements.

Kelsey Piper, Senior Writer at Vox, joined the podcast to discuss OpenAI's recent incident involving exit documents, the extent to which OpenAI's actions were unreasonable, and the broader significance of this story. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and relevant links, visit the Center for AI Policy Podcast Substack.

Tamay Besiroglu, Associate Director of Epoch AI, discusses the trends driving AI progress, including scaling data and models with compute, challenges in AI chip production, financing, and economic impacts of automation. Exploring AI capabilities in forecasting and research work.

Katja Grace, Co-founder and lead researcher at AI Impacts, dives into the future of AI and its inherent risks. She shares her journey into AI, driven by a desire for positive global change. The discussion unpacks an extensive survey of AI researchers, revealing evolving perceptions about AI capabilities and timelines. Grace emphasizes the importance of aligning AI development with human values to mitigate existential risks and advocates for a collaborative approach to ensure responsible technological advancement.