POLITICO Tech

Spot the robot dog has drawn public backlash for its use by law enforcement. But Robert Playter, the CEO of Spot’s creator, Boston Dynamics, says notions of robots taking over the world are fantasies fueled by fear. On POLITICO Tech, he tells host Steven Overly what the robot future will really look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The doomsday scenarios about AI run amok garner a lot of attention, but would policymakers be better off focusing on its  problems here and now? That’s the case Janet Haven, executive director at Data & Society, makes on today’s POLITICO Tech with host Steven Overly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Upcoming AI legislation in California is discussed, highlighting the state's influence on policy areas and the presence of major tech companies. The upcoming debate on AI regulation in California is explored, including the possibility of setting a national standard. Governor Newsom's conflicting views on the tech industry and his impact on policy decisions are analyzed. The role of Jason Elliott in the AI discussions in California is highlighted, emphasizing the growing interest in AI among the legislature. The battle between unions and the tech sector over AI regulation is discussed, along with California's potential impact as a trendsetter in tech and data privacy.

Daniel Colson, Founder of AI Policy Institute, discusses the public's concerns about AI's destructive potential, the need for regulation, and challenges around AI development including superhuman capabilities, bioterrorism risks, and power accumulation. Survey results highlight worries about the use of AI in war and the need for government intervention. They also explore the importance of including different demographics in AI conversations and the impact of AI on marginalized communities.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized the Biden administration’s  digital trade agenda, going so far as to say recent policy decisions are giving China a leg up in the global tech race. On POLITICO Tech, Reps. Darin Lahood (R-Ill.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) argue U.S. trade officials must change course in a conversation with host Steven Overly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big U.N. Climate Change Conference -- COP28 -- is underway in Dubai and the role of emerging technologies in the fight against global warming is likely to be a recurring theme. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly asks Marcene Mitchell of the World Wildlife Fund to expound on the promise and the hype behind these technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abortion access has changed dramatically since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. And the landscape for data privacy protections is changing, too. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly examines the current state of privacy concerns over period-tracking apps and other health data with POLITICO reporter Ruth Reader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China is ahead in exporting AI globally. China's strategy and impact on AI development and control. Contrasting approaches to AI development and regulation. Concerns about Huawei technology and US influence. Financial implications of countering China's AI dominance.

The Federal Election Commission is often politically gridlocked. Now, there’s growing pressure on the agency to consider rules for political ads that contain AI-generated deepfakes. On POLITICO Tech, Democratic FEC Chair Dara Lindenbaum tells host Steven Overly why those calls for action face a bigger obstacle than partisanship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's abrupt removal and subsequent reinstatement sparks discussions on the future of AI. The fallout reveals tensions over managing AI and raises questions about the balance between profit and safety. The significance of the OpenAI saga and the need for effective governance are explored. The podcast also delves into CSET's relationship with the effective altruism movement and the tension between addressing immediate risks and long-term AI threats.