POLITICO Tech

Yesterday the Federal Trade Commission dropped its long-awaited case against Amazon. In a massive legal complaint, federal antitrust officials outlined exactly why they believe Amazon is a monopoly, and how it has used its market power to kneecap its competitors. Former FTC chair Bill Kovacic gives host Steven Overly his download on the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.N. General Assembly displayed just how focused world leaders are on artificial intelligence. The gathering also raised real questions about whether existing global institutions are equipped to handle it. On today’s POLITICO Tech, former Ambassador Karen Kornbluh breaks down obstacles to creating global AI rules and argues a new global body is part of the solution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show today, Mohar Chatterjee talks with Sam Levine, director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection and one of the key people on the front-lines of defining market practices for big tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Rep. David Cicilline formed an unlikely alliance with Republican Ken Buck in a failed bid to break up big tech companies. Though he has since left Congress, Cicilline’s distrust of the industry hasn’t diminished. On POLITICO Tech, he reflects on what he and Buck started, and  the rising pressure on his former colleagues to curb tech’s power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clem Delangue, Founder of Hugging Face defends open-source AI models as he discusses the necessity of open-source AI, preventing big tech companies from dominating the market, the benefits of collaboration and transparency, potential safety concerns, concentration of power in AI, differentiating between open and closed AI models, and the importance of transparency and openness in AI systems.

U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has a goal to make the U.K. become a tech hub on par with San Francisco. And he sees the country’s bench of artificial intelligence companies and researchers as key to helping it get there. Host Steven Overly talked with Hunt as he kicks off a multi-day visit to the West Coast… a charm offensive he hopes will draw U.S. firms closer to the U.K.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The European Union has been ahead of most of the world when it comes to regulating the tech industry - but writing the rules is not the same as enforcing them. POLITICO’s Clothilde Goujard joins Steven Overly to discuss what’s at stake for companies and regulators alike as the EU’s much-anticipated laws come into effect.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin discuss the need for major changes in Silicon Valley and Washington to address the AI dilemma, emphasizing the risks of bias, discrimination, and job displacement. They also touch on concerns regarding open source AI safety and stress the importance of responsible development. The episode explores speeding up governance of AI and the innovative digital governance system implemented by Taiwan. Finally, they discuss the consequences of inaction and the need for unprecedented action to avoid authoritarian dystopia.

What would war with China be like? Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) has put that question to defense and finance experts. Now, he says it would be “useful” to game out that scenario with tech companies as well. On today’s POLITICO Tech, Gallagher argues that imposing tougher restrictions on business with China’s tech sector today would make a difference should conflict ever become reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shira Perlmutter, Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, discusses the challenges of copyrighting AI-generated work. They explore the need to determine the degree of human involvement in AI creations, the impact of AI on copyright law, and the tension between protecting creative works and utilizing AI for innovation.