I've Got Questions with Sinead Bovell

Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor of Wired, dives into the complex relationship between AI and journalism. He explains how AI poses both threats and opportunities for media companies, and discusses The Atlantic's growth in a turbulent landscape. Thompson shares insights on experimenting with AI partnerships, the necessity of maintaining journalistic integrity, and the essential skills future journalists will need. He also touches on his new book, The Running Ground, exploring resilience and creativity through the lens of running.

Dr. Alysson Muotri, a leading geneticist and neuroscientist, dives into the groundbreaking world of brain organoids. He shares insights on how these mini-brains could revolutionize our understanding of neurological diseases and even influence AI development. Topics include organoids as personalized disease avatars, the ethical ramifications of merging biology with computation, and the potential for organoid intelligence to navigate complex tasks. Muotri’s work opens fascinating doors to the future of medicine and artificial intelligence.

Is AI really in a bubble? The discussion reveals a complex landscape where financial and technological cycles don’t align. Investment gaps and big spending on infrastructure raise concerns, while circular investing complicates the picture. A potential trigger for a market correction could be found in data centers or new breakthroughs. Historical patterns suggest that AI may follow a trajectory like that of electricity and the internet. Working with AI skills is crucial now, as the tech is already reshaping society.

In this conversation, Nita Farahany, a leading expert in neurotechnology, explores how tech companies aim to decode our thoughts through emerging devices like smart glasses and earbuds. She reveals the chilling implications for privacy, as brain data could unveil our innermost signals. The discussion delves into the ethical quagmire of cognitive liberty and mental autonomy while highlighting the risks of manipulation by AI. With the legal framework lagging, Nita emphasizes the urgent need for policies to protect our thoughts in this new frontier of technology.

Mass layoffs are rampant, but not entirely due to AI taking jobs. Companies are reallocating resources towards AI infrastructure and adapting to be more agile. Sinead discusses the concept of anticipatory restructuring and the shift toward a skills-based workforce. Key skills for the AI era include adaptability and effective communication. While traditional roles may decline, the demand for independent, entrepreneurial workers is on the rise, ensuring that while job titles may change, the essence of work remains.

In a captivating conversation, Anna Makanju, Vice President of Global Affairs at OpenAI, discusses the global race to understand AI's implications and the urgent need for equitable access. She highlights the potential of AI to benefit humanity but warns it won’t happen by default. Makanju shares insights on the geopolitical dynamics between nations and tech companies, the unexpected viral success of ChatGPT, and the importance of reskilling for future jobs. She addresses the challenges of integrating AI into governance and the necessity for proactive policy frameworks.

In this engaging discussion, futurist Alexander Manu, who specializes in technology-driven societal change, explores how AI redefines work and creativity. He argues that AI challenges our professional identities and prompts us to ask, 'What else can I become?' Manu paints a future where machines handle mundane tasks, freeing humans for creative pursuits. He also anticipates the end of the influencer era and envisions hyper-personalized experiences reshaping society. Plus, his insights on a potential world without money are thought-provoking!

In a riveting discussion, Kate Crawford, a leading AI researcher and author of Atlas of AI, dives into the profound environmental and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. She reveals how AI's massive infrastructure consumes significant resources, challenging the myth of its virtuality. Kate warns that the AI race among nations increases both climate risk and societal harm. With insights on the need for sustainable practices and the dangers of concentrated corporate power, she emphasizes that systemic change is essential for a greener future.

In this episode of I’ve Got Questions, I sit down with Andrew Hessel, microbiologist, geneticist, author and pioneering voice in synthetic biology, a field that is redefining how we understand and engineer life itself. We explore what happens when biology becomes programmable and every cell, virus, and even our own DNA can be edited, rewritten, and redesigned. Andrew explains how breakthroughs in digital biology could make infertility a thing of the past, why diseases like cancer and diabetes could soon be treated at the cellular level, and how a new era of genetic surgery could let us reprogram our bodies before illness ever begins. We also unpack the ethical, emotional, and philosophical questions of what it means to live in a world where we can literally reprogram life. Follow my work here: Website: https://www.sineadbovell.com Substack: https://sineadbovell.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sineadbovell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadbovell Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/SineadBovell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Sineadbovell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/sineadbovell

In a fascinating discussion, Ajay Agrawal, an AI economist and professor, unpacks the intricate relationship between AI and the economy. He draws parallels between AI and the historical adoption of electricity, emphasizing the slow yet transformative impact on productivity. With a focus on the evolving job market, he warns that entry-level positions face the greatest threat while advocating for judgment as the essential skill for future success. Agrawal also highlights the need for educational reforms to prepare graduates for an AI-driven landscape.