Computer Says Maybe

Sam Gregory, Executive Director of WITNESS, dives into the critical evolution of video evidence since the Rodney King incident in 1992. He explores the balance between generative video technology, like Sora, and risks of misinformation. Discussion includes the normalization of likeness theft and how this impacts trust and identity. Gregory also critiques Silicon Valley's hubris and emphasizes the need for responsible governance in digital spaces. Ultimately, he highlights the intersection of information and material harms caused by AI, urging for urgent action in protecting vulnerable users.

What happens when AI models try to fill the gaping hole in the media landscape where journalists should be?More like this: Reanimating Apartheid w/ Nic DawesThis week Alix is joined by Nic Dawes, who until very recently ran the non-profit newsroom The City. In this conversation we explore journalism’s new found toxic relationship with AI and big tech: can journalists meaningfully use AI in their work? If a model summarises a few documents, does that add a new layer of efficiency, or inadvertently oversimplify? And what can we learn from big tech positioning itself as a helpful friend to journalism during the Search era?Beyond the just accurate relaying of facts, journalistic organisations also represent an entire backlog of valuable training data for AI companies. If you don’t have the same resources as the NYT, suing for copyright infringement isn’t an option — so what then? Nic says we have to break out of the false binary of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them!’Further reading & resources:Judge allows ‘New York Times’ copyright case against OpenAI to go forward — NPRGenerative AI and news report 2025: How people think about AI’s role in journalism and society — Reuters InstituteAn example of The City’s investigative reporting: private equity firms buying up property in the Bronx — 2022The Intimacy Dividend — Shuwei FangSam Altman on Twitter announcing that they’ve improved ChatGPT to be mindful of the mental health effects — “We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but…”**Subscribe to our newsletter to get more stuff than just a podcast — we run events and do other work that you will definitely be interested in!**

Nabiha Syed, Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation and former media lawyer, discusses redefining tech for the AI era. She emphasizes the need for building human-centered technology and critiques the obsession with scale. Nabiha shares her vision for an inclusive MozFest, focusing on unlearning and diverse perspectives. She discusses the importance of community-driven tech, the role of no-code tools in empowering users, and the idea that joy should be central to tech experiences. This engaging conversation covers both the challenges and opportunities within today's technology landscape.

Loneliness and mental health illnesses are rising in the US, while access to care dwindles — so a lot of people are turning to chatbots. Do chatbots work for therapy?More like this: The Collective Intelligence Project w/ Divya Siddarth and Zarinah AgnewWhy are individuals are confiding in chatbots over qualified human therapists? Stevie Chancellor explains why an LLM can’t replace a therapeutic relationship — but often there’s just no other choice. Turns out the chatbots designed specifically for therapy are even worse than general models like ChatGPT; Stevie shares her ideas on how LLMs could potentially be used — safely — for therapeutic support. This is really helpful primer on how to evaluate chatbots for specific, human-replacing tasks.Further reading & resources:Stevie’s paper on whether replacing therapists with LLMs is even possible (it’s not)See the research on GithubPeople are Losing Their Loved Ones to AI-Fuelled Spiritual Fantasies — Rolling Stone (May 2025)Silicon Valley VC Geoff Lewis becomes convinced that ChatGPT is telling him government secrets from the futureLoneliness considered a public health epidemic according to the APAFTC orders online therapy company BetterHelp to pay damages of $7.8mDelta plans to use AI in ticket pricing draws fire from US lawmakers — Reuters July 2025**Subscribe to our newsletter to get more stuff than just a podcast — we run events and do other work that you will definitely be interested in!**

What’s it like working as a local representative when you live next door to Silicon Valley?More like this: Chasing Away Sidewalk Labs w/ Bianca WylieWhen Hilary Ronen was on the board of supervisors for San Francisco, she had to make lots of decisions about technology. She felt unprepared. Now she sees local policymakers on the frontlines of a battle of resources and governance in an AI era, and is working to upskill them to make better decisions for their constituents. No degree in computer science required.Further reading & resources:Local Leadership in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and the Tech Oligarchy by Hillary RonenMore on Hillary’s work as a Supervisor for SFHillary Ronen on progressives, messaging, hard choices, and justice — interview in 48Hills from January 2025More about Local ProgressConfronting Preemption — a short briefing by Local ProgressWhat Happens When State and Local Laws Conflict — article on state-level preemption by State Court Report**Subscribe to our newsletter to get more stuff than just a podcast — we run events and do other work that you will definitely be interested in!**

In this engaging conversation, Cory Doctorow, a science fiction novelist and digital-rights activist, delves into his book Enshittification. He explores the alarming three-stage decay of platforms: initial goodness, user lock-in, and eventual exploitation. Cory also introduces concepts like the 'chickenized reverse centaur' to explain gig work exploitation. He advocates for reducing platform power through competition and interoperability, emphasizing the need for coordinated solutions to combat industrialized scams in the digital age.

In this engaging discussion, guests Lana Swartz and Alice Marwick dive into the dark world of AI-enabled scams. Lana, a media studies professor, highlights how economic precarity and side-hustle culture fuel scams. Alice, a social scientist, exposes the alarming role of human trafficking in scam operations. They explore how generative AI automates fraud by crafting personalized scripts targeting vulnerability, while also debating whether AI could reduce human trafficking. Their insights shed light on the terrifying interplay between technology and exploitation.

KD Minor, Community Solutions Manager at the Alliance for Affordable Energy, reveals how data centers strain Louisiana's energy resources and discusses strategies to mobilize community action. KeShaun Pearson, a community organizer with Memphis Community Against Pollution, highlights the harmful effects of Elon Musk's xAI facilities on predominantly Black neighborhoods and the fight for public health. The conversation delves into corporate accountability, environmental racism, and the need for grassroots organizing to protect communities from the tech industry's unchecked expansion.

Sarah Myers West, a researcher at AI Now with expertise in AI governance, dives into the murky waters of AI financing, questioning if we're witnessing a genuine market or simply a facade of financial maneuvers. She explores OpenAI's staggering debt deals and the troubling discrepancy between projected expenditures and actual revenues. Sarah also highlights how governmental support is shaping AI demand and the risks of circular financial practices, all pointing to a complex ecosystem that raises alarms about the future of AI economics.

Bridget Read, a features writer and author of *Little Bosses Everywhere*, dives into the dark world of multi-level marketing (MLM). She reveals how early door-to-door salesmen turned vitamins into recruitment-driven schemes, exploiting hopeful individuals. The conversation explores MLM's radical free-enterprise ideology and its ties to modern gig economies and crypto scams. Read connects personal experiences and the emotional toll of MLMs, arguing they symbolize deeper regulatory failures. Join the discussion on economic patterns and the cost of chasing entrepreneurial dreams.