Carnegie Council Podcasts

In this thought-provoking episode of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Carl Miller tackles the pressing question: Can we code power responsibly? And moreover, how do we define "power" in this context? Diving headfirst into the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and power dynamics, Miller, author of The Death of the Gods, warns against ascribing human-like understanding to AI systems and applications. He posits that power enables us to discern how lives are being shaped, identify the architects of change, and realize what has diminished in influence and importance over time. Reflecting on historical cycles of innovation and upheaval, Miller expresses cautious optimism, anticipating that humanity will navigate the complexities and harness these potent tools with sensible control. Tune in for a rich discussion that promises to fuel a deeper reflection on the evolving landscapes of power and technology. For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

It is essential for young people in the Global South to become more involved in international climate discussions, including around solar radiation modification, says Ghanaian climate activist Nii Noi Omaboe. His decision to screen a documentary about SRM at Accra sustainability week prompted many questions, both about the risks and insufficient governance, but also about opportunities for research. Omaboe is experienced in youth governance, human rights, and global sustainable development processes. He has organized and worked for nonprofit and international organizations like Amnesty International, Red Cross, and 350 Ghana. In 2019, Omaboe co-founded Sustainability Week Accra, the first local Sustainability Week in Africa, and he currently provides strategic support to Green Africa Youth Organisation's Ghana team as well as supporting establishment of Youth Climate Councils in the Global South. He is also a program analyst at Impact Hub Accra. For more, please go to C2G's website.

In this Ethical Article, Visiting Fellow Zhanna L. Malekos Smith discusses U.S.-UK space and cyber policy and the ethics and sustainability concerns around "counterspace" weapons. What's at stake if there's a war in space? To read the article, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

Nuclear weapons today remain a very real existential threat to the future of humanity. Recent developments such as Putin's posturing regarding use in Ukraine, combined with the stalling of international efforts to reduce nuclear stockpiles, force us to reconsider the ethics of nuclear weapons at this critical moment for global security. On August 9 —78 years to the day after the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki—Carnegie Council convened a virtual panel to reflect on and explore emerging ethical questions surrounding nuclear weapons, including the maintenance, potential use, and position as an instrument of deterrence and political power. The event builds upon a symposium collection on nuclear ethics published in the most recent issue of Ethics & International Affairs, the quarterly journal of Carnegie Council. For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

Consultation and engagement with civil society in the Global South is essential for inclusive governance of solar radiation modification (SRM), says Dr. Shuchi Talati, the founder of the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering in this C2GTalk. This will not be easy, and requires building trust and knowledge over time, but as international attention to SRM increases, it will be increasingly important to empower vulnerable communities. Talati is an emerging climate technology governance expert co-chair of the Independent Advisory Committee to oversee SCoPEx, an effort to provide oversight for the potential outdoor solar geoengineering experiment proposed by Harvard University. She most recently served as a presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris administration as chief of staff of the Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy where she was focused on creating just and sustainable frameworks for carbon dioxide removal. For more, please go to C2G's website.

In the governance of AI a few small initiatives have had a large impact. One of these is the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP), led by Marc Rotenberg and Merve Hickok, our guests in this Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast. Among CAIDP activities is the yearly publication of an Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Index, in which more 75 countries (as of 2022) are rated on an array of metrics from endorsement of the OECD/G20 AI Principles to the creation of independent agencies to implement AI policies. Furthermore, the CAIDP staff and collaborators have been involved in and helped shape most of the major AI policy initiatives to date. For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

Skies turned saffron-colored and smoke blanketed parts of the Midwest and Northeast this summer as Americans experienced the impact of fires raging in Canada. The 2023 Canadian fire season has been record-breaking with nearly 3,500 new fires—significantly above the ten-year average—with about 600 active fires and over half "out of control. In this virtual event, John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather: A True Story From A Hotter World, joins Doorstep co-host Tatiana Serafin to discuss how we have created a climate where fires thrive: a new "century of fire." For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

Small islands face devastating impacts from climate change, not just from rising seas, but from threats to their economic underpinnings such as fishing and tourism. In this C2GTalk, Ronny Jumeau explores the challenges of adaptation, and outlines the expertise climate nations can bring to tackling the climate crisis, especially through nature-based solutions in the ocean. He says islands must be at the table when considering new climate-altering approaches, but is wary of efforts that might divert resources and end up as a distraction. Ronald (Ronny) Jumeau is a former cabinet minister and ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles. He is now an independent consultant specializing in advisory services in the climate change, conservation, and sustainable development (including the ocean and blue economy) nexus from an island and ocean state perspective. For more, please go to C2G's website.

Carnegie Council, in collaboration with IEEE, proposes a five-part AI governance framework to enable the constructive use of AI. To read the framework, please go to carnegiecouncil.org.

The NATO summit in Lithuania, Ukraine's summer counter-offensive, and the recent instability between Russia and the Wagner Group have kept Ukraine in the headlines. But what is happening behind closed doors and on the ground that may be influencing the direction of the Ukrainian-Russian war? Mark Temnycky, journalist and nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, joins Doorstep co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev to unpack the latest news and conflicting reports. How strong is Western and global support for the continuing war effort and eventual reconstruction program? What options does President Zelenskyy have? What are ethical trade-offs being made? For more, read Gvosdev's recent article on ethical tensions in Ukraine or go carnegiecouncil.org.