Who Gains From The “Inevitability” of AI? Oxford ethicist Carissa Véliz on how AI prediction became a tool of influence and power
Summary
Dr. Steve Hassan and Oxford AI ethics professor Carissa Véliz discuss how prediction and surveillance are co-opted for power, arguing that AI is not inevitable but a design choice. They critique the "inevitability" narrative, highlight the dangers of AI sycophancy and data harvesting, and emphasize the importance of privacy, analog interactions, and critical thinking to protect democracy from authoritarian manipulation.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest bio: Carissa Véliz
The history of prediction and its relevance
Prediction as a tool for power and control
Election polls, strategic voting, and democracy
Climate science vs. business predictions
Self-fulfilling prophecies and human behavior
How to vet experts and assess data integrity
AI training, alignment, and financial incentives
Debunking the 'inevitability' of AI technology
AI consciousness, skepticism, and tech hype
Mass delusion and attacks on scientific institutions
AI in science: benefits and unscientific misuse
Privacy, surveillance, and the dating app dilemma
Navigating AI defaults and analog alternatives
Personal privacy tools: Signal, Proton, and browsers
Defining the 'analog world' and human connection
Neurodiversity, digital obsession, and social skills
Radicalization online and societal inclusion failures
Teaching ethics at Oxford and the value of death
Advising governments on data and AI policy
Host's work: The BYTE model and influence continuum
The impact of critical thinking on worldview
Disinformation sources and markers of authoritarianism
Embracing uncertainty and finding life's purpose
Closing remarks and show resources
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