Carissa Véliz– AI, Prediction, and the Fight for the Future
Summary
Carissa Véliz discusses her book *Prophecy*, arguing that statistical predictions are not facts but power plays that often create self-fulfilling prophecies. She warns against the encroachment of algorithmic prediction in social and political spheres, highlighting how it undermines democracy and individual autonomy. Véliz advocates for skepticism toward tech executives' forecasts and suggests citizens resist surveillance by choosing analog alternatives and demanding policy guardrails.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Indeed Sponsored Jobs
Introduction and guest Carissa Vélis
Predictions as educated guesses vs facts
Predictions as speech acts and power plays
The history of divination and prediction business
King Louis XI and the astrologer anecdote
Building immunity to algorithmic predictions
Citizen resistance and self-fulfilling prophecies
Legal challenges and societal benefits
Sponsor: KeyBank
Tech executives and AI doom scenarios
Proposed limits on prediction and justice
Preparation vs prediction and insurance principles
Democracy, optimism, and the role of philosophy
Probabilistic thinking and ancient philosophy
Audience Q&A: Surveillance and data collection
Sponsor: Shopify
Algorithmic engagement and toxic content
Effective resistance and cherishing the analog
Surveillance, AI risk, and societal blind spots
Journalism's role in reporting predictions
Challenging algorithmic determinations
Sponsor: KeyBank
Autonomy, creativity, and humor
Health tech, AI in medicine, and evidence
Privacy, democracy, and the present moment
Closing thoughts and credits
Sponsor: The Devil Wears Prada 2
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