Misha chats with Amba Kak, a globally recognized technology policy expert currently working as the executive director at AI Now.

They discuss the dominance of big tech companies over AI development and deployment, why it matters, and the possible implications if it continues unchecked.

Amba also shares her insights on the trajectory of AI and how it's shaped and controlled by power structures, infrastructure and data.

This conversation also explores the need for more public involvement in shaping technology's future, alongside the pursuit of decentralization and democratic control over AI.

00:00 Introduction and Overview of AI

00:35 Guest Introduction and Background

01:56 Journey from India to the UK and the US

02:18 Deep Dive into AI and its Future

02:35 Guest's Experience and Insights on Global Understanding

02:52 Exploring the Unconventional Path to AI

03:43 Understanding the Global Impact of AI

04:54 Guest's Early Career and Aspirations

05:15 The Role of Law and Activism in Tech

08:13 The Journey to Oxford and Beyond

12:39 Working on Net Neutrality in India

18:23 Transition to Mozilla and Advocacy for Privacy Rights

22:16 Joining AI Now Institute and Its Purpose

31:01 The Influence of Big Tech on AI

33:44 The Scarcity of Compute Resources and Its Impact on AI Development

34:21 The Role of Big Tech Firms in AI Research

34:30 The Influence of Microsoft on OpenAI

35:12 The Importance of Data in AI Development

35:39 The Dominance of Large Tech Firms in AI

36:04 The Debate on AI Safety and Acceleration

36:31 The Control of Infrastructure in AI

37:01 The Existential Risk of Concentrated Power in AI

37:56 The Impact of AI Narratives on Tech Companies' Profits

39:03 The Infrastructural Dependencies and Climate Impact of AI

39:44 The Growing Awareness of the Problem of Concentration in AI

40:06 The Role of Competition Regulators in AI

42:12 The Future of AI and Big Tech

54:27 The Business Model Powering AI

55:20 The Vision for AI in the Public Interest

57:02 The Future of AI and Its Impact on Society

Connect with Amba Kak:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambaonadventure

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amba-kak-48569b108/

Learn more about AINow Institute:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ainowinstitute

Website/Newsletter: https://ainowinstitute.org/

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Misha da Vinci is a futurologist, tech thinker, and writer.

Connect with Misha:

Newsletter: https://mishadavinci.substack.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mishadavinci

Website: https://www.mishadavinci.com/