Those who rush to leverage AI’s power without adequate preparation face difficult blowback, scandals, and could provoke harsh regulatory measures. However, those who have a balanced, informed view on the risks and benefits of AI, and who, with care and knowledge, avoid either complacent optimism or defeatist pessimism, can harness AI’s potential, and tap into an incredible variety of services of an ever-improving quality.

These are some words from the introduction of the new book, “Taming the machine: ethically harness the power of AI”, whose author, Nell Watson, joins us in this episode.

Nell’s many roles include: Chair of IEEE’s Transparency Experts Focus Group, Executive Consultant on philosophical matters for Apple, and President of the European Responsible Artificial Intelligence Office. She also leads several organizations such as EthicsNet.org, which aims to teach machines prosocial behaviours, and CulturalPeace.org, which crafts Geneva Conventions-style rules for cultural conflict.

Selected follow-ups:

• Nell Watson's website
• Taming the Machine - book website
• BodiData (corporation)
• Post Office Horizon scandal: Why hundreds were wrongly prosecuted - BBC News
• Dutch scandal serves as a warning for Europe over risks of using algorithms - Politico
• Robodebt: Illegal Australian welfare hunt drove people to despair - BBC News
• What is the infected blood scandal and will victims get compensation? - BBC News
• MIRI 2024 Mission and Strategy Update - from the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI)
• British engineering giant Arup revealed as $25 million deepfake scam victim - CNN
• Zersetzung psychological warfare technique - Wikipedia

Music: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration