Are philosophers the unexpected new hires shaping AI’s future?

Dr Heidi Matisonn, philosopher and senior lecturer in UCT’s EthicsLab, speaks to John Maytham about the growing trend of major tech companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind hiring philosophers to help navigate the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence. The conversation explores why ideas once confined to lecture halls are now being applied inside AI labs, and what this shift could mean for graduates considering careers in philosophy, as well as for the future of work more broadly in a rapidly changing tech landscape.   Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show.  This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily.  Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news.  Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit.  Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk  For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i  Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5  Follow us on social media  CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.