The future of AI and democracy

Two-time guest Nate Persily is a professor of law and policy who studies the intersection of artificial intelligence and democracy. AI is creeping into democracy, he says, and 2024 saw its share of deepfakes and synthetic media, but with surprisingly little impact. His bigger concern is the opposite – politicians claiming the truth to be fake. It breeds distrust and, for democracy, that’s more pernicious, Persily tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to [email protected] Reference Links:Stanford Profile:  Nathaniel PersilyConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Nate Persily, a professor of law at Stanford University.(00:02:49) How AI Impacts DemocracyAI's role in influencing elections and its implications for democratic systems.(00:03:38) Deepfakes and the ElectionThe limited impact of deepfakes and emerging disinformation trends.(00:04:37) Is Skepticism Beneficial?The role of skepticism in navigating AI-driven disinformation.(00:06:06) AI and Social MediaHow AI powers social media and its implications for democratic dialogue.(00:08:40) AI Monopoly and DemocracyRisks of concentrated AI power among tech giants.(00:12:03) Risks of Open AI ModelsBalancing innovation and misuse risks of open AI models.(00:17:20) Regulating AIGlobal efforts to regulate AI and lessons from the European AI Act.(00:19:54) The Global AI RaceThe international race to balance progress and safeguards with AI.(00:23:35) Global South and AIThe digital divide and role of open models in under-resourced nations.(00:25:05) AI in Legal PracticePotential and challenges of AI in law, from drafting to adjudication.(00:28:55) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.