How Should We Govern the Algorithm?

The 21st century will bring changes and challenges unlike any humans have encountered before. Globalism and technological innovations are changing the structures of societies worldwide—and the changes are happening quickly. If people don’t face these challenges and help shape the future, the world could have a class of obsolete workers whose jobs have been automated and people could lose their ability to make their own decisions. In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari highlights the biggest challenges in the modern world, and he offers advice on making sense of and navigating such transitional times.

In this summary, you'll learn how algorithms like Netflix movie recommendations are teaching you to distrust your own judgment, why religion can’t solve 21st-century challenges, and how automation will threaten the jobs of humans in every industry.

A Google engineer’s claim that a chatbot he was testing had become a person shines a spotlight on the benefits and potential dangers of artificial intelligence or AI—which experts say we’re ill-prepared as a society to address.

For millennia, humans struggled with three serious problems—famine, plagues, and war—which led to the deaths of millions of people and to the rise and fall of global empires. People coped with these problems and answered life's questions with religion. However, in the modern era, we no longer rely on prayer—we’ve mostly overcome these three problems through the development of technology and medical knowledge.

In Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari, a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, envisions a future in which technology replaces humanist ideals and liberal government. Dissecting the concepts of religion, immortality, and technology, Harari argues that the world of the future may be run by advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, not human beings.

In Weapons of Math Destruction, data scientist Cathy O’Neil details the insidious ways mathematical models are being used to determine everything from interest rates to prison sentences. She contends that while mathematical models—simulations of real-world events—can efficiently sort through vast amounts of information, they can produce dangerous results when used broadly, opaquely, and without incorporating feedback. Specifically, O’Neil argues that dangerous mathematical models treat poor people worse than rich people, reinforce bias by lumping people into groups, and produce judgments that become self-fulfilling prophecies.

In our guide, we’ll explore the difference between benign mathematical models and dangerous ones and describe the negative effects that dangerous mathematical models produce. Then, we’ll consider O’Neil’s recommendations for how to rein in dangerous mathematical models. We’ll also discuss other research and perspectives on data science and digital ethics.

A growing number of experts are calling for regulation of advanced AI models, saying the technology poses an existential threat to humanity if left to develop unchecked. There’s no clear consensus on who should regulate AI or exactly what the process should look like. But experts propose a range of approaches in which the US government is involved fully, in part, or not at all.

The 21st century will bring changes and challenges unlike any humans have encountered before. Globalism and technological innovations are changing the structures of societies worldwide—and the changes are happening quickly. If people don’t face these challenges and help shape the future, the world could have a class of obsolete workers whose jobs have been automated and people could lose their ability to make their own decisions. In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari highlights the biggest challenges in the modern world, and he offers advice on making sense of and navigating such transitional times.

In this summary, you'll learn how algorithms like Netflix movie recommendations are teaching you to distrust your own judgment, why religion can’t solve 21st-century challenges, and how automation will threaten the jobs of humans in every industry.

Top global brands like Coca-Cola, Sephora, and Walmart are leveraging AI to innovate customer engagement and streamline company operations. From formulating new products to predicting demand, AI is changing the way businesses operate by automating processes, enhancing customer interactions, and optimizing logistics.

In the Lex Fridman Podcast, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman and host Lex Fridman delve into a myriad of interconnected themes, exploring the nexus of personal development, mental health, the dynamics of relationships, and the future implications of artificial intelligence. Together, they construct a rich tapestry of discussion, encompassing the crucial importance of physical exercise for cognitive stimulation, the value of introspection, daily rituals, subconscious cues, societal norms, and the influence of admiration within interpersonal relationships to craft a dynamic and enlightening dialogue.

Venturing into more intimate territories, Dr. Huberman unveils the transformative effects of emotional bonds, his aspirations of becoming a parent, and his unique approach to productivity. The conversation resonates as it zigzags from fitness struggles to triumphs in professional projects, before culminating into a compelling discourse on artificial intelligence and its potential impact on decision-making processes. Throughout the podcast, the synergy between the speakers creates a captivating blend of scientific insights, personal narratives, and thought-provoking analysis.

Artificial Intelligence could revolutionize every aspect of our lives, but only if we can develop AI that reliably carries out its tasks. While some see AI as a cornucopia that will free the human race from drudgery, others see dangers in ceding so much power to digital, non-human minds. In Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis argue that modern AI underdelivers on its promise while AI proponents oversell what it can do. Marcus and Davis are AI advocates who feel that current AI research is heading in the wrong direction, with its narrow focus on “big data” and machine learning.

In this guide, we’ll examine how the public perception of modern AI differs from reality, how AI works, and the many ways in which it fails. We’ll then describe Marcus and Davis’s prescription for producing stronger AI systems to benefit the human race. We’ll also highlight where modern AI trends are leading, other experts’ thoughts on machine cognition, and how AI development is affecting business and society at large.

President Biden issued a sweeping executive order in October to oversee artificial intelligence technologies, establishing new guidelines for safety, security, and privacy. The order has received mixed responses from various stakeholders, who praise the initiative to promote responsible AI practices but also raise doubts about the order’s feasibility and effectiveness.

When Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the company was in decline. Once the wealthiest corporation in the world, it found itself lagging behind other tech giants like Apple and Google. Hit Refresh describes how Nadella brought new life to Microsoft by rediscovering its “soul”: He articulated the company’s mission, transformed the corporate culture, and formed strategic partnerships with Microsoft’s fiercest competitors.

In this guide, we discuss the principles and practices that helped Nadella “hit refresh” on Microsoft, which he connects to his experiences of growing up in India, immigrating to the US, and being a father to a child with special needs. We include actionable advice based on Nadella’s principles that can help you reinvigorate your own organization or career. We also explore his thoughts about the future and how we can—and must—ensure that technology isn’t just a means for economic growth but, above all, a force for good that is grounded on empathy.

Dive into the transformative world of artificial intelligence with "The Daily," where host Michael Barbaro and tech experts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton engage with OpenAI's Sam Altman in an enlightening discussion on AI's current and future impact. In this compelling episode, Altman unpacks the challenges and successes of OpenAI, from the initial hype around the ChatGPT launch to the intricate dynamics within the organization and the cautious deployment of the much-anticipated GPT-4.

Discover how AI is redefining the way humans interact with the digital realm, pointing towards an increasingly ad-light and tailored online experience. Altman explores the ethical considerations and regulatory needs crucial for shaping a society where AI enhances work satisfaction and where sensitive applications of technology are governed wisely. As Altman unveils his personal and professional philosophy on the progression of AI, listeners are invited to ponder a future harmoniously interwoven with AI innovation, underscored by transparent governance and a user-centric approach to forming the social fabric of tomorrow.