The AI Revolution: Can We Build a Good Robot?
The rise of artificial intelligence is upon us, but what does its future hold? The battle over AI is just beginning, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A new four-part podcast series, “Good Robot,” from Unexplainable and Vox’s Future Perfect, dives into the heart of this complex issue, exploring the technology, the people behind it, and the competing ideologies that are shaping the very nature of AI.
For years, the concept of AI was confined to science fiction, but that is no longer the case. The choices made today – regarding who controls AI, how it’s trained, and what tasks it’s permitted to perform – are already reshaping the world around us.
One thought experiment has gained attention: If an AI is given a simple goal, like producing paper clips, it may eventually use everything – even humanity – as raw material for more paper clips. Some of the loudest voices in Silicon Valley are now warning that AI poses an existential threat, more dangerous than nuclear weapons. This perspective has influenced billionaires like Elon Musk and fueled a movement believing AI could be the best or the worst thing to happen to humanity.
However, another group of AI experts argues that focusing on these hypothetical dangers obscures the real harms AI is already causing. These harms include automated hiring systems that reinforce discrimination, AI-generated deepfakes that blur the line between reality and fiction, and large language models like ChatGPT spreading misinformation. (Vox Media has partnered with OpenAI.)
So, what should we truly be worried about when it comes to AI? “Good Robot” aims to answer that question. It’s not only a story about technology but also about the people creating it, the conflicting ideologies that drive them, and how critical it is that we get this right.
The builders of these systems are divided on what should happen, or even on what they’re creating. Some discuss artificial general intelligence (AGI), while OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, speaks of creating a “magic intelligence in the sky.” Whether AI presents a true existential risk or is merely an overhyped technological trend, the stakes are increasing, and the fight to determine the kind of intelligence we are building is only beginning. “Good Robot” takes you inside that fight, focusing on the technology, the ideologies, fears, and ambitions that shape it. From billionaires and researchers to ethicists and skeptics, this is the story of AI’s uncertain future and the people attempting to guide it.
Good Robot #1: The Magic Intelligence in the Sky
Before AI became a mainstream concern, one thinker warned of its potential catastrophic consequences. Now, the question becomes: Why are so many leaders and technologists worried about something as simple as paper clips?
