1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,600 OK, so you want to understand how AI actually played a role in the 2024 election. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:07,200 Mm hmm. 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,960 We've got a mountain of sources here, articles, research, you name it. 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,000 And let me tell you, yeah, it wasn't quite the digital wild west 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,680 everyone was predicting. Right. 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,200 Remember all that talk about AI turning the election into total chaos? 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,600 Yeah, I felt like we were on the verge of some digital apocalypse. Right. 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:29,040 But it turned out AI was more of this undercurrent, quietly shaping things. 9 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,240 So more subtle influence than like a complete upheaval. 10 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,680 Exactly. What's interesting is that the big AI bogeyman 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,040 everyone was afraid of, the deepfakes. Yeah. 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,160 Well, they didn't really live up to all the hype. 13 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:43,760 Like they existed, but yeah, they were around, but not the game changer 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:44,840 many thought they'd be. 15 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,240 It was all over the news articles about how deepfakes could swing the election. 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:48,720 Do you know? Right. 17 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,000 It felt like we were bracing for this flood of fake videos. 18 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,240 So real you couldn't tell it was true anymore. 19 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,560 I remember thinking, are we going to need some kind of like truth 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,880 detector for every video we see? 21 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,600 But in reality, deepfakes were more like a few isolated incidents, 22 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,200 not the tsunami everyone feared. 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,640 Although there was this one case with a fake Joe Biden audio clip. 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,760 Oh, yeah, the one where he's supposedly telling people not to vote in New Hampshire. 25 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:16,960 You got it. Yeah. 26 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:21,960 That case really showed how AI can blur those lines between real and fake. 27 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:24,800 I remember hearing that and thinking, wait, did he actually say that? 28 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,760 It was so convincing. Exactly. 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,800 That's the thing about AI generated audio. 30 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,680 It can be incredibly realistic. 31 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,960 It was so believable that it actually led to criminal charges 32 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:37,040 and a ban on those AI generated robocalls. Wow. 33 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,680 So that one fake audio clip really kicked off a whole debate about AI in campaigns. 34 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:43,600 Oh, absolutely. 35 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,280 It sparked a huge conversation about the ethics, the legal side, all of it. 36 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,640 Like opening Pandora's box, unleashing this tech with all its potential, 37 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,280 but then having to deal with those unintended consequences. Right. 38 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,560 So deepfakes might have been more of a sideshow, 39 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,720 but AI was definitely being used behind the scenes by the campaigns themselves. 40 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,800 OK, so how were they using AI then? 41 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,320 Well, that's where things get really interesting. 42 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,400 It was like a political science experiment playing out in real time. 43 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,120 We saw two very different approaches. 44 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:14,600 You had the Harris campaign very publicly distancing themselves from AI. 45 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,240 Oh, right. They were all about transparency, saying things like, 46 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,720 we won't use AI to manipulate voters. Exactly. 47 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:25,320 They basically limited AI to backstage tasks. 48 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,480 Things like data analysis and website optimization. 49 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,640 I remember thinking that was pretty refreshing, 50 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:33,880 given how secretive some campaigns can be. Definitely. 51 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,000 Their message was all about building trust with voters, 52 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,120 and they didn't want AI to jeopardize that. 53 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,240 Smart move, especially given all the anxiety around AI in elections. 54 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,760 For sure. But then you had the Trump campaign taking a completely different tack. 55 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,120 Yeah, Trump seemed to embrace AI, even sort of flaunted it at times. 56 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,400 There was that one time he bragged about using AI 57 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,160 to rewrite an entire speech in like 15 seconds. 58 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,240 Oh, right. I remember that. 59 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,640 I think he was trying to project this image of being the tech savvy candidate, 60 00:03:01,640 --> 00:03:04,440 even if it meant, you know, stirring up some controversy. 61 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:06,560 Definitely raised some eyebrows. 62 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:11,240 And while his campaign was officially vague about how much they were using AI, 63 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,800 his actions spoke pretty loudly. 64 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,200 It definitely makes you wonder what else they were using AI for behind closed doors. 65 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,200 Exactly. Especially when you consider that over 30 tech companies 66 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,240 were pitching all sorts of AI tools to campaigns. 67 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:26,360 Wow, 30. 68 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,040 Yeah. But most of the campaigns kept quiet about their AI strategies. 69 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,840 It feels like we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg here. 70 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,480 Right. Before we get lost in the conspiracy theories, though, 71 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,160 I think it's worth talking about how the public felt about all this. 72 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,040 Yeah, good point. 73 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,640 Because there's this fascinating disconnect between how AI was actually used 74 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,960 and the level of fear people were expressing. 75 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:46,720 Absolutely. 76 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,800 Polls were showing this widespread anxiety about AI's potential 77 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,600 to mess with our democracy. 78 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,560 57 percent of adults were worried about AI generated fake news. 79 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,840 And a good chunk believed AI would be used for harmful purposes in the election. 80 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,840 So people were expecting this massive wave of AI disruption, but. 81 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,240 But it turned out to be more of a strong undercurrent, quietly shaping things. 82 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,960 Which begs the question, did we just get lucky this time around? 83 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:19,720 Or are we underestimating AI's potential to really shake things up in future elections? 84 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,120 That is the million dollar question, isn't it? 85 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,760 And that leads us directly into the next big part of this story. 86 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,640 How do we control this AI beast? 87 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,600 How do we make sure it's used responsibly, not just in elections, 88 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,800 but in every aspect of our lives? 89 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,880 OK, so buckle up, listeners, because we're about to wade 90 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,520 into the wild world of AI regulation. 91 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:41,680 This is where things get really interesting. 92 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,640 Absolutely. So AI regulation, it's a bit of a tangled web, isn't it? 93 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,040 Yeah, feels like we're trying to map a landscape that's constantly shifting. 94 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,920 Exactly. But getting a handle on these different approaches 95 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,040 is key to understanding where AI is headed, not just in elections, but everywhere. 96 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,880 OK, so you're saying AI regulation is kind of a moving target. 97 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,040 Let's start with the EU's AI Act, which I know you've mentioned is pretty far reaching. 98 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:04,640 What's the thinking behind it? 99 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,680 It's like imagine a parent setting boundaries for their kid, right? 100 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,280 Trying to keep them safe, but also letting them explore and grow. 101 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:13,080 That's kind of how the EU is approaching this. 102 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,640 They're not trying to stifle innovation, but they are being proactive 103 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,040 about making sure AI develops ethically. 104 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,240 So not banning it outright, but setting some guardrails. 105 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:27,520 Right. The EU AI Act sorts AI systems based on their risk level, 106 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,880 like a triage system at a hospital. 107 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,720 So higher risk means stricter rules. 108 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,280 Makes sense. What does that look like in practice? 109 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,840 The high risk AI systems, things like those used in health care or law enforcement, 110 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:44,120 they face way stricter rules than, say, an AI that's recommending movies. 111 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,640 Right, because the stakes are higher. 112 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:50,640 So what does a company actually have to do to comply if they're developing one of these high risk systems? 113 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,280 It's not just, oh, we built a cool AI, let's launch it. 114 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:57,280 They have to show that their system is safe, unbiased and transparent. 115 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:01,280 That means risk assessments, detailed documentation, 116 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:05,080 even having humans in the loop to oversee the AI's decisions. 117 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,080 So it's a pretty rigorous process. 118 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,320 But how do they actually enforce these rules? 119 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,280 What's stopping a company from just cutting corners? 120 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:17,080 Well, the EU can hit companies with some hefty fines if they violate the AI Act. 121 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,880 We're talking millions of euros, potentially even a percentage of their global revenue. 122 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,880 OK, yeah, I bet that gets their attention. 123 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:29,280 So with the EU, it's about setting clear rules and making sure everyone's playing by them. 124 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:33,680 How does that contrast with the US approach, which you called more fragmented? 125 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:40,480 The US, think of it like a patchwork quilt with each state kind of sewing its own piece without a clear overall design. 126 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,080 There's no single federal law like the EU's AI Act. 127 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:49,680 Ah, so you've got this situation where one state might have strict rules on something like facial recognition, 128 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,080 while another state has basically nothing. 129 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:53,880 Exactly. It's a real mixed bag. 130 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,880 So is there any federal oversight at all? 131 00:06:55,880 --> 00:07:02,280 There are some federal agencies working on AI guidelines, but it's more like suggestions than actual rules. 132 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:04,280 So it's a bit of a wild west then. 133 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:07,480 I imagine that creates a lot of uncertainty for companies. 134 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:12,680 Yeah, it can definitely stifle innovation because companies are facing this inconsistent landscape. 135 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,480 It's like trying to build a house when the building codes change every few miles. 136 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,480 It sounds like a logistical nightmare. 137 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,680 And doesn't that raise concerns about whether this approach is enough to protect people's rights and safety? 138 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,280 That's the tradeoff, right? 139 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:31,680 The US model might lead to faster innovation, but it also risks more loopholes and potential ethical pitfalls. 140 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:38,480 OK, so we've got the EU's cautious approach and the US's more hands-off, innovation-focused approach. 141 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,080 What about China? Where do they fit into all of this? 142 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,880 China is a whole different ballgame. 143 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:47,080 Their AI strategy is very much tied to their government and their national goals. 144 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:52,480 They're investing heavily in AI, but the focus is on economic growth and maintaining social control. 145 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,880 Less about ethics and more about how AI can serve the state. 146 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:00,480 So when we're talking about AI regulation in China, it's not just about safety or fairness. 147 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,680 It's about using AI as a tool for control. 148 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:04,680 Think of it this way. 149 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,680 The EU is trying to build a safe and ethical playground for AI, 150 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:14,680 while China is building a meticulously controlled garden where AI grows only in ways that serve the government. 151 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:20,880 They're using AI for things like surveillance, censorship, even predicting and preventing social unrest. 152 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,880 It sounds both impressive and a little unsettling, honestly. 153 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:24,680 Yeah. 154 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:29,880 OK, so three very different players, three very different approaches to AI. 155 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,480 It's like a global race to shape the future of this technology. 156 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:40,080 It is a fascinating race to watch because the winner will have a huge impact on how AI is developed and used in the future. 157 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:46,280 It really begs the question, what does responsible AI development even look like and who gets to decide? 158 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,280 These are questions we're only just beginning to grapple with. 159 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:50,480 Yeah, it's a lot to process. 160 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:56,480 We've talked about the big picture, but can you give me a concrete example of how these different approaches might play out in the real world? 161 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:02,480 Let's say there's a company that develops an AI to help judges make sentencing decisions in criminal cases. 162 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:03,680 OK, I can see where this is going. 163 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:09,680 In the EU, that would almost certainly be classified as a high risk system under the AI Act. 164 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:13,880 Right, because you're talking about potentially impacting people's lives in a really significant way. 165 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:14,880 Exactly. 166 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:21,080 So in the EU, the company would have to prove that their AI isn't biased against certain groups, 167 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:26,680 that its decision making process is transparent and that there are human checks and balances in place. 168 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:30,080 They can't just unleash this AI into the courtroom and hope for the best. 169 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:38,080 So the EU is basically saying, prove to us that your AI is fair and just before you even think about using it in a sensitive context like that. 170 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:39,080 Exactly. 171 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,480 But now imagine a different scenario in the US with its more patchwork approach. 172 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:51,280 Let's say a tech startup develops facial recognition software that's incredibly accurate, but also raises privacy concerns. 173 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,680 OK, so potentially beneficial, but also ethically tricky. 174 00:09:54,680 --> 00:09:59,080 Right. In the EU, they'd likely face strict regulations, maybe even a ban. 175 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,480 But in the US, it's a whole different story. 176 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:07,080 No federal law specifically on facial recognition, so it's a free for all, depending on which state you're in. 177 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:12,280 The startup might face tight restrictions in one state, but have almost no oversight in another. 178 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,480 So for companies, it's a mix of opportunities and ethical dilemmas. 179 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,880 They have to be really strategic about where they develop and use certain AI technologies. 180 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:25,280 It's like playing a game of chess where the rules change depending on which square you land on. 181 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:30,680 It all boils down to how we balance innovation with ethical considerations. 182 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:35,080 AI development is a lot more complex than just writing some code and calling it a day. 183 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:40,880 Absolutely. It's intertwined with politics, economics, social values, everything. 184 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,080 And the choices we make now will shape the world we live in tomorrow. 185 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:51,280 OK, we've explored these different approaches to AI regulation, and it seems like there's no easy answer. 186 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:55,080 But I think it's time to zoom out a bit and ask, what does this all mean? 187 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,680 What are the bigger implications of AI for humanity? 188 00:10:57,680 --> 00:10:59,880 You're right. It's time to get philosophical. 189 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,480 This isn't just about tech. It's about society. 190 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:10,280 AI is forcing us to confront some fundamental questions about what it means to be human in a world where machines are becoming more and more capable. 191 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:11,480 So where were we? 192 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:16,280 Right. We were talking about the big picture, the long term implications of AI, the stuff that keeps you up at night. 193 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,680 Yeah, exactly. I mean, one of the most pressing concerns has got to be the future of work, right? 194 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:23,880 The robots taking our jobs scenario. 195 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:29,480 Yeah, but it's starting to feel less like science fiction and more like, well, a real possibility. 196 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,480 It's not just factory jobs or truck drivers we're talking about anymore either. 197 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:38,880 Exactly. We're seeing AI making its way into fields like law, medicine, even creative fields. 198 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:48,280 Think about it. AI diagnosing diseases better than human doctors, writing legal briefs that are flawless, composing music that rivals the greats. 199 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,280 It's kind of mind blowing, honestly, and a little scary too. 200 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:57,880 Right. It makes you wonder what happens to our sense of purpose when machines can do so much of what we do and do it better? 201 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,280 What will we do all day? What happens to our sense of self-worth? 202 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,680 Exactly. It's not just about losing a paycheck. It's about like our identity. 203 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:11,280 How do we find meaning in a world where our skills and expertise are being outpaced by machines? 204 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:18,680 It feels like we're at this point where we need to figure out a whole new social contract, one that takes into account this new relationship we have with machines. 205 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:24,480 We're at a crossroads. Do we try to control them, compete with them, work with them? What's the best way forward? 206 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,680 So it's not about rejecting AI completely. 207 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:32,880 No, not at all. It's about making sure it develops in a way that aligns with our values, you know? 208 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:38,080 But it feels so massive. Like, how do we even begin to address that? 209 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,880 What can regular people even do to make sure AI is used ethically? 210 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:51,080 It does feel like a lot of those decisions are being made in these tech company boardrooms and government offices, places that feel so far removed from our daily lives. 211 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:55,080 I know it can feel overwhelming, but I honestly believe we all have a part to play here. 212 00:12:55,080 --> 00:13:00,080 First things first, stay informed. Read up on this stuff. Listen to podcasts like this one. 213 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:05,480 Talk about it with people. The more you understand about AI, the better equipped you'll be to have a voice in this whole thing. 214 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:11,080 So knowledge is power. But what about taking action? What can we do beyond just reading and talking? 215 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,480 Don't underestimate the power of your voice. Seriously. 216 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,880 Talk to your elected officials. Let them know what you think about AI regulations. 217 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,880 There are organizations out there fighting for ethical AI development. 218 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:28,880 Support them and talk to your friends, family, everyone about the kind of future you want to see. 219 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,280 These conversations might feel small, but they matter. 220 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:37,880 It's about recognizing that we're not just along for the ride with this technology. We can actually shape it. 221 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,080 Exactly. The future isn't something that just happens to us. It's something we create. 222 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:50,080 It feels like we're standing at the edge of something huge, looking at a future that could be amazing, but also has some risks. 223 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:58,280 And that's exactly why we need to be having these conversations, asking tough questions, demanding transparency from the people developing and using AI. 224 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,680 Well, on that note, I think it's time to wrap up this deep dive. 225 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:07,280 We've explored how AI played a role in the 2024 election, the global race to regulate it, 226 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:13,880 and all the big philosophical questions it raises about the future of work, society, even what it means to be human. 227 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:19,680 It's been a journey, and I hope everyone listening has come away with a better understanding of just how complex this issue is 228 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,880 and feels empowered to be a part of shaping its future. 229 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,680 Me too. If there's one thing I want people to take away from all of this, 230 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:32,080 it's that the future isn't set in stone. It's up to us to shape it with every choice we make. 231 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,480 So stay curious, stay informed, and stay engaged. 232 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,080 The future of AI, and maybe even humanity itself, is in our hands. 233 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,280 And on that hopeful note, we'll sign off. 234 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:57,880 Thanks for joining us on this deep dive, and until next time, keep exploring the world with open minds.