Chapter 1: The Rise of AI Anxiety

Since the inception of the first IBM mainframe, concerns about machines overtaking human roles have been prevalent. Movies, books, and television shows have fueled this anxiety, often depicting scenarios where seemingly harmless appliances turn against their owners. The recent surge of AI technologies capable of conducting intelligent searches, writing articles, and even narrating audiobooks has intensified these fears.

In fact, AI is advancing to the point where it can produce content similar to this. In reality, my smart thermostat is already generating much of this text, requiring only minor edits on my part.

Aventine Research Institute and Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios have recognized this growing concern by launching a new eight-part audio series titled "Humans vs. Machines" hosted by renowned AI expert Gary Marcus.

This series acts as the fourth season of "The World as You'll Know It," aiming to clarify the past, present, and future of AI while highlighting some of its most significant advancements and setbacks. The podcast premiered on April 25 and is accessible via the Audacy app and various other podcast platforms.

Follow the series HERE.

Through a blend of compelling narratives, interviews, personal experiences, and Marcus's insights, "Humans vs. Machines" provides a framework for how individuals, organizations, and governments can navigate the complexities of AI. It addresses essential societal questions surrounding the technology and proposes steps for ensuring that AI serves as a shared benefit.

Despite the advancements made in AI over the past 70 years, we still grapple with the challenge of developing reliable systems. By examining the technologies behind autonomous vehicles, medical diagnostics, and language models such as ChatGPT, Marcus highlights that while the potential gains of AI are substantial, so are the associated risks. The topic may seem overwhelming, yet Marcus and the production team behind "Humans vs. Machines" have designed the series to engage even casual listeners. According to Marcus, the significance of AI transcends the tech industry alone.

"We're at a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Although we hear about the promises offered by AI and machine learning, the reality is that we are currently on a misguided trajectory, necessitating a reevaluation of how we develop and implement these technologies. It's crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of AI and its implications for society," states host Gary Marcus. "I am honored to collaborate with Audacy and Aventine to create a podcast that enhances our understanding of what society needs to ensure we navigate AI appropriately."

Throughout the series, Marcus is accompanied by engineers, scientists, philosophers, and journalists who are at the cutting edge of AI, explaining what its capabilities mean for society at large.

Notable guests include Dr. David Ferrucci, who led the IBM Watson/Jeopardy! initiative; Ken Jennings, the famed Jeopardy! host; Suchi Saria, CEO and Founder of Bayesian Health, Inc.; Dr. Isaac Kohane from Harvard Medical School; Cade Metz, a technology journalist at The New York Times; Missy Cummings, a trailblazing Navy pilot and critic of autonomous vehicles; and Yejin Choi, a MacArthur fellowship awardee recognized for her work on bias detection in AI.

Gary Marcus is a prominent figure in the realm of artificial intelligence. He is a scientist, best-selling author, and a serial entrepreneur, having founded Robust.AI and Geometric.AI, which was acquired by Uber. He is renowned for his critiques of modern AI, predicting many of its limitations long before they became apparent, and for his studies in human language development and cognitive neuroscience.

As an Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU, he has authored five influential books, including "The Algebraic Mind," "Kluge," "The Birth of the Mind," and the New York Times bestseller "Guitar Zero." Marcus frequently contributes to publications such as The New Yorker, Wired, and The New York Times. His latest book, co-authored with Ernest Davis, titled "Rebooting AI," has been recognized as one of Forbes's essential reads on AI, and during his recent TED Talk, he advocated for the establishment of an International Agency for AI.

The podcast is divided into two segments, with the first four episodes launching on April 25, followed by weekly releases, while the remaining four episodes will debut later this summer. This new season adds to the podcast series "The World as You'll Know It," exploring how emerging technological and scientific advancements will shape our future living and working conditions.

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Chapter 2: The Future of AI

In this episode titled "Will Humanity Survive AI?", Gary Marcus discusses the existential risks and potential benefits of AI technology.

Morgan Jay and Gary Marcus join Adam Carolla to delve into the current state of AI and its implications for our future.