949: Why AI Keeps Failing Society, with Stanford professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland

949: Why AI Keeps Failing Society, with Stanford professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland

Author: Jon Krohn December 16, 2025 Duration: 55:28
Alex “Sandy” Pentland, Toshiba Professor of Media Arts & Science at MIT and Fellow at Stanford, speaks to Jon Krohn about his new book, Shared Wisdom, why he attributes AI to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and why those risks to society could still be relevant today. We can only achieve better system performance, Alex says, when we build tools that keep step with the way that people make decisions. Listen to the episode to hear Alex talk about how he is helping make AI agents work for individuals rather than the companies that develop them, and his work in making sure that systems operate consistently and fairly across the world. This episode is brought to you by the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dell⁠⁠⁠, by⁠ ⁠⁠Intel⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠Fabi⁠, and by ⁠Airia⁠. Additional materials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.superdatascience.com/949⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in sponsoring a SuperDataScience Podcast episode? Email natalie@superdatascience.com for sponsorship information. In this episode you will learn: (02:19) About Alex Pentland’s new book, Shared Wisdom                     (16:00) About loyalagents.org (28:36) Why we need data unions (34:02) The governance of AI (41:24) How to measure the social impact of AI projects

Hosted by Dr. Jon Krohn, Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn is a deep and accessible exploration of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping our world. Each episode features conversations with leading researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs from both academia and industry, breaking down complex ideas into something tangible and relevant. You'll hear firsthand about emerging techniques, practical applications, and the evolving landscape of data-driven careers. The sheer volume of data in our world is growing at a staggering rate, and this podcast serves as a guide to understanding that expansion and finding your place within it. Rather than offering abstract theory, these discussions focus on real-world impact, from cutting-edge algorithms to the human stories behind major breakthroughs. Tune in for a thoughtful, nuanced look at the tools and trends that are defining the future, all through the lens of experts who are building that future every day. Whether you're actively working in the field or simply curious about the forces driving technological change, this podcast provides a consistent source of insight and inspiration, demystifying the science that is quietly transforming every aspect of our lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn
Podcast Episodes
954: Recap of 2025 and Wishing You a Wonderful 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:16
Jon Krohn wraps up 2025 with his thoughts on how agentic AI has become as much a resounding success as an annoying buzzword for many in the tech industry, why such promising developments in generative AI mean that well-p…
950: Happy Holidays from All of Us at the SuperDataScience Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59
In this special holiday episode, the SuperDataScience Podcast team comes together to wish you happy holidays and thank you for listening throughout the year. Team members from around the world share warm greetings in the…
948: In Case You Missed It in November 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
In this November episode of “In Case You Missed It” series, Jon Krohn selects his favorite clips from the month. Hear from Shirish Gupta and Tyler Cox (Episode 939), Vikoy Pandey (Episode 941), Marc Dupuis (Episode 937),…
946: How Robotaxis Are Transforming Cities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:03
Jon Krohn looks into the benefits of robotaxis, from safety to affordability, in this Five-Minute Friday. Hear about Waymo’s partnership with Jaguar Land Rover, the latest safety studies concerning driverless vehicles, a…