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
934: Is AI Replacing Junior Workers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:55
With the number of jobs dramatically slowing in the last year, many question if this decline is down to companies turning to AI for completing entry-level tasks in particular. Research published earlier this month by Yal…
932: Should You Build or Buy Your AI Solution? With Larissa Schneider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
Larissa Schneider speaks to Jon Krohn in this Feature Friday about finding the right time to invest in AI solutions, and when it’s better to build them yourself. She discusses her work leading global strategy and operati…
930: In Case You Missed It in September 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
Jon Krohn’s highlights from this month of interviews focus on ways to future-proof your career, looking at the hardware that will get you the most mileage, the emerging roles that are well worth a look, and the developme…
928: The “Lethal Trifecta”: Can AI Agents Ever Be Safe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:55
Prompt injections, malicious code, and AI agents: In this week’s Five-Minute Friday, Jon Krohn looks into the current security weaknesses found in AI systems. A structural vulnerability that The Economist dubs a “lethal…
927: Automating Code Review with AI, feat. CodeRabbit’s David Loker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:18
Earlier this year, David Loker joined CodeRabbit as their Director of AI. As more people come to write code with the help of large language models, David believes CodeRabbit will become a helpful assistant for code revie…
926: AI is Disrupting the Legal Industry: Are Paralegals Doomed? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:47
In this Five-Minute Friday, Jon Krohn explores how AI is reshaping the legal industry. He investigates how AI tools are helping lawyers make conclusions faster, how paralegals are being retrained, and the latest in-deman…