The perils and promise of AI

The perils and promise of AI

Author: The Watson School July 26, 2023 Duration: 35:33

In the last year, programs like ChatGPT, Dall-E and Bard have shown the world just how powerful artificial intelligence can be. AI programs can write hit pop songs, pass the bar exam and even appear to develop meaningful relationships with humans. 

This apparent revolution in AI tech has provoked widespread awe, amazement — and for some, terror. 

But as Brown Professor of Data Science and Computer Science Suresh Venkatasubramanian explains on this episode of Trending Globally, artificial intelligence has been with us for a while, and a serious, nuanced conversation about its role in our society is long overdue. 

Suresh Venkatasubramanian is the Deputy Director of Brown’s Data Science Institute. This past year, he served in the Biden Administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he helped craft the administration’s blueprint for an “AI Bill Rights.” 

In this episode of Trending Globally, Dan Richards talks with Suresh about what an AI Bill of Rights should look like and how to build a future where artificial intelligence isn’t just safe and effective, but actively contributes to social justice. 

Read the blueprint for the AI Bill of Rights

Learn more about Brown’s Data Science Institute

Learn more about the Watson Institute’s other podcasts


From the Watson School at Brown University, Trending Globally: Politics and Policy brings the insights of leading scholars and practitioners directly into your ears. This award-winning podcast digs into the complex forces shaping our world, moving beyond headlines to understand the deeper political and policy decisions behind them. Each conversation is designed to unpack a pressing issue-whether it's international trade tensions, public health crises, or social movements-with clarity and depth. You'll hear experts from the Watson Institute and beyond explain not just what's happening, but why it matters and how different policies might change the course of events. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research yet remain accessible, turning daunting global topics into understandable and engaging dialogue. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, governance, and societal change, this series offers a vital resource. It’s a direct line to some of the sharpest minds in international and public affairs, all within a format that fits into your daily routine. Find Trending Globally: Politics and Policy and add it to your listening rotation for a consistently informative perspective on the stories that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy
Podcast Episodes
From pandemics to misinformation: rethinking security today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:34
From a once-in-a-century global pandemic, to wars in Europe and the Middle East, to the unchecked rise of AI and social media technologies, we are living in an age of threats against humanity that are profound, fast-movi…
A brief history of US interventionism in Iran and beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
On this episode, Dan Richards spoke with Watson School Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer about the history of U.S. foreign intervention and how it can help us to understand today’s conflict in Iran.Stephen is an award-winning…
How US economic policy is interacting with the global economy today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:03
On this episode, Watson School Dean and economist John Friedman talks with economist Sebnem Kalemli Ozcan about how U.S. economic policy in the last year has changed the American economy, how those changes have rippled t…
Are human brains wired for war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
Violent, organized conflict is a near constant in human history.But why?Often, large-scale conflicts and wars are explained in material or political terms: humans engaging in conflict over land, resources, or ideologies.…
Challenging the U.S. foreign policy consensus on Taiwan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
In October, President Trump and President Xi Jinping met for the first time in Trump’s new presidential term. The meeting ended with commitments from both countries designed to lower trade tensions —– something many obse…
The future of the green transition and the climate movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:51
In August 2022 — just over three years ago — the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law. It represented the largest federal investment in renewable energy and climate action in U.S. history. The bill was a historic…
Inequality and democracy in India, the US, and beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
In 2014, Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister, marking the beginning of what many experts and international watchgroups identify as a period of democratic erosion in the country. Since then, a number of other demo…