Transparency vs. investigative secrecy

Objection.ai is the new AI-powered tool from Aron D’Souza and Peter Thiel. The duo who helped bankrupt Gawker ten years ago. They're also teaming up to bring the world the steroid-embracing Enhanced Games later this month. D’Souza says Objection.ai is about restoring public trust in journalism and making it more transparent. Critics worry about its ideological bent and what it means to subject journalists, and their sources, to an AI "judge".

Aron D’Souza joins Jesse to talk about the tech, what it means to "object" to a reporter’s work, and if there’s any reason to believe Objection.ai could work at all.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional music by Audio Network

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Photo: Objection.ai website (NOTE: This artwork for this episode was likely generated by A.I., by the website’s designers.)

More information:

• Can AI judge journalism? A Thiel-backed startup says yes, even if it risks chilling whistleblowers — TechCrunch
• Full transcript: Conversation with Aron D’Souza on Objection and AI in journalism — TechCrunch
• Hulk Hogan v. Gawker: Invasion of Privacy & Free Speech in a Digital World — First Amendment Watch NYU
• Trust in Media: How Canadians feel about news outlets — Pollara Strategic Insights
• Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S. — Gallup
• A Reporter Explains His Approach to Writing News and Features — New York Times
• Objection

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