The Intelligence Horizon Zoë Hitzig Left OpenAI. Here’s What She Told Us Weeks Before.
16 snips
Feb 10, 2026 
Zoë Hitzig, a research scientist studying economics, privacy, and AI governance, discusses diverging corporate incentives and the need for robust governance. She explores how people actually use ChatGPT, the shifting nature of jobs and software work, access and welfare benefits beyond GDP, and proposals like universal basic compute and new corporate accountability mechanisms.
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Prefer Pre-Distribution Over UBI Promises
- UBI is a useful policy but often treated as a panacea and faces funding and commitment problems.
- Pre-distribution like universal basic capital or shares would let people share in AI-created value as it appreciates.
Everyday Queries Drive Real Welfare Gains
- Many ChatGPT queries are mundane non-work tasks like medical triage, repairs, and taxes, delivering real welfare gains.
- These everyday uses can improve access to advice for people lacking professional services.
Scrutinize Chatbot Therapy Business Models
- Examine business models behind therapy-like chatbot use to spot conflicts between platform incentives and user well-being.
- Regulate or design incentives where prolonged therapeutic interactions become monetized in harmful ways.
