Julia Angwin

Julia Angwin, CEO of Proof News and NY Times opinion writer, shares her insights on the rapidly evolving AI landscape. She argues that the hype around AI may be overblown, raising concerns about its impact on journalism and accuracy. The conversation also delves into the intriguing legal battle involving Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI over voice modeling and copyright issues. Additionally, they tackle the implications of antitrust lawsuits in the entertainment industry and the innovative approach of Proof News in leveraging data for journalism.

In this discussion, Will Knight, a Senior Writer at Wired with a focus on AI advancements, and Julia Angwin, a New York Times opinion writer and founder of Proof News, dissect the reality behind AI's current capabilities. They delve into the gap between tech giants' lofty promises and the actual performance of new AI products. The conversation highlights challenges like energy consumption, AI’s shortcomings in critical fields, and the ethical dilemmas stemming from rapid development, questioning whether the hype truly reflects the technology's potential.

Madlin Mekelburg, Bloomberg legal reporter who covered the California trial; Julia Angwin, investigative journalist and founder of Proof News; Judd Legum, author of Popular Information. They discuss the landmark suit accusing Meta and Google of designing addictive features for kids. They explore habit versus addiction, grayscale and policy fixes, and how prediction markets are creeping into newsrooms.

Former tech reporter Sam Harnett discusses how journalists fuel the AI hype, Julia Angwin debunks fantastical AI claims, and Paris Marx reveals how AI leaders manipulate the press to influence regulators and investors.

Kurt Wagner, a journalist, dives into the Cambridge Analytica scandal, explaining the shocking data misuse of 50 million Facebook users and its ramifications for privacy and ethics in social media. Julia Angwin, a ProPublica editor, raises critical concerns about the potential for mass brainwashing through targeted manipulation. Together, they discuss how easily personal information can be exploited and the urgent need for accountability in digital advertising. Their insights shed light on the broader implications for public perception and digital privacy.