How technology can help save democracy

A growing number of Americans use AI despite reporting declining levels of trust. These numbers reveal how people are curious about the technology, but they worry about it limiting their opportunity or leading to the catastrophic outcomes some tech leaders propose. In this episode, Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Vilas Dhar, the president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, to discuss this dichotomy and the path toward building an inclusive AI future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Organizations are quickly adopting agentic systems that introduce new and complex governance challenges, yet few have the necessary rules in place to account for when something goes wrong. Still, even in the absence of federal legislation, enterprises and individuals must understand the technology, its limitations, and how to control it. In this episode, co-host Nicol Turner Lee is joined by author Camille Stewart Gloster to discuss these governance questions and her new book, “The Insider You Built: How Organizations Stay in Control of Autonomous AI Agents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent warnings about the possible existential threats some say AI may pose to humanity have led to heightened debates about how we should address these concerns. Policymakers are now more seriously weighing what actions from both government and business are needed to reassure a nervous public that AI is safe, reliable, and helpful. In this episode, Darrell West is joined by fellow Brookings colleagues Tom Wheele and Bill Galston to discuss potential paths forward and what they mean for both safety and competition.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conversations about the importance of getting children access to technology have morphed into efforts to remove devices from the classroom and restrict kids’ access to social media. Yet, the discussions leading up to these bans frequently lack participation from youth and an assessment of cultural norms. In this episode, Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Meisha Porter, Desmond Upton Patton, and Ashley Stewart to address what this means for students of different demographics and how more informed approaches might look. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cyber risk in an interconnected environment is increasingly complex for organizations to assess and address. Navigating such challenges elevates the question of vendor concentration, which can introduce certain risks but also provide important strengths. In this episode, guest host Stephanie Pell is joined by Diana Burley and Rhea Siers to discuss their recent paper, which argues that resilience should be an organization’s guiding objective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As AI becomes more ubiquitous in our lives, babies and toddlers are also interacting with it more. But it's unclear how the technology could affect children in this critical stage of development. In this episode, Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Sweta Shah and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of Brookings' Center for Universal Education to discuss their findings as part of a series called, "Generation AI starts early. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The space economy is accelerating at a rapid pace with advances in space tourism, mining, exploration, communications, and defense, but to expand upon these activities, the U.S. needs to invest in ground stations and space infrastructure to help commercial firms take advantage of the growing opportunities. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Bridgit Mendler of Northwood Space and Mariel Borowitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology to discuss the importance of these investments and how the government can best support new advancements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Technological advances are reshaping manufacturing processes, and robotics, in particular, are important to improve efficiency and advance military preparedness. Yet there are questions about what robotics can do and what governments and businesses should be doing to accelerate these technologies. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Suzy Teele of the ARM Institute to discuss these questions and her work on advancing innovations.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Technology is accelerating rapidly, raising concerns about how artificial intelligence and other tools are altering communications, decisionmaking, and governance. Yet, these important conversations often overlook how technology can strengthen democratic institutions by expanding participation and improving service delivery. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Beth Simone Noveck to discuss these possibilities explored in her new book, “Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cars and trucks are being digitally connected through online sensors, safety devices, and entertainment systems, leading some observers to call vehicles today "smart phones on wheels." These features offer tremendous convenience for drivers and passengers, though the ubiquitous connections raise questions about privacy, security, legal liability, and consumer protection. In this episode, Darrell West is joined by Ian Barlow to discuss connected vehicles and opportunities to protect consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.