Live: The risks and realities of AI chatbots
Warning: this episode mentions suicide.
Artificial intelligence powered chatbots have become unavoidable. We use them to search, get advice, and even for companionship. But getting close to an AI comes with real and serious risks.
Washington state leaders want to do something about that. Two new state laws passed this year that require AI-modified content to be traceable, and limits the kinds of conversations these bots can have with minors.
On today's episode, Monica sits down with journalists Kashmir Hill from the New York Times and Jeff Horwitz from Reuters to talk about their reporting on AI chatbots, and whether these new state regulations can protect us from their risks.
This episode was recorded at a recent live event put on by the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public at the Seattle Public Library.
GUESTS:
Kashmir Hill, features writer on the business desk at The New York Times, covering technology and privacy
Jeff Horwitz, technology reporter at Reuters
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Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.
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Monica Nickelsburg
AI & Economy Reporter
Monica Nickelsburg covers artificial intelligence, tech and the local economy in the Pacific Northwest.
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Joshua McNichols
Reporter
As KUOW's Growth and Development reporter and co-host of KUOW's Booming podcast, Joshua's "growing pains" beat sits at the nexus of housing, transportation, urban planning, government and the economy. His favorite stories also include themes of history, technology, and climate change.
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Carol Smith
Editor
Carol is an editor of news, features, documentaries and podcasts at KUOW. She specializes in narrative approaches. Her team of reporters has covered a range of beats, including regional growth issues, homelessness, the economy, public health, immigration, food, arts and culture. Prior to joining KUOW, Carol was a long-time print journalist for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Los Angeles Times and others. Her enterprise reporting has won multiple national j awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She is author of the memoir: Crossing the River: Seven Stories that Saved My Life (Abrams Press, 2021).
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Lucy Soucek
Senior Podcast Producer
Lucy Soucek is a senior producer at KUOW. She helped launch and now produces Booming, a podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. She also produces THE WILD with Chris Morgan, a podcast about the wonder and resilience of nature.
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Alec Cowan
Senior Podcast Producer
Alec Cowan is a senior podcast producer for KUOW, where he works on Booming and other podcast projects. He's worked on many station programs, including Soundside, The Record with Bill Radke, Primed, and SoundQs.
More stories from Alec Cowan »
