"Empire of AI": Karen Hao on How AI Is Threatening Democracy & Creating a New Colonial World

[Uncle Joe]

In our July Fourth special broadcast, we revisit our interview with longtime technology reporter Karen Hao, author of the new book Empire of AI, which explores the accruing political and economic power of AI companies — especially Sam Altman's OpenAI. Her reporting uncovered the exploitation of workers in Kenya, attempts to take massive amounts of freshwater from communities in Chile, along with numerous accounts of the technology's detrimental impact on the environment. "This is an extraordinary type of AI development that is causing a lot of social, labor and environmental harms," says Hao, in an extended interview.

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.

[enough]

1. I just finished listening to this book on Audible. MUST READ.

Covers a huge range of issues, going from fascinating human details to global politics and environmental realities. Very entertaining and eye-opening.

[Uncle Joe]

2. This is probably why *rump fired the TVA board. n/t