AI as Normal Technology
Presented by Guest Speaker
He is a co-author of the book AI Snake Oil and a newsletter of the same name which is read by 50,000 researchers, policy makers, journalists, and AI enthusiasts. He previously co-authored two widely used computer science textbooks: Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies and Fairness in Machine Learning. Narayanan led the Princeton Web Transparency and Accountability Project to uncover how companies collect and use our personal information. His work was among the first to show how machine learning reflects cultural stereotypes. Narayanan was one of TIME’s inaugural list of 100 most influential people in AI.
Abstract
Arvind Narayanan will present a new paper co-authored with Sayash Kapoo, in which they articulate a vision of artificial intelligence as a “normal technology,” standing in contrast to both utopian and dystopian narratives that portray AI as a potentially superintelligent entity. In the presentation, Narayanan will explain why they believe the impacts of advanced AI, even if transformative, are likely to unfold gradually. He will make a critical distinction between AI methods, AI applications, and AI adoption. Additionally, he will explore a potential division of labor between humans and AI in a world shaped by advanced AI, and examine the implications of treating AI as normal technology for AI policy, AI safety, and broader human progress.