In this episode Hanna, Julius, and Sage talk to Dr. Alice Marwick, Director of Research at nonprofit research institute, Data & Society. Alice discusses the rapid expansion of AI. She explains how AI is dangerously concentrated in a handful of powerful companies whose interests are increasingly aligned with the current US administration, and how people are being pushed into using AI involuntarily in their workplaces, schools, and apps. She also raises concerns about people using chatbots for mental health support, highlighting the safety risks of “private vibes” versus real privacy. Alice argues that AI adoption is far from inevitable and society still has the power to shape its development, making the case for meaningful regulation built around broad principles rather than specific technologies. 

Key Takeaways from Alice:

1. AI is not inevitable. The real problem is power and political economy, not technology
2. “Private vibes” aren’t the same as privacy. Chatbots may feel safe and confidential, but unlike therapy, there are no legal protections governing what happens to what you share.
3. Regulation should be built on broad principles, not specific technologies. Grounding laws in ideas like data privacy and worker dignity means they stay relevant no matter what new tools come along.

Find out more about:

• Dr. Alice Marwick 
• Her book The Private is Political: Networked Privacy and Social Media
• Data & Society 
• The Center for Information Technology in Public Life Alice helped found at UNC Chapel Hill
• Her X - @‌alicetiara 
• Her LinkedIn

Some of the texts we refer to in this episode:

• "Danger Sound Claxon" by Matthew F. Jordan
• Rebecca Lewis’s dissertation Tech's Right Turn : the Rise of Reactionary Politics in Silicon Valley and Online
• Emil Torres’s How Effective Accelerationism Divides Silicon Valley
• Joe Lato’s Critical computational social science researcher

Alice’s Media Diet:

Meat and potatoes: BlueSky, New York Times, Reddit

Palate Cleanser: Rosalía's Lux album, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Silo, Severance, Better Call Saul, Naomi Novik, Who? Weekly

This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to [email protected]