In our Tech Society

The EU's outsized influence on tech regulation beyond its borders raises a lot of political issues: e.g. the UK having little ability to effectively regulate AI. Besides this, we also discuss how China approaches AI ethics and regulation differently. I'm joined by Oxford University researcher Huw Roberts.

Robots are designed to elicit emotions in us, especially empathy. I chat to philosopher Dr Joanna Malinowska about the benefits, and dangers, of robots designed to be cute. That's especially in the context of sex robots, and the treatment of women.

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How can religious ethical traditions make sense of dating apps and sex robots? I chat to Kate Ott about her new book, 'Sex, Tech, and Faith'.

One of the key drivers of investment in autonomous vehicles and other kinds of automation is hype. With all the headlines about failings in the crypto industry this week, it's clear hype can be dangerous and self-fulfilling. So how can we understand it?

In this episode from the archives, we chat to Gemma Milne.

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I'm joined by Mardiya Siba Yahaya to talk about her report on how such HR defenders deal with censorship, authoritarianism and societal pressure.

Also check out our recent episode 'Digital Safety for Women in the Workplace'.

We all have a relationship with recommendation algorithms like Spotify or TikTok, but how do different people manage that relationship? How can we understand TikTok addiction? And how do these recommendation algorithms from global companies affect and play into local culture? Today I'm joined by Ignacio Siles from Costa Rica to talk about his fascinating upcoming book, Living with Algorithms.

Digital doorbells are increasingly common, and, at first glance, seemingly harmless. But a new report sheds light on how they are often used to surveil, and even punish delivery workers, not just by their bosses, but by doorbell owners. I am joined from New York by the report's authors, Aiha Nguyen and Eve Zelickson from Data and Society.

You can read the full report here.

Music from Coma Media via PixelBay

AI Regulation and the Climate Crisis are both huge, seemingly different challenges, but they're both underpinned by the same question: how can we tackle them without resorting to authoritarianism? My guest today, tech philosopher Mark Coeckelbergh, offers a new, more constructive way of thinking about these challenges.

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Without support from political representatives, legislation on issues like privacy just doesn't happen. Today I'm joined by legislative activist and former journalist Hayley Tsukayama to talk about how, in the gridlock of American democracy, progress on privacy legislation can still be made.

1.18: Hayley's background as a tech journalist in DC

5.10: Why does privacy matter?

8.45: Privacy data and abortion rights

13.05: What do Utah, California and Connecticut all have in common?

23.50: Why is the US the world leader on tech but so slow on privacy legislation?

26.30: Attempts at federal privacy legislation

Is work just a way to pay the bills, or is it fundamental to what it means to be human? And with technological change, do we need a new kind of work ethic?

Today I'm joined by philosopher of work Jean-Philippe Deranty to reflect on our cultural, societal and philosophical attitudes to work.

4.48: Neoliberalism's Paradoxical Relationship with Work

23.30: Cultural attitudes to work: UK vs France

26.20: A New Kind of Work Ethic

33.40: Neoliberal attitudes to current changes in the labour market

41.30: What is the centrality of the work?

52.20: Psychological and social centrality of work

57.40: What the pandemic taught us about the significance of work

The Work Repository: https://onwork.edu.au/