The Bottom Line

What if the fears of artificial intelligence are unfounded? Is AI nothing more than a “mashup” of everything available online? And is there zero possibility that machines could one day build other machines, making humans irrelevant?

Earlier this month, host Steve Clemons spoke with computer scientist Jaan Tallinn, who argues that AI poses an existential risk to humans.

This week, Steve talks with computer scientist Jaron Lanier for a totally different take: Humanity has nothing to fear. Lanier argues that we’ve been conditioned to fear that technology will reach the point of sentient being – fears perpetuated by science fiction.

Eight of the nine Republican candidates vying for their party’s nomination to run for president of the United States next year held their first debate and exposed the divisions inside today’s Republican Party.

Most agreed to support former president Donald Trump if he ends up winning the nomination.

They all demanded more security at the country’s southern border, and some called for military action inside Mexico to stem the supply of fentanyl amid high US demand.

Host Steve Clemons asks Republican former Congressman Rodney Davis and Semafor reporter Shelby Talcott about which candidates have a chance at progressing as Trump holds a commanding lead.

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Jaan Tallinn is no stranger to disruptive tech: 25 years ago he co-engineered Kazaa, which allowed for the free download of films and music. He also co-engineered Skype, which disrupted traditional voice and video communication.

But when he looks at the way Big Tech and governments are pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, he worries about our future. Could we be fast approaching the point when machines don’t need human input anymore?

Host Steve Clemons asks Tallinn, who founded the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge University, about risks and opportunities posed by AI.

With wildfires and relentless heatwaves, 2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record.

But temperatures have been rising for years, and journalist Jeff Goodall has been travelling throughout the US to document the changes that are already happening to life on the planet. He writes about his experiences in his new book, The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet.

Join host Steve Clemons in this wide-ranging conversation on global warming change with Goodall and climate journalist Steve Mufson.

Whenever former United States President Donald Trump faces new legal trouble, he gets more donations and support from his base.

At least a dozen Republican politicians are competing to be the party’s nominee in the 2024 election, but opinion polls show that Republicans prefer Trump by wide margins.

Could the first Republican debate in Wisconsin on August 23 bring forth a breakout candidate who charms the public and mounts a serious challenge to Trump?

The Bottom Line host Steve Clemons takes a look at the Republican field with political reporters Julia Manchester of The Hill and David Weigel of Semafor.

Russia will be able to “turn the world upside down” if the West slows down its support for Ukraine now, says Chuck Hagel, a former United States secretary of defence.

To maintain the Western order, the Biden administration has no choice but to escalate the war, Hagel argues, even though domestic support for the Ukraine war will likely fall during the upcoming United States election season.

The Bottom Line host Steve Clemons discusses possible scenarios for the future of the war in Ukraine with Hagel and Ed Luce, the US editor of the Financial Times.

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For Washington, the negotiations with Iran are about making sure Tehran does not create nuclear bombs.

For Tehran, the negotiations are about easing the Western sanctions that have been holding back Iran’s economy.

And with elections being held in the United States and Iran next year, politicians are eager to reach a deal. So what is preventing an agreement?

The Bottom Line host Steve Clemons asks Iran experts Roxane Farmanfarmaian and Eli Lake about the chances of an Iran-US deal, the repercussions of the sidelining of veteran US negotiator Rob Malley, and the continuing protests in Iran.

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When great powers feel insecure and vulnerable, they lash out in unpredictable ways. This is what happened after the United States was attacked on 9/11, and it’s happening now as Russia feels besieged and encircled by NATO.

According to American political scientist John Mearsheimer, the Ukraine war could have been avoided if the West had abandoned the idea of Ukraine joining NATO from the start.

He tells The Bottom Line host Steve Clemons that the West is happy to support a frozen conflict that weakens Russia, but not NATO membership for Ukraine and direct involvement in the war.

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Millions of Americans say they are dissatisfied with both of the major parties: Democrat and Republican. And millions never vote. So why can’t any third parties break through and become viable alternatives? And could a big third party reduce the polarisation in American society?

Host Steve Clemons talks to political scientist Lee Drutman, author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America, and Holly Page, one of the co-founders of the No Labels organisation, which is trying to field third party candidates in United States elections.

The long-term effects of the pandemic are becoming more evident day by day. Globalisation was dying, but the virus accelerated the process. Loneliness has become the “invisible epidemic”. Since instability is the norm, younger investors are not afraid to make wild bets on meme stocks, NFTs or cryptocurrencies.

These are just some of the observations that Axios financial journalist Felix Salmon makes in his new book, The Phoenix Economy. He tells host Steve Clemons that some effects of the pandemic are positive, including tech innovations and the rise of wages due to labour shortages in some fields.

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