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POLITICO Tech

POLITICOwww.politico.com
The POLITICO Tech podcast is your download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy. New episodes on Thursdays.
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Episodes

Afraid of AI ‘doomsday’? Why today might be the real problem

The doomsday scenarios about AI run amok garner a lot of attention, but would policymakers be better off focusing on its problems here and now? That’s the case Janet Haven, executive director at Data & Society, makes on today’s POLITICO Tech with host Steven Overly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 08, 202319 min

A big AI battle is coming soon in California

There's an AI firestorm coming next year — and it won’t be in Washington. Look instead to Sacramento. On POLITICO Tech, California politics reporter Jeremy White tells host Steven Overly about the wave of AI legislation coming to the Golden State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 07, 202316 min

What the public really thinks about AI

Plenty of people have opinions on artificial intelligence -- especially its potential risks and what to do about them. Daniel Colson’s AI Policy Institute has set out to measure those public attitudes through polls. On POLITICO Tech, Colson tells host Steven Overly that there’s bipartisan fear about AI’s destructive potential and argues those results ought to spur regulators into action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Dec 06, 202322 min

Why lawmakers fear Biden is giving China a tech boost

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized the Biden administration’s digital trade agenda, going so far as to say recent policy decisions are giving China a leg up in the global tech race. On POLITICO Tech, Reps. Darin Lahood (R-Ill.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) argue U.S. trade officials must change course in a conversation with host Steven Overly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 05, 202320 min

Promise vs. propaganda: Can tech fix the climate crisis?

The big U.N. Climate Change Conference -- COP28 -- is underway in Dubai and the role of emerging technologies in the fight against global warming is likely to be a recurring theme. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly asks Marcene Mitchell of the World Wildlife Fund to expound on the promise and the hype behind these technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 04, 202317 min

Period trackers are more popular than ever. Is that a privacy concern?

Abortion access has changed dramatically since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. And the landscape for data privacy protections is changing, too. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly examines the current state of privacy concerns over period-tracking apps and other health data with POLITICO reporter Ruth Reader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 01, 202315 min

How China is beating the U.S. at AI

The conventional wisdom is that the U.S. and China are battling it out for AI dominance, and that the US has an upper hand when it comes to developing the technology. On POLITICO Tech, Bill Drexel and Hannah Kelley from the Center for a New American Security tell host Steven Overly that China is ahead in one key area: exporting AI around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 30, 202320 min

What the FEC can (and can't) do about deepfakes

The Federal Election Commission is often politically gridlocked. Now, there’s growing pressure on the agency to consider rules for political ads that contain AI-generated deepfakes. On POLITICO Tech, Democratic FEC Chair Dara Lindenbaum tells host Steven Overly why those calls for action face a bigger obstacle than partisanship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 29, 202318 min

Is the OpenAI saga a wakeup call for AI safety?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted by the company’s board — until he was brought back days later. The Silicon Valley melodrama revealed tensions over how to manage the future of AI. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly discusses the fallout with Dewey Murdick, executive director at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 202321 min

Why fighting deepfakes in the 2024 election is…complicated

AI-generated deepfakes are expected to disrupt the 2024 election cycle. But Matt Perault and Scott Babwah Brennen at the University of North Carolina’s Center on Technology Policy say some fears are overblown. On POLITICO Tech, they talk with host Steven Overly about the potential problems with and policy fixes for political deepfakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 27, 202326 min

Rebroadcast: Rep. Ted Lieu on what he wants to see from Congress AI regulation

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Ca) is one of the few members of Congress with a background in computer science. But in this rebroadcast from September, he tells Steven Overly why he believes lawmakers don’t need tech expertise to regulate AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 22, 202320 min

Rebroadcast: This tech exec has a plan to rein in AI

Former President Barack Obama recently published a short list of articles, podcasts and books that have shaped his views on AI. And among them is a book that was published in September called, “The Coming Wave,” written by Mustafa Suleyman, the co-founder of Google DeepMind and current CEO of Inflection AI. In this rebroadcast from September, Steven Overly talks with Mustafa Suleyman, the chief executive of Inflection AI and a co-founder of Google DeepMind, who argues there are 10 steps that gov...

Nov 21, 202319 min

Rebroadcast: Justine Bateman says the AI apocalypse is coming for Hollywood

The writers and actor's strikes may be over, but many of the issues at the center of the strike — including AI — remain ongoing. In this rebroadcast from August, Steven Overly talks with filmmaker Justine Bateman, who predicts expects artificial intelligence will be the harbinger of the end of movies and television as we know it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 202320 min

One public affairs firm rides the AI ‘roller coaster’

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the world’s power centers, from how governments operate to how industry and advocates wield influence. On POLITICO Tech, Penta Group partner Andrea Christianson tells host Steven Overly why the public affairs firm is fully embracing generative AI — and what restrictions it’s had to put in place. Steven Overly is the host of the POLITICO Tech podcast. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO. Learn...

Nov 17, 202316 min

K Street is taking AI lobbying to the bank

Lobbying on AI is booming on K Street, with influencers around Washington selling themselves as AI experts who can help companies navigate how Congress and the Biden administration will tackle the hot topic in town. Hailey Fuchs talks with host Steven Overly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 202313 min

Inside Michelle Donelan’s British tech invasion

U.K. tech secretary Michelle Donelan makes a return visit to POLITICO Tech, this time during a U.S. visit that includes stops in Washington, Seattle and San Francisco. She tells host Steven Overly how the U.S. and U.K. will join forces to combat the risks of artificial intelligence, and offers advice for U.S. policymakers on both AI and online safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 15, 202318 min

The tech issues that matter as Biden, Xi prepare to meet

President Biden is slated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in San Francisco. It’s their first face-to-face meeting in a year, and comes amid ever-escalating tensions over tech issues like AI and microchips. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly asks Xiaomeng Lu of the Eurasia Group to outline expectations for the meeting -- and whether major resolutions are likely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 14, 202318 min

Google’s general counsel on AI and legal liability

Google sued on Monday to stop unidentified scammers from using a fake version of its AI chatbot to spread malware. The company sees the case as an example of how it protects consumers. But the liability that Google will assume? That’s another matter. On POLITICO Tech, Google general counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado joins host Steven Overly to talk about AI and legal responsibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 13, 202314 min

How hackers are exploiting the Israel-Hamas war

In the hours after Hamas waged its deadly Oct. 7th assault on Israel, the country came under a different type of attack: cyber attacks. On POLITICO Tech, Atlantic Council security research fellow Ruslan Trad explains why the barrage of hackers targeting Israel is different from past conflicts -- and what they seem to really want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 10, 202321 min

Meta's second whistleblower tells us why he came forward

There’s been a lot of attention this week on Arturo Béjar, the latest whistleblower to come forward with concerns about how Meta handles online content aimed at children. He testified before the Senate earlier this week, and he’s been cooperating with investigations brought by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. On Politico Tech today, he talks with Rebecca Kern and Steven Overly about why now was the right time to come forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Nov 09, 202326 min

What Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn took away from the Meta whistleblower’s testimony

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) face an uphill battle to get their Kids Online Safety Act to the president’s desk. On POLITICO Tech, the lawmakers discuss Tuesday’s testimony from the Meta whistleblower and whether his revelations will put fresh momentum behind their legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 08, 202324 min

Frances Haugen on the new Meta whistleblower

The Senate will hear from a former Meta executive today who says the company is not adequately addressing how social media content harms children. But he’s not the first to come forward. On POLITICO Tech, Meta’s original whistleblower, Frances Haugen, weighs in on the latest accusations against Meta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 07, 202324 min

NOLA banned, then embraced, facial recognition. Here’s what happened next.

Facing a wave of violent crime in 2022, New Orleans decided to lift a ban on facial recognition technology and allow police to use it to identify certain suspects. But police were required to track how often the technology is used and whether it actually works. On POLITICO Tech, privacy reporter Alfred Ng and host Steven Overly discuss what the data show a year later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 06, 202318 min

Meet the election betting upstart suing the government

The fledgling industry for betting on U.S. election outcomes — through regulated exchanges, not black markets — has been subject to immense regulatory scrutiny. Now, start-up company Kalshi is suing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for blocking its plan to create one of these political markets. On POLITICO Tech, Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour argues these exchanges are not only legal, but good for democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 03, 202318 min

In the battle for AI leadership: U.S. vs. U.K.?

The U.K. has brought together world leaders for a much-hyped summit on AI safety this week. And just before it got underway, the Biden administration unveiled a sweeping AI executive order, followed by a policy address from Vice President Kamala Harris. On POLITICO Tech, Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels joins host Steven Overly to discuss the political jockeying to be the world’s AI leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 02, 202316 min

What it means to lose the internet during war

Internet access has been significantly disrupted in Gaza since the start of its ongoing war with Israel, including a recent blackout that lasted more than 30 hours. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly speaks with Palestinian community activist Nour Swirki and an internet watchdog — NetBlocks director Alp Toker — about what it means to be disconnected from friends, family and the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 01, 202316 min

The TL;DR on Biden’s AI EO

The Biden administration’s much-anticipated executive order aims to send a message that the U.S. will both create and regulate AI. The audience? Washington, Silicon Valley and the world. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly speaks with one of the order’s architects, White House Special Adviser on AI Ben Buchanan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 202312 min

Influencers are complicating Biden’s student loan message

Student loan borrowers must soon resume payments for the first time in three years -- and many are flocking to social media for answers about their options. POLITICO education reporter Bianca Quilantan tells host Steven Overly that they are finding questionable advice and misinformation that is drowning out the Biden administration’s own message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30, 202315 min

How SCOTUS could change speech on social media

The Supreme Court will hear a case brought by two Republican attorneys general accusing the Biden administration of coercing social media companies to remove conservative posts. Setting the politics aside, the ruling could have major implications for online speech. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly asks Alex Abdo from the Knight First Amendment Institute to break it down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 27, 202318 min

What the NAACP wants Washington to do about AI

The NAACP has made the regulation of artificial intelligence a cornerstone of its advocacy in recent years, as the technology has the potential to exacerbate existing barriers to justice and equity — and create new ones. On POLITICO Tech, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson tells host Steven Overly why Washington must force tech companies to put people over profits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 26, 202316 min
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