Dave Davies

In 2023, President Joe Biden issued an executive order imposing some regulatory safeguards on AI development. But President Trump quickly repealed that order upon taking office, saying Biden's dangerous approach imposed unnecessary government control on AI innovation. We've invited Gary Rivlin here to help us understand all these issues and developments.

In 2023, President Joe Biden issued an executive order imposing some regulatory safeguards on AI development. But President Trump quickly repealed that order upon taking office, saying Biden's dangerous approach imposed unnecessary government control on AI innovation. We've invited Gary Rivlin here to help us understand all these issues and developments.

Rivlin has worked for the New York Times, among other publications, and published 10 previous books. In 2017, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the Panama Papers. His new book is AI Valley, Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion Dollar Race to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence. Well, Gary Rivlin, welcome back to Fresh Air. Thanks for having me. Let's just start with a couple of basics.

Rivlin has worked for the New York Times, among other publications, and published 10 previous books. In 2017, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the Panama Papers. His new book is AI Valley, Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion Dollar Race to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence. Well, Gary Rivlin, welcome back to Fresh Air. Thanks for having me. Let's just start with a couple of basics.

Rivlin has worked for the New York Times, among other publications, and published 10 previous books. In 2017, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the Panama Papers. His new book is AI Valley, Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion Dollar Race to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence. Well, Gary Rivlin, welcome back to Fresh Air. Thanks for having me. Let's just start with a couple of basics.

You know, we're used to computers being very smart. I mean, way back in 2011, Siri appeared on Apple products. What distinguishes artificial intelligence from just smart computers?

You know, we're used to computers being very smart. I mean, way back in 2011, Siri appeared on Apple products. What distinguishes artificial intelligence from just smart computers?

You know, we're used to computers being very smart. I mean, way back in 2011, Siri appeared on Apple products. What distinguishes artificial intelligence from just smart computers?

It's learned a lot of words. Okay. Now, this may be another artificial distinction, but new talk is now of artificial general intelligence, a great leap forward. What is that exactly?

It's learned a lot of words. Okay. Now, this may be another artificial distinction, but new talk is now of artificial general intelligence, a great leap forward. What is that exactly?

It's learned a lot of words. Okay. Now, this may be another artificial distinction, but new talk is now of artificial general intelligence, a great leap forward. What is that exactly?

A few days ago, I'm sure you saw this, Kevin Roos, the respected tech columnist for the New York Times, wrote a piece saying that we're going to quickly see companies claiming they have artificial general intelligence. And whatever you call it, these dramatically more powerful AI systems are coming and soon. And Ezra Klein of the New York Times opinion section says essentially the same thing.

A few days ago, I'm sure you saw this, Kevin Roos, the respected tech columnist for the New York Times, wrote a piece saying that we're going to quickly see companies claiming they have artificial general intelligence. And whatever you call it, these dramatically more powerful AI systems are coming and soon. And Ezra Klein of the New York Times opinion section says essentially the same thing.

A few days ago, I'm sure you saw this, Kevin Roos, the respected tech columnist for the New York Times, wrote a piece saying that we're going to quickly see companies claiming they have artificial general intelligence. And whatever you call it, these dramatically more powerful AI systems are coming and soon. And Ezra Klein of the New York Times opinion section says essentially the same thing.

Both of them agree we're not ready for the implications of this. Do you agree with that?

Both of them agree we're not ready for the implications of this. Do you agree with that?

Both of them agree we're not ready for the implications of this. Do you agree with that?

I mentioned in the introduction that President Biden had issued this executive order trying to establish some processes and guardrails and safeguards. Trump swept all that away saying, nope, that's onerous government regulation. Let innovation proceed. And it's funny. The last time you and I talked on this program, it was about –

I mentioned in the introduction that President Biden had issued this executive order trying to establish some processes and guardrails and safeguards. Trump swept all that away saying, nope, that's onerous government regulation. Let innovation proceed. And it's funny. The last time you and I talked on this program, it was about –

I mentioned in the introduction that President Biden had issued this executive order trying to establish some processes and guardrails and safeguards. Trump swept all that away saying, nope, that's onerous government regulation. Let innovation proceed. And it's funny. The last time you and I talked on this program, it was about –