In a Democracy Now! holiday special, journalist Karen Hao discusses her book, Empire of AI, exploring the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment and society. She emphasizes that while AI can enhance productivity, it often leads to job displacement as companies prioritize labor-automating technologies over labor-assisting tools. Hao criticizes OpenAI’s mission, arguing it fosters a quasi-religious belief in artificial general intelligence (AGI) without adequate public discourse or regulation. She also highlights the risks of AI’s development path, including ecological concerns tied to energy-intensive data centers. With the U.S. pioneering AI technology, Hao warns that restrictive policies against Chinese researchers could lead to a significant brain drain, undermining American innovation. Her research stresses that democratic governance over AI must involve community engagement and resource management to mitigate the loss of agency and preserve democracy as AI reshapes society. For more insights, visit democracynow.org.
