tech
The Fight Over AI Is Really a Fight Over Who Governs
At the University of Arizona’s commencement ceremony last month, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt told the class of 2026 that they would shape AI’s future. The crowd booed him. Other commencements followed with a similar pattern: a hopeful line about AI, then rejection from the crowd.
TL;DR
- Public backlash at AI discussions during commencement ceremonies indicates a lack of consent and participation in shaping AI's future.
- Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" emphasizes AI's moral implications and human dignity, warning against irreversible decisions by machines.
- President Trump's Executive Order on AI focuses on national security and competition with China, proposing secret testing of advanced models.
- The article critiques the concentration of AI development and governance in private hands, arguing for public oversight and democratic processes.
- Concerns are raised about AI's impact on daily life, from job applications to loan approvals, and the lack of transparency in automated decision-making.
- A call is made for public hearings, the right to appeal AI-driven decisions, and transparent procurement rules to ensure democratic control over AI development.