The World We Are Building

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Khaoula Chehbouni, PhD researcher specializing in bias and fairness in large language models. In this episode she shares her thoughts about: - the superficiality of prominent AI safety research - the hidden incentives in AI development - how responsible AI is being quietly discouraged For more information about Khaoula's research, you can check out website !

One of our most valuable assets is too often ignored in end of life planning, namely our data. Join me as I talk with two of the researchers behind the Digital Legacy Clinic, Jed Brubaker and Dylan Thomas-Doyle from the University of Colorado Boulder. In this episode we discuss: - Types of post-mortem data - How reasonable it is to feel sentimental about a Facebook page - The creation of new cultu...

In this episode, Ally speaks with Dane Malenfant, a Metis citizen pursuing a Masters in Computer science at Mila and McGill University. They discuss Dane's work at the intersection of AI and psychology and what it looks like to embed indigenous values into AI systems. Other points of discussion include: 👆 The culture shock of Western values at McGill University ✌ Why a 1992 algorithm works better...

Australian historian Patrick Wolfe so aptly said "settler colonizers come to stay: invasion is a structure not an event". With the Indigenous Pathfinders Program, Lynnsey Chartrand is working to address the colonial legacy obstructing Indigenous representation in the field of AI. In this episode, Lynnsey sits down with Ally to discuss how she and her colleagues have built a bespoke program to enha...

This episode is dedicated to a special person, colleague and friend. Abhishek Gupta was well known in the AI ethics community for his intelligence, kindness and humour. With this episode, we hope to carry his torch of creating accessible content on ethical AI and encouraging the public to participate in shaping the future of technology. In this episode, Ally sits down with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, CE...

In this episode of "The World We Are Building", Ally sits down with Adriana Eufrosina-Bora. Adriana is an AI and Modern Slavery researcher, pursuing both her PhD on the topic at Queensland University of Technology and leading an applied research project at Mila - Quebec AI Institute. In this episode we discuss the passion, perseverance and creativity with which Adriana created a multi-ye...

In this episode of "The World We Are Building", Ally sits down with Kulani Abendroth-Dias. In addition to being a new mom (you will hear from her newborn in the episode), Kulani is an AI risk and policy specialist with a background in behavioural science. This episode discusses emerging questions in the field of AI policy including data traps, interoperability and governance gaps. Kulani...

In this episode of "The World We're Building," Ally sits down with PhD student, Kyle Roth. They talk about Mormonism's embrace of AI, particularly tools that make revelation and digital resurrection possible. These concepts are described with reference to the Wilford Woodruff AI Experience, a large language model that has been trained to output answers to users' questions in...

In this episode of "The World We're Building," Ally sits down with Dr. Alex Hanna, the Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR). Dr. Hanna is a computational sociologist by training, working to tackle some of the most pressing socio-technical challenges with a focus on the data. Dr. Hanna shares quality data practices and both the necessary and sufficient...

In this episode of "The World We're Building," Ally sits down with Manon Gruaz, a trailblazing UX/UI designer and advocate for ethical, user-centered AI design. Manon's journey from France to Canada, overcoming burnout and depression, has fueled her passion for integrating empathy and human connection into technology. Join us as Manon shares insights on the importance of understa...

Ally brings us in on a story where we explore the captivating story of the Turadic Ocean, the origin of all life on the planet. Journey with us through various landscapes where water not only flows but transforms and adapts to its environment, inspiring innovation across different industries. From the crystalline streams of the northeastern highlands, purified by ancient trees and moss-covered riv...

In this insightful episode of "The World We Are Building," we dive deeper into the world of AI with Carolyne Pelletier, a principal machine learning engineer at Reliant and a trailblazer in the field of artificial intelligence. Carolyne shares her unique journey from studying anatomy and cell biology to becoming a key figure in AI development. She discusses her transition into tech throu...

This is an intro to our episode with Kasia Chmielinski In this episode, we travel to the quaint town of Carberry, Manitoba, where we uncover the story of Alera, a young woman whose distinct characteristics have caught the eye of leading AI companies worldwide. Amidst a future where personal data sovereignty is paramount, Alera leverages her unique traits to negotiate groundbreaking deals with tech...

In this episode Ally and Peter is joined by the multi-faceted Kasia Chmielinski, a trisectoral professional with significant roles in industry, academia, non-profits, and government. Kasia’s career includes impactful positions at notable organizations such as Google, United Nations, McKinsey, and the United States Digital Service, alongside their co-founding role at the Data Nutrition Project. Kas...

This is an intro to our episode with Krystal Kauffman Step into a world where data is the new gold, and those who refine it hold the keys to the future. This episode of "The World We're Building" tells the dramatic sci-fi story of the Orange Run, an audacious act of civil disobedience by data labelers in 2024. These unsung heroes, once sidelined, banded together through the subreddit...

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked human element behind artificial intelligence, focusing on the rights and experiences of gig workers who contribute to AI development through data annotation platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk. Ally is joined by Krystal Kauffman, whose unique journey from political campaigning to advocating for gig workers provides a critical perspective on the in...

This is an intro to the episode with Sacha Alanoca This story introduces "Citizen Collect," a virtual reality platform used in Japan to engage citizens directly in policy-making through immersive VR games that simulate complex ethical scenarios. This innovative approach has skyrocketed political engagement rates, transforming traditional democratic participation and leveraging AI to synt...

Welcome to the second episode of The World We Are Building, the podcast which aims to bring hope, agency, and critical thinking into the AI hype cycle. Today’s guest, Sacha Alanoca , has extensive experience in AI governance, currently studying at Harvard and holding significant positions related to AI policy and technology. Sacha underscores the importance of ethical considerations in AI developm...

Welcome to the first episode of "The World We're Building," podcast! Forget the headlines about AI taking over the world, this podcast is designed to shed light on the people, ideas and stories that rarely make the front page. We´ll be speaking with people who are working with passion and intention to make the world we're building a better place for all. Our guests will include d...