AI: Tools or Gods?

AI is often framed as a technical challenge, but the real debates are equally political and societal. In this episode, we explore how the way AI is defined shapes regulation, accountability, and public policy. We discuss the importance of public AI, democratic governance, the challenges of regulating rapidly evolving technologies, and why the future of AI depends on the choices society makes today...

In this episode of AI: Tools or Gods? , philosopher and researcher Pia Lauritzen explores the role of questions in an age increasingly defined by answers. Drawing on decades of research into human questioning, she argues that while AI can help us solve problems faster, it cannot tell us what is worth pursuing, why it matters, or how we should live. The conversation examines curiosity, critical thi...

Part 2 of our conversation with Payal Arora explores why optimism matters in the age of AI, what the Global South can teach us about digital innovation, and why technology should be understood as a tool that reflects human values rather than an autonomous force shaping our future. From AI companionship and digital inclusion to policymaking, innovation, and global power dynamics, this episode chall...

Part 1 of this two-part podcast explores the growing divide between Western fears of AI and the more optimistic, practical ways technology is being used across the Global South. The conversation challenges dominant narratives around AI, arguing that digital tools can empower people, create opportunities, and expand global connection when approached with creativity, agency, and human-centered think...

The dominant narrative around AI suggests that the public simply misunderstands the technology — that better education will eventually align expectations with reality. But what if the hype is not a misunderstanding at all? In this episode, we examine the growing gap between what AI systems can actually do and what companies, investors, and public figures claim they can do. We discuss AI agents, ha...

Here's what you can expect from the AI: Tools or Gods? Podcast. AI: Tools or Gods? is launching soon as a new podcast examining how “god-like” narratives around AI shape our laws, culture, and future.