“AI, it may fascinate you or scare you, or if you’re like me, it may do both, so let’s take a breath and find out more about it.”
Oprah Winfrey is simultaneously fascinated and terrified of artificial intelligence (AI). Like many, she may not truly know what AI is all about, as it's difficult to tell how AI works and what it could really do for us.
These questions prompted American broadcasting company ABC Entertainment to host Oprah Winfrey’s special “AI and the Future of Us.”
ABC said the special aims to demystify AI and empower viewers to understand and navigate the rapidly evolving AI future. Winfrey’s 60-minute show takes a human approach to AI and plans to explore “the profound impact of artificial intelligence on people’s daily lives.”
To appropriately talk about AI, Winfrey will interview some of the world's leading experts in the field.
The lineup includes Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, who is responsible for creating ChatGPT, alongside Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft.
Other guests, including YouTuber and tech reviewer Marques Brownlee and FBI director Christopher Wray, may discuss how AI will impact us on a societal and national level.
There will be seven guests ranging from Pulitzer Prize-winning authors to AI company co-founders.
Altman, Gates, Brownlee, and Wray will take center stage, touching all critical bases.
Altman is tasked with explaining how AI works in simple language that viewers will understand while discussing the “immense personal responsibility that must be borne by the executives of AI companies.”
This is quite ironic when you think of the safety concerns that shroud OpenAI and all the controversies it has encountered in recent months.
Gates will discuss the future of AI and how it may impact science, health, and education while warning viewers of the “once-in-a-century type of impact AI may have on the job market.”
A live demonstration of AI’s capabilities will be led by Brownlee, who will talk Winfrey through how AI works in real life, while FBI Director Wray will talk about how AI is aiding cybercrime.
The special will air on ABC on September 12th (8 p.m. EDT) and on Hulu on September 13th.
However altruistic this special may seem, some tech experts have concerns about Winfrey leading this incredibly complex conversation.
Futurist and executive producer at Mostly Harmless Productions spoke out about the special to his almost 28,000 followers.
“This is really disappointing and frankly a bit irresponsible to have a one-sided conversation on AI without counterarguments from those impacted. Just a paid-for marketing opportunity for those deeply invested in it.”
This is really disappointing @Oprah and frankly a bit irresponsible to have a one-sided conversation on AI without informed counterarguments from those impacted.
undefined Theo (@tprstly) August 30, 2024
Just a paid for marketing opportunity for those deeply invested in it.
https://t.co/B0uMIwmlQA
American tech journalist and author Brian Merchant also wrote a disgruntled post on X about the special.
“Sure is nice of Oprah to host this extended sales pitch for the generative AI industry at a moment when its fortunes are flagging, and the AI bubble is threatening to burst.”
Sure is nice of Oprah to host this extended sales pitch for the generative AI industry at a moment when its fortunes are flagging and the AI bubble is threatening to burst https://t.co/XeQNlZG9YV
undefined Brian Merchant (@bcmerchant) August 31, 2024
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