There are many misconceptions and overblown promises when it comes to AI. The reality is that Artificial Intelligence is a useful tool that’s here to stay. When it’s done right, AI seamlessly becomes part of our everyday life systems but when poorly programmed or intentionally misused by human intelligence, it easily becomes the ‘snake oil’ of our time. How do we decipher fact from fiction when it comes to AI and how do we protect children from possible long-term adverse impacts?

To glean strategies for reducing unknown or harmful influences of AI, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a Senior Fellow at Mozilla, Sayash Kapoor.

Sayash draws on his book, AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference, to guide us in critically evaluating AI claims and understanding its true capabilities and limitations. He offers insights about how to be practically skeptical in an AI-driven world and uncover the truth behind the hype.

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Sayash Kapoor — The Truth About AI: 

Misconceptions about AI and its abilities. {2:00}

Who is responsible for the moral code of conduct in AI? {5:15}

Debunking the hype, or snake oil, of AI. {10:30}

Practical skepticism strategies for consumers. {20:09} 

When AI doesn’t represent the truth. {25:15}

Meet Our Guest:

Sayash Kapoor is a Senior Fellow at Mozilla, a Laurance S. Rockefeller Fellow at the Princeton University Center for Human Values, and a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at Princeton University’s Center for Information Technology Policy. He co-authored AI Snake Oil, named one of Nature’s 10 Best Books of 2024.

Recognized for his contributions to AI, he has received prestigious awards, including a Best Paper Award at ACM FAccT, an Impact Recognition Award at ACM CSCW, and inclusion in TIME’s inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in AI. Kapoor’s work focuses on critical thinking in AI, ethics, and technology, making him a prominent voice in the conversation about the intersection of human values and artificial intelligence.

“It’s not a substitute for your own sweat equity, that’s for sure.”  - Lisa Cypers Kamen

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