EP#192: When AI moves faster than truth — with Sree Srinivasan

When technology speeds up, trust and truth are put under pressure. Host David Pembroke is joined by Sree Srinivasan, who reflects on what he learnt broadcasting daily from New York during the early days of Covid, and how those lessons apply to today’s AI-driven information environment. They discuss what consistent, two-way communication can achieve in a crisis, why misinformation spreads so easily, and the risks of leaving AI decisions to a handful of powerful companies. Sree also shares practical guidance on building AI strategy and policy inside organisations, with an emphasis on transparency, staff input and regular review.

KEY POINTS

- Consistency builds trust: Turning up at the same time every day helped create a reliable source of information people could return to during uncertainty.

- Two-way communication matters: Making space for audience questions and comments improved clarity, relevance and engagement.

- AI policy needs shared ownership: Don’t leave it to tech teams alone; involve the whole organisation and build guidance people will actually use.

- Plan for constant change: AI tools and risks evolve quickly, so policies and governance need frequent review, not set-and-forget documents.

- Use AI to lift quality, not just cut costs: The best use cases focus on improving work and capability, rather than simply reducing headcount.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SREE:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreenivasan
• Substack: https://sreenet.substack.com/
• Sree's Presentation: https://bit.ly/sreeaibrochure
• NYTReadalong: https://www.digimentors.group/nytreadalong

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

• StreamYard: Live-streaming tool Sree used to broadcast across multiple platforms https://streamyard.com/
• Don’t Look Up (Netflix): Film Sree referenced as an analogy for ignoring looming crises
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): Organisation Sree mentions running a workshop with
• Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI): Institute referenced (Fei-Fei Li)
• Columbia Journalism School: Institution Sree mentions teaching at
• Stony Brook University: Institution Sree mentions teaching at
• Sebastian Mallaby: Author referenced (book about Demis Hassabis mentioned)

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