Birds & Nerds | Getting AI governance right is critical, especially as we push its creative limits | Vilas Dhar

Who is in charge of making sure AI is being used for us and not against us? And can we use artificial intelligence to understand what birds are saying to each other, and then learn how to talk with birds directly? That would be pretty cool, dontcha think!?

Welcome to the Birds & Nerds podcast, hosted by Ramona Schindelheim! In each episode, I'm exploring a random topic I want to know more about with an expert in that field. Somehow, we always find the connection — sometimes unexpected — to my favorite animals, BIRDS! My nerd for this episode is Vilas Dhar, president of The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropic organization advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Vilas offers a compelling metaphor: society is moving through the "five stages of grief" with AI — form denial to over-optimism, fear, anger, and now, pragmatic acceptance. "We're no long asking if we should use AI, but how we should us it responsibly." In the podcast, we discuss the tension between short-term efficiency and long-term value creation. Vilas offers a third path: use Ai to enhance productivity, not replace workers. "This isn't just about regulation — it's about redefining our social contract in the age of AI," Vilas tells me.

And then there were birds!

Vilas and I talk about how AI is already being deployed to understand birds' migration patterns to better protect them, especially those species that are under threat. We also talk about how AI is in the hands of birders, helping them identify birds through apps such as Merlin and eBird. We take the conversation a fantastic step further: What if AI could decode birdsong and tell us exactly what a bird is saying!?! We image what they might say to us, given the chance to express their opinions!

A great conversation. Lot's of good information about the ethical use of AI for people and society. And we find the connection between AI and birds.

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel here: Birds & Nerds Podcast

Learn more about the work of The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation:
https://www.mcgovern.org/

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Want to know more about me? I am an award-winning journalist and storyteller curious about everything!

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