AI Criticism Has a Decades-Long History w/ Ben Tarnoff

Paris Marx is joined by Ben Tarnoff to discuss the ELIZA chatbot created by Joseph Weizenbaum in the 1960s and how it led him to develop a critical perspective on AI and computing that deserves more attention during this wave of AI hype. Ben Tarnoff writes about technology and politics. He is a founding editor of Logic, and author of Internet for the People: The Fight for Our Digital Future. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @bentarnoff.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.Also mentioned in this episode: Ben wrote a long article about Weizenbaum and what we can learn from his work for The Guardian. Paris wrote a skeptical perspective on AI hype and the promises of ChatGPT in Disconnect. Zachary Loeb has also written about Weizenbaum’s work and perspective on AI and computing. Support the show