Sayash Kapoor on AI & how to think about it

I found this episode refreshingly realistic. Something they said really made me think again: "AI isn’t perfect, and that’s actually a good thing". Even as it gets better, I have enough faith in humanity not to buy into the whole “Terminator” scenarios people like to spread.

What I really enjoyed was the reframing of AI as just another tool. Like past innovations, it will push us to rethink how we spend our days when much of what we’ve complained about (or even enjoyed) gets automated. And I don’t believe adopting this mindset means we can’t also be concerned about the risks and threats that come with it.

You don’t need to be a hardcore tech enthusiast to see its benefits. Instead of criticising it for being “too good” or “not good enough,” I liked the shift in perspective of seeing AI as an enabler rather than only a threat. That doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges ahead. We still need collective focus on values, priorities, rollout strategies, and legislation.

It was also reassuring to hear that practical guardrails are starting to appear: tackling AI-generated deepfakes, improving AI literacy, and laws like the AI Civil Rights Act. These steps make the conversation feel less about hype and fear, and more about building a safe, responsible path forward.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/utopias-with-dr-ramesh-srinivasan/id1732333263?i=1000718454715