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Artwork for Ethical Machines

Ethical Machines

Reid Blackman
Artificial Intelligence
AI Ethics
Philosophy
EU AI Act
Deepfakes
Fraud
Regulation
Data Science
Bias In AI
Governance
Large Language Models
Social Media
Employee Privacy
Surveillance
Environmental Impact
Consciousness
Disinformation
Chinese Room Argument
Climate Change
Ethics Of AI

I have to roll my eyes at the constant click bait headlines on technology and ethics.

If we want to get anything done, we need to go deeper.

That’s where I come in. I’m Reid Blackman, a former philosophy professor turned AI ethics advisor to government and business.

If you’re looking for a podcast that has no tolerance for the superficial, try out Ethical Machines.

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Artwork for Ethical Machines

Latest Episodes

My guests today - Professor Kate Vredenburgh and VR specialist Lauren Wong - argue that there are at least two strong reasons for calming down: first, AI isn’t good enough to replace us at our jobs. Second, even if they were, it’s up to us to develop... more

Much of what we find fulfilling in life isn’t the having but the doing. It’s the process of working through a problem, taking action, doing what needs to be done. But that meaning may be on the verge of being greatly diminished; so contends my guest,... more

Anthropic just got the axe from the U.S. government for refusing to allow the Department of Defense (War?) to use Claude for autonomous weapons systems and mass surveillance. For the first 15 minutes of this conversation with Michael Horowitz - profe... more

What does it look like for a non-technologist to lead Responsible AI practices at a Fortune 500 company? Today I talk with James Desir, Senior corporate counsel at Progressive Insurance and a key leader in their RAI efforts. We discuss how he found h... more

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Recent Guests

Kate Vredenburgh
Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Lauren Wong
Works at META in commercial virtual reality
META
Episode: Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Sven Nehom
Professor of ethics of AI at IMU Munich; principal investigator of AI ethics at the Munich Center for Machine Learning
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) / IMU Munich
Episode: How AI Robs Us of Meaning
James Desir
Senior Corporate Counsel at Progressive Insurance, leader of their Responsible AI programs
Progressive Insurance
Episode: How an Attorney Leads Responsible AI Practices
Olle Häggström
Professor of mathematical statistics at Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Episode: We May Have Only 2-3 years Until AI Dominates Us
Luciano Floridi
John K. Castle Professor in the Practice of Cognitive Science and the Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center
Yale University
Episode: Let AI Do the Writing
Rocky Clancy
Research scientist in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
Episode: AI is Culturally Ignorant
C.T. Nguyen
Philosophy professor at the University of Utah, author of 'The Score'
University of Utah
Episode: When Metrics Make Us Happy, or Miserable
Nuno Moni
Associate Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Rewriting History with AI

Host

Reid Blackman
Host of Ethical Machines

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • I’m sorry

    I wrote the below review a couple weeks ago. I decided to give it anyone try last week and have now listened to half your catalog. The devils advocate / philosopher perspective annoys me occasionally but this podcast has helped me so much so I’m sorry and thank you.

    “I tired listening but the host was so flippant about companies collecting and using our data against us it turned me off. Why create a podcast about ethics if you don’t care about ethics? How do you not care that companies are cho... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tdemarr0
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insightful, relevant, and fun to listen to

    I’ve known Reid for over 20 years. He has a unique ability to ask penetrating questions that drive to the heart of complex issues while also being able to explain anything in simple, down to earth terms. Ethical Machines is a great resource for anyone interested in the multiple intersections of ethics and technology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eric Corriel
    United States2 years ago
  • The best source for honest, rigorous insights about the ethics of AI

    Reid Blackman is a wellspring of rich insights and an extremely direct and honest communicator. This podcast is one of the few you should subscribe to in this foggy phase of our journey with AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrianEvergreen
    United States2 years ago
  • Substantive and legit!

    We see way too many buzz words and haphazard treatment of these topics generally. Reid goes deeper and with great frameworks. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J12J13
    United States2 years ago
  • Must-Listen for Tech Enthusiasts and Ethicists Alike

    Reid's podcast is a captivating exploration of the intersection between technology, ethics, and society. Reid, an expert in ethical risk consultancy and AI advisory, brings insightful discussions on pressing issues such as data privacy, AGI, healthcare equity, and online behavior's moral implications. Each episode features thought-provoking conversations with leading academics and industry professionals, making complex ethical dilemmas accessible and engaging. The podcast is a must-listen for an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NewPlayer001
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A must-listen for anyone interested in the ethical implications of AI and policy.
Clear, direct questions that cut to core issues without sacrificing nuance.
Thoughtful, rigorous discussions at the intersection of ethics and technology.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Q: How should we think about the analogy between AI and VR/metaverse in terms of adoption and ROI?
VR failed to deliver universal ROI beyond niche use cases; the lesson for AI is to focus on concrete problems, measurable ROI, and real-world constraints rather than broad promises of productivity or replacement.
Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Q: What are the two main reasons to calm down about AI-driven job displacement?
The technology isn't there yet to wholesale replace jobs, and even if it advances, we can shape its use through organizational redesign, training, and incentives to protect workers.
Should Anthropic Have Allowed Autonomous Weapons Systems?
Q: If autonomous weapon systems can be used under human supervision with proper accountability, could they be ethically preferable to certain conventional weapons?
Yes, the guest argues there are defensible scenarios where autonomy can align with humanitarian law and operational needs, provided a human remains responsible for the use of force and the system meets stringent safety benchmarks.
Should Anthropic Have Allowed Autonomous Weapons Systems?
Q: So Michael, is Anthropic's stance that their tools are not ready for autonomous weapon use mainly about safety, or is it also about strategic leverage and trust with the DoD?
The hosts and Michael suggest it's a mix: safety and readiness are core, but there's also a policy and trust dimension—without reliable testing and governance, collaboration with the DoD becomes risky for both sides.
We May Have Only 2-3 years Until AI Dominates Us
Q: So how do you personally get from uncertainty about the probability to the conclusion that we're doomed?
Olle emphasizes he isn't certain, but sees a significant probability of existential catastrophe without change.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ethical Machines

What is Ethical Machines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Ethical Machines centers on the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence, exploring policy implications, risk management, accountability, and societal impact. Recent episodes thread through autonomous weapons, responsible AI programs, accountability for AI harms, international standards, education, and the cultural consequences of deploying AI at scale. The show routinely features academics, policy experts, and industry practitioners who offer rigorous frameworks and practical insights for organizations navigating AI ethics, governance, and compliant innovation. A standout angle is the emphasis on interoperability of ethical standards across organizations and sectors, plus a willingness to challenge conventional narratives about AI'... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ethical Machines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ethical Machines:

1. Your Undivided Attention
2. The AI Policy Podcast
3. Hard Fork
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. Pivot

How many episodes of Ethical Machines are there?

Ethical Machines launched 2 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ethical Machines?

Recent guests on Ethical Machines include:

1. Kate Vredenburgh
2. Lauren Wong
3. Sven Nehom
4. James Desir
5. Olle Häggström
6. Luciano Floridi
7. Rocky Clancy
8. C.T. Nguyen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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