In this programme we hear three thoughtful perspectives on the threat digital technologies pose for democracy. Henry Farrell from Johns Hopkins University argues disinformation must be tackled at a group level, not an individual one. Philosopher, John Tasioulas, says modern representative democracy is too easily corrupted by big tech. And AI specialist, Marcus Beard, introduces us to the phenomenon he calls "slopaganda".GuestsProfessor John Tasioulas — ethicist and immediate former Director of the Institute for Ethics and AI, University of OxfordProfessor Henry Farrell — Political Scientist, Johns Hopkins UniversityMarcus Beard — Digital, disinformation and AI specialist, Fenimore Harper CommunicationsFurther informationHenry Farrell - We're getting the social media crisis wrongJohn Tasioulas - The classical key to the AI revolution
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Getting up to speed with autonomous vehicles
Long before AI dominated the media hype-cycle, self-driving cars surfed the hyperbolic wave. But fully automated vehicles have now been a long time in development, long enough that we've decided it's time for an update. So, how advanced is the technology and where is the demand? We also find out about consumer attitudes toward the "driver-assist" technologies that are now routinely fitted into modern cars. Surprise, surprise, it seems not everyone wants to be told how to drive.GuestsAssociate Professor Abdesalam Soudi — Sociolinguist, Department of Linguistics, University of PittsburghProfessor Michael Milford — Director of the Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of TechnologyAssociate Professor Milad Haghani — Principal Fellow in Urban Resilience & Mobility, University of MelbourneSönke Iwersen — Co-author of "The Tesla Files". Journalist for German business newspaper Handelsblatt
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Technology and language — a dynamic relationship
While technology platforms increasingly dictate the way we write and converse, language is being modified to fight back, to subvert the platforms. In this show we examine the growth of "algospeak". And if you want to know how we'll all be communicating in the future, just listen to the way teenage girls speak, because young women lead the ongoing development of language.Original broadcast on July 7, 2024GuestsDr James Cohen – Assistant Professor, Media Studies, Queens College, City University of New YorkDr Sali Tagliamonte – Professor of linguistics and Chair of the Department of Linguistics, University of TorontoPhilip Seargeant – Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, Open University UKFurther informationPhilip Seargeant's book "The Future Of Language"
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Are we turning the housing crisis into a living crisis?
We build more and more homes for growing urban populations. But doing so without providing much needed amenities doesn't serve our suburbs and the people who live in them. It risks confounding social isolation and urban sprawl. There's also climate change to consider. In a heating world, how do we plan our suburbs to deal with higher temperatures? Are the cities and suburbs of the future going to be livable for our children and our children's children?Rob Kelly investigatesGuestsAndrew Crowe — Demographer for Australian Bureau of StatisticsDr Annette Kroen — Senior Research Fellow at RMIT UniversityProfessor Sebastian Pfautsch — Professor of Urban Planning and Management at Western Sydney University and co-lead in People-centred Sustainable Precinct Design at the Urban Transformations Research CentreDylan Reid — Urbanist, editor, writer and co-founder of Spacing Magazine
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Reviving the past and digital mapping for the future
The remote Canadian island of Oikiqtaruk is disappearing fast, but its cultural and environmental heritage is being captured in digital form. We talk to those involved in the project about its ambition and their success to date. Also, recreating long lost cultural artefacts. For the Madrid-based organisation Factum Foundation it's a journey of reconnection — a way that future generations can celebrate and cherish the character of their past.GuestsRichard Gordon — Senior Park Ranger, Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, CanadaProfessor Peter Dawson — Dept. of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of CalgaryAdam Lowe — Director of Factum Arte and founder of Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in ConservationFurther informationFactum FoundationDigitally Preserving Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park
Australia