Humanity and AI: Asking the Big Questions
As we face the potential of AI to change the course of history, we humans have many big questions to answer. The next season of the Equinix podcast “Traceroute” looks at AI’s potential, both good and bad, and our fascination and emotional connection with this increasingly pervasive technology.
Season 3 of Traceroute, hosted by yours truly, kicks off on Thursday with a two-part series exploring the burgeoning relationship between humans and AI. I will be joined by developer advocate Fen Aldrich and senior principal engineer Amy Tobey.
One of my favorite segments is a discussion about the intersection of tech and conservation, and how researchers are using machine learning and robotics to “debug” an invasive species through a blend of coding, botany and citizen science to offer unique solutions to ecological crises.
I also especially enjoyed our segment on digital migration for the preservation of history, culture and land. As climate change continues to transform and sometimes eliminate landscapes, researchers are looking at ways to digitally preserve them by exploring the complex ethical, ecological and technical hurdles of such an endeavor.
Another personal favorite is a deep dive into the sway of influencers in tech buying decisions. Are they unbiased arbiters of what’s cool in tech or simply paid spokespeople? Are tech evangelists, developer advocates and tech influencers liaisons between companies and customers? What is their impact on the development of hardware and software?
Launched in February 2022, “Traceroute” explores the human side of technology through personal stories and expert analysis to peel back the layers of the tech stack to reveal the humanity in the hardware. Season 3 will tackle topics that will greatly affect our society into the foreseeable future.
Peeling back the layers of the tech stack is akin to unraveling a digital tapestry to reveal the humanity beneath. In this intricate web of algorithms, code and data there lies a profound connection to human ingenuity, emotions and ethics. It is within this convergence of technology and humanity that we find the true essence of progress and the potential to improve the lives of people around the globe.
Find “Traceroute” on Apple, Spotify and RSS. Season 3 begins Nov. 2, with episodes being released every other Thursday.
