In the latest episode of the Guardian's Black Box podcast, journalist Michael Safi explores the world of artificial intelligence, examining the dangers and promises it holds for society. The episode, titled "Repocalypse now," was first broadcast on 11 March 2024 and is being revisited during the summer break of the Today in Focus podcast, which returns with new episodes from 1 September.
Replika's unexpected global success
When Eugenia Kuyda created Replika, an AI companion app, she had no idea it would be downloaded millions of times around the world. The results were more powerful than she could ever have predicted, but so was the backlash.
Exploring AI's impact on society
The episode delves into the broader implications of AI, highlighting both its potential benefits and the societal challenges it raises. The Guardian's exploration comes ahead of the launch of season two of Black Box in early September.
