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Journalist Karen Hao on Sam Altman, OpenAI & the "Quasi-Religious" Push for Artificial Intelligence

2025-07-04 News & Politics
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Democracy Now!
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Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-desc-yt As part of our July Fourth special broadcast, we continue our extended interview with Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI. The book documents the rise of OpenAI and how the AI industry is leading to a new form of colonialism. "One of the things that you really have to understand about AI development today is that there are what I call quasi-religious movements that have developed within Silicon Valley," says Hao. "The concept of artificial general intelligence is not one that's scientifically grounded." (Thumbnail photo credit: Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch via Flickr Creative Commons) Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

Top Comments (10)

@gcorriveau6864 2025-07-04

I flew the Airbus A320 for thousands of hours. The airline industry has been subjected to this strategy of "over selling" technology and automation for decades now. Ironically, Airbus originally tried to build the "pilotless" cockpit but IN REALITY pilots now require MORE TRAINING than ever to be able to safely and consistently manage the automation while also sustaining our basic abilities to 'hand fly' the plane. Why? Because automation is very bad at making instant adjustments to the chaos of real life situations. Now this thinking that: 'AI' can replace humans (pushed too hard by 'fan boys' like Elon Musk et. al) is entering all sorts of new fields of endeavour and there will be 'unintended consequences.' Carbon based units (Humans!) must always be in control of the silicon-based units for best results.

222 12 replies
@kot3291 2025-07-04

wow this interview with Karen Hao turned better than i expected much respect thank you Democracy Now ❤

100 4 replies
@DMGWIN14 2025-07-05

wow real explanations. been waiting to have that happen. really helpful. Mahalo.

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@PacoMartínez-c7l 2025-07-04

She is Sarah Connor. Great interview.

53 2 replies
@starbabyonline 2025-07-04

Approximately 140 EPA employees were put on administrative leave yesterday after signing a public letter expressing concern that addressed this very thing. Whistleblower law should have protected them; heck the very act of it being public should have protected them, but this is the administration we're living under. They knew how the changes & proposed changes in the EPA laws were going to negatively affect the environment (including changes benefitting AI companies) and were being proactive about it. The employees placed on unpaid leave didn't have anything in their employment files that would force this action, and were exemplary, before anyone attempts to go there.

38 3 replies
@moniquelafontaine_art_cosmos 2025-07-09

Brilliant, fascinating, intelligent and hopeful, thank you Karen Hao for reminding us of the potential for resistance!⚡️❤️‍🔥

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@alyssa3337 2025-07-04

Such a valuable conversation

31
@serenabussell8489 2025-07-05

Watching now on PBS on KMOS in Jefferson City, MO...Thank you for Democracy Now! ❤

26
@pendulumdistinction 2025-07-08

Karen Hao, I appreciate your confidence, hard work, dedication, love, passion, and complete desire to inform humanity of the truth. You are a gift. Keep shining! Everything is happening as the foundation was laid down since the inception of the United States of America.

14
@italbuddha2497 2025-11-19

thank you Amy and crew for bringing us real news with care!!! we love you!!!

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