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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)

@mikely7354 2025-07-07

She was an engineer who saw what these bad actors are doing in engineering and then she became a journalist in order to speak out against these bad actors. How many people can do that? She's a real hero.

489 37 replies
@marguerX 2025-07-04

Gotta say, Karen Has has renewed my faith in good people. She has a genuine respect and regard for the word democracy (not the US version of democracy but real democracy) for all people.

361 12 replies
@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.

220 12 replies
@kssandhu4693 2025-07-04

Karen is an incredible source to educate the world about these monsters…thnx Amy for bringing her on..❤️🙏👏

212 3 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
@dfsafsadfsadf 2025-07-06

She's super smart and an amazing communicator and writer.

70 1 replies
@zk4761 2025-07-09

Her voice is so commanding and rich. Couple with that her intelligence and confident presence I hope she has a long career.

63
@DMGWIN14 2025-07-05

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

54
@moniquelafontaine_art_cosmos 2025-07-09

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

29
@serenabussell8489 2025-07-05

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

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