We can’t trust the fox to guard the henhouse, especially when it comes to AI
We recorded 10 claims from this post. 10 can’t be checked. Read the post at its source.
Claims from this post (10)
In the order they appear in the post. Each quotation is the speaker’s words in this post. A label such as “Supported” or “Can’t be checked” is the claim’s current assessment; its page has the evidence and the reasons.
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Observation
“The premise of the book is that Silicon Valley is increasingly controlling our lives, and indeed the entire world, and that Washington (seat of the US government) is too much in their thrall to stand up tall enough against it.”
Our reading: Silicon Valley is increasingly controlling our lives and the entire world, and Washington is too much in its thrall to stand up tall enough against it.
No horizon
Scope: our lives, and indeed the entire world
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“And that we need to act, now.”
Our reading: We need to act now to counter Silicon Valley's control.
No horizon
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“Washington is supposed to be a counterweight, to keep the captain of industries honest. So far, they haven’t done enough.”
Our reading: So far, Washington has not done enough as a counterweight to keep the captains of industry honest.
No horizon
Qualifier: so far
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Conditional forecast
“But if the White House treats tech CEOs like rock stars, those rock stars are going to call the shots.”
Our reading: If the White House treats tech CEOs like rock stars, those CEOs will determine AI policy.
No horizon
Only if: if the White House treats tech CEOs like rock stars
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“Particularly since Silicon Valley is prone to hype, Washington needs independent scientists in the room.”
Our reading: Because Silicon Valley is prone to hype, Washington needs independent scientists involved in AI policy discussions.
No horizon
Qualifier: since Silicon Valley is prone to hype
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Conditional forecast
“Schumer has had something like nine closed door meetings on AI, but (to my knowledge) yet to bring a single AI-related piece of legislation to the Senate floor. If he doesn’t, we are sitting ducks.”
Our reading: If Schumer does not bring AI-related legislation to the Senate floor, we will be sitting ducks, meaning highly vulnerable.
No horizon
Only if: if Schumer doesn't bring AI-related legislation to the Senate floor
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“We waited too long.”
Our reading: We waited too long to act against AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes in elections.
No horizon
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“One of the major themes of Taming Silicon Valley is the need for independent oversight; as the old proverb so rightly puts it, the fox can’t guard the henhouse.”
Our reading: AI needs independent oversight rather than self-regulation by the tech industry.
No horizon
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Causal claim
“It’s almost impossible to envision the independence we might need when nobody in Washington knows where they will be come January, and pots of gold await in the Bay Area.”
Our reading: It is almost impossible to envision the independence we might need in Washington when nobody there knows where they will be come January and lucrative jobs await in the Bay Area.
No horizon
Only if: when nobody in Washington knows where they will be come January, and pots of gold await in the Bay Area
Assessment: Can’t be checkedSaid
Recommendation or value judgment
“Every one of us should be worried.”
Our reading: Every one of us should be worried about Washington remaining in Silicon Valley's thrall, elections under siege, widespread deepfake scams, and no AI law having passed.
No horizon
Scope: every one of us