In 2019, before most of the world had heard of the company, the technology journalist Karen Hao spent three days embedded in the offices of OpenAI. What she saw, she tells Michael Safi, was a company vastly at odds with its public image: that of a transparent non-profit developing artificial intelligence technology purely for the benefit of humanity. ‘They said that they were transparent. They said that they were collaborative. They were actually very secretive,’ she says. Hao spent the next five years following the growth of OpenAI, as it shifted to pursue – in her words – a growth-at-all-costs model. On the one hand, it has been spectacularly successful, with OpenAI now one of the largest companies in the world. On the other, she argues, it has come at a severe cost – to the people whose labour it relies on to operate, and to the planet. In fact, as she describes in her new book, Empire of AI: Inside the reckless race for total domination, it makes sense to think of OpenAI not as a company, but more akin to empires of old
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26:29
Back to Back Barries: Albanese’s pressure points
As the Coalition puts itself back together again, Labor is facing the first tests of its resolve on tax, climate and Gaza. Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine if Anthony Albanese is meeting the expectations of his voting base and look at the tension and problems to come for the Coalition Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
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28:12
The Coalition is back together, what now?
The Liberals leader, Sussan Ley, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, have reached a new agreement, presenting a united front and announcing a new shadow frontbench. But with the Liberals facing a mammoth task ahead, and net zero commitments up in the air, could this mark the beginning of a rocky term for the Coalition? Nour Haydar speaks with Dan Jervis-Bardy about the Coalition’s short-lived breakup
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16:50
‘White genocide’ and the consequences of Trump’s conspiracies
Donald Trump is not new to conspiracy theories, and last week in the Oval Office he ambushed the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, with false claims of genocide being committed against white people. Reged Ahmad speaks to Washington DC bureau chief David Smith about the US president’s false claims and the extent to which conspiracy theories are driving his agenda
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20:17
Will Labor take its chance to act on climate?
It’s often said the 2020s will be a ‘defining decade’ for the planet and action on the climate crisis. Starting this week, the proposal to extend Woodside gas’s processing plant in Western Australia’s remote north-west by 40 years awaits the new environment minister, Murray Watt – the first of many consequential decisions facing him during Labor’s second term in government. Labor has secured a massive majority, with the possibility of another six years on the government benches. So what are the party’s plans for the climate and environmental reforms? Nour Haydar speaks with Adam Morton about why there will never be a better chance for Labor to deliver on climate
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