The Conversation - AI facts instead of AI hype

Dear Reader,

Artificial intelligence hype is at fever pitch. Some voices tell exaggerated tales of the wonders the technology is poised to usher in. Others warn of sci-fi doomsday scenarios featuring all-powerful AIs deciding that the world is better off without humans.

After all, many of the technologies that fall under the term artificial intelligence can seem magical. They can create art at your command, produce music, sound like your favorite singer and discover new drugs. They can also make up answers to questions, seduce lonely teens and make fake videos of real people. User reactions range from awe to terror. Amid the noise, it's easy to lose perspective.  

This is why The Conversation's unique position in the media landscape is so critical. I – and the other editors here – have had the privilege of working with researchers at the forefront of shaping AI and studying its effects on society. We're able to bring you analysis of the AI revolution as it unfolds by the people with the deep knowledge – and the data – to help you get a handle on these changes and put them in perspective. These are the people in the trenches, who see what’s coming before anyone else does. (That’s how we were able to publish stories about AI years before it became front-page news.) 

And what we do for technology, we also do for politics, science, public health and many other topics. Your support helps us bring the much-needed knowledge of experts into the public conversation. 

Today is the last day of our spring fundraiser, so it's a good day to give.

Researchers have been documenting real threats posed by today's AI technologies, from facial recognition systems to chatbots: false information, bias and degrading the human experience. And we’ve covered it all. While we publish articles that puncture hype and spotlight harms, we also cover the developments in AI that advance science and medicine, improve how you work and learn, and delve into the nuances of people's relationships with the technology. 

If you value evidence-based journalism that elevates logic and facts over sensationalism, please consider partnering with us. You will be supporting a better-informed society.

Every donation, large or small, contributes to making our work possible − and gets you the e-book “How AI is making a difference,” which I helped compile from some of our most insightful articles, as a thank you gift!

With thanks,
Eric

P.S. We’re giving away an e-book on A.I. to each donor during this drive. And if you make a major gift of $1,000 or more, we’ll mail you the latest release from our Critical Conversations book series. It’s a thought-provoking collection of some of our most insightful articles on higher education. 

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