AITEC Podcast

Philosopher Teresa Baron joins us to discuss her book The Artificial Womb on Trial. As artificial womb technology edges closer to reality, Baron asks a different question: not just what ectogenesis means for society, but how we ethically get there. From human subject trials to questions of consent, regulation, and reproductive justice, this episode puts the development process itself under the bioethical microscope. For more info, visit ethicscircle.org [https://www.ethicscircle.org/].

What does it mean to live well in an AI-driven world—and how can we use AI to help us get there? In this episode, we speak with psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Kosslyn [https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/stephen-m-kosslyn]. Stephen Kosslyn is Professor Emeritus at Harvard University, and he is former chair of the Harvard psychology department and dean of social sciences. He is currently the CEO of Active Learning Sciences [https://www.activelearningsciences.com/]. We discuss how generative AI isn’t just a tool for speed and convenience—it can be a cognitive amplifier for building the kind of life we actually want. Drawing from his book Learning to Flourish in the Age of AI [https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Flourish-in-the-Age-of-AI/Kosslyn/p/book/9781032686660?srsltid=AfmBOoq6ZVq0FM_jbptvgRw6jd_TDjkbIe-0BMwsl8PV7TawiVkGlifB], we explore how to use large language models to set life goals, stay motivated, communicate better, manage emotions, understand ourselves and others, and think more clearly. For more info, visit ethicscircle.org [https://www.ethicscircle.org/].

What if the best AI art doesn’t care what we think? In this episode, we talk with philosopher Alice Helliwell [https://www.alicehelliwell.com/] about her provocative idea: that future AI might create aesthetic value not by mimicking human tastes, but by challenging them. Drawing from her 2024 article “Aesthetic Value and the AI Alignment Problem,” we explore why perfect alignment isn't always ideal—and how a little artistic misalignment could open new creative frontiers. For more info, visit ethicscircle.org [https://www.ethicscircle.org/].

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Marianna Capasso, a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University, about her 2022 book chapter “Manipulation as Digital Invasion: A Neo-Republican Approach”, which can be found in The Philosophy of Online Manipulation [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003205425/philosophy-online-manipulation-fleur-jongepier-michael-klenk?_gl=1*1i7t64q*_gcl_au*MjYxNjg1NTkyLjE3NDMyOTIwMDQ.*_ga*MTQ2NjIyNTIwNy4xNzM0NjM0NDE2*_ga_0HYE8YG0M6*MTc0MzI5MjAwMy4zLjAuMTc0MzI5MjAwMy42MC4wLjA.], published by Routledge. Drawing on a neo-republican conception of freedom, Dr. Capasso analyzes the ethical status of digital nudges—subtle, non-intrusive design elements in digital interfaces that gently guide users towards a specific action or decision—and explores when they cross the line into wrongful manipulation. We discuss key concepts like domination, user control, algorithmic bias, and what it means to be free in a digital world. For more info, visit ethicscircle.org.

Elyakim Kislev [https://elyakim-kislev.huji.ac.il/] is a senior lecturer in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the Hebrew University; there he specializes in relationships, technology, loneliness, and singles studies. Today we’ll be discussing his book Relationships 5.0: How AI, VR, and Robots Will Reshape Our Emotional Lives [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/relationships-50-9780197588253?cc=us&lang=en&]. Some of the topics we discuss are the effect of technology on relationships throughout human history, the potential for meeting human relational needs through technology, and the challenge that emerging technologies pose on our existing forms of moral education—among many other topics. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. For more info on the show, please visit ethicscircle.org [https://www.ethicscircle.org/].