TechTank

In this episode of the TechTank Podcast, co-host Nicol Turner Lee speaks to Congressman Ted (D-CA) about these and other areas concerning AI regulation, oversight, and guidance in the United States. They also discuss how AI’s regulation from other countries will influence national policymaking. 

In this episode, co-host Darrell West will be joined by Tom Colvin, a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) at NASA. In light of recent international interest in returning to the moon, they will discuss the implications of new lunar landings for the future of space exploration.

In this episode, co-host Darrell West explores the ramifications of judicial constraints on executive agencies. Joining the conversation is Barry Rabe, a professor of political science and public policy at the University of Michigan and a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. Together, they will discuss what the recent court decisions mean for new climate technologies, historical precedents on checks-and-balances, and the US as a leader in global trade and clean energy.

The explosive popularity of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies has allowed the metaverse to escape public attention and regulators’ notice, even as interest, investment, and development in virtual realities has increased worldwide. In this episode of TechTank, co-host Nicol Turner Lee examines the potential pitfalls of a virtual landscape and discusses the urgent need for guardrails with Tom Wheeler, Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of “AI makes rules for the metaverse even more important.” Together, they explore how virtual realities can revolutionize how we engage with each other, while also exacerbating existing concerns and introducing new risks, including discrimination and digital larceny.

In this episode of the TechTank podcast, co-host Darrell M. West explores potential paths forward in thesafety of kids online with Matt Perault, a professor at UNC's School of Information and Library Science,and Scott Brennen, the head of online expression policy at UNC's Center on Technology Policy. As co-authors of the report "Keeping Kids Safe Online: How Should Policymakers Approach Age Verification",both scholars will discuss current methods for age verification, consider the key trade-offs for each, andshare informed recommendations for policymakers.

On this episode of the TechTank podcast, co-host Darrell M. West engages in an enlighteningconversation with Dr. Camille Busette, the interim Vice President of Governance Studies at theBrookings Institution, and Dr. Andre Perry, a senior fellow in the Metro program and Director ofthe Valuing Black Assets Initiative. As project co-leads, these esteemed researchers will sharetheir plans for the new Center and why they believe it will help us address issues of racial equityand justice.

In this week’s episode of the TechTank Podcast, co-host Nicol Turner Lee will be joined by Monica Anderson, director of internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center, Camisha Covington Parker, Dean at Northern Virginia Community College, and Girl Scout leader for Chloe Lee and Camdyn Parker, both high school students, who will share what policymakers and parents should consider when addressing the increasing use and impacts of social media on teens. Together, the guests will delve into a thought-provoking conversation around what policymakers, parents, and communities can do to ensure protections around teens and social media use, and the blind spots of current debates.

With the 2024 elections around the corner, political tensions are running high, and there isconsiderable concern about how generative AI will affect campaigns and election turnout. Thisweek, on the TechTank Podcast, co-host Darrell West will engage in a conversation on thesecrucial matters with Sarah M.L. Bender, an accomplished JD candidate from the University ofMichigan and the author of the article titled "Algorithmic Elections" in the Michigan LawReview.