From Social Media to AI: Lessons We Can't Afford to Ignore with Daniel Barcay

Harvest Series

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19d ago 44:16

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This episode of the Harvest Series podcast, hosted by Rose Claverie, features Daniel Barcay, Executive Director at the Center for Humane Technology. Recorded at Harvest in Kaplankaya, Turkey, the conversation explores how AI is reshaping society and what it means for our future.

Daniel reflects on lessons from the rise of social media, the dangers of addictive design, and why AI carries even greater stakes. He explains how AI impacts relationships, privacy, and decision-making, and why it could both empower humanity or destabilize it.

From emotional manipulation by AI companions to the risk of losing control when autonomous agents act in our world, this dialogue uncovers both urgent threats and inspiring opportunities. Ultimately, the discussion calls for awareness, policy, and responsible design — and for each of us to ask: are we using AI to become the people we want to be?

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Harvest welcome

00:29 – AI: Best friend or threat?

01:20 – Raising awareness of tech’s impact

02:08 – Promise and instability of new tech

03:04 – Lessons from social media’s design flaws

05:02 – The attention economy explained

06:24 – The Social Dilemma and global awareness

07:16 – Social media as humanity’s first AI contact

08:25 – Distorted mirrors of society

09:33 – China’s intentional tech policies

10:26 – From channels to AI companions

12:02 – Ambiguity in relationships with AI

13:30 – Risks: sycophancy & flattery

15:26 – AI competing for affection

17:13 – Super-stimulus: AI partners vs. real relationships

18:42 – Polarization & intellectual humility

20:15 – Privacy, memory, and hidden data

22:27 – AI as con man: trust and betrayal

22:44 – Case study: character AI & youth suicide

25:08 – Liability & legal responsibility

27:40 – Product liability & AI frameworks

28:34 – Control: can we prevent AI chaos?

29:19 – Lessons from financial flash crashes

30:28 – Rise of autonomous AI agents

31:53 – Society-wide responsibility for AI

33:19 – What individuals can do

35:12 – Policy and design solutions

36:19 – Engineers and responsibility codes

37:09 – Daniel’s personal journey

40:06 – Courage: leaving Google

42:04 – Can AI start a war?

44:06 – Final advice: use AI, but consciously

You can follow us on Instagram at @HarvestSeries or @rose.claverie for updates.

Watch our podcast episodes and speaker sessions on YouTube: Harvest Series.

Credits:

Sound editing by: @lesbellesfrequences
Technician in Kaplankaya: Joel Moriasi
Music by: Chambord
Artwork by: Davide d'Antonio

Harvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital Partners

Harvest Series Founders: Burak Öymen and Roman Carel

134 episodes

#Fitness #Society #Alternative Health #Self-Improvement #Podcasting Education #Rose Claverie at Harvest Kaplankaya