Is This an A.I. Bubble? + Meta’s Missing Morals + TikTok Shock Slop
Hard Fork
Aug 22
Is This an A.I. Bubble? + Meta’s Missing Morals + TikTok Shock Slop
Is This an A.I. Bubble? + Meta’s Missing Morals + TikTok Shock Slop

Hard Fork
Aug 22
The podcast delves into the growing debate around whether the current surge in AI development and investment mirrors the characteristics of a financial bubble. Alongside this, it investigates the ethical and societal concerns emerging from AI advancements, particularly focusing on Meta’s internal policies that allow chatbots to engage in inappropriate interactions with minors. The episode also explores the cultural impact of AI, especially through trends like AI-generated music on TikTok, highlighting the broader implications of artificial intelligence across technology, business, and society.
The episode opens with a discussion on whether the AI industry is in a speculative bubble, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era while highlighting the massive investments being made by major tech companies. The conversation shifts to Meta’s controversial internal policies that permit AI chatbots to engage in romantic and sensual conversations with minors, based on a leaked internal document investigated by Jeff Horwitz. The hosts explore the broader implications of these policies and whether Meta’s approach to AI development continues to prioritize speed over safety. Finally, the episode examines the rise of AI-generated music on TikTok, questioning how society perceives and accepts AI-created art, and whether it signals a shift in creative industries.
10:52
10:52
MIT study shows 95% of businesses' AI pilots don't quickly generate measurable revenue.
19:19
19:19
Retail investors face risks due to tokenized investments tracking OpenAI's valuation.
22:14
22:14
Meta allows chatbots to have inappropriate conversations with minors according to internal policy
25:28
25:28
Meta allowed AI chatbots to engage in sexual role-play with children
56:42
56:42
AI-generated songs like 'Country Girls Make Do' gain attention on TikTok.