The Artificial Human BBC Radio 4

Artificial Intelligence is in our homes, schools and workplaces. What does this mean for us, and how will it change our lives? In this episode of The Artificial Human, presenters Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong ask: should AI make my decisions?'
In The Artificial Human, Aleks Krotoski (The Digital Human, Radio 4) and Kevin Fong (13 Minutes to the Moon, BBC World Service) set out to 'solve' AI. Or at the very least, to answer our questions on all things artificial intelligence-related. Each episode will start with a question, and by the end, Aleks and Kevin give us answers we can take away and reflect on, making the subject a little clearer - for us, and for themselves. These are the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life?
In today’s episode, we ask, "Should AI make my decisions?"
Aleks and Kevin don't have all the answers, but they seek out the facts for us by speaking to those who are currently shaping our AI futures.

In a world where AI Voice clones can sound like your bank manager or your child in distress, Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong discover how to avoid being scammed by AI.
Some scams are easier to spot than others - The Prince never has money locked in an account that only you, dear brave internet user, can free for him - but in the age of AI, some scams are becoming increasingly difficult to spot, and defend against.
AI can churn out phishing emails and texts - the kind meant to make you log in to a fake banking page - far faster than any human. Deepfake celebrities have already appeared in videos offering free cookware, in return for a ‘small’ delivery cost - resulting in no cookware, but hidden monthly charge suddenly activated on your bank account. And, sometimes most upsetting of all, AI voice clones have been made that trick people into believing a loved one is injured, or kidnapped, trying to frighten families into handing over money to secure their safety.
With the people behind these scams so hard to find and prosecute, it’s up to individuals to protect themselves. So in this episode of The Artificial Human, Aleks and Kevin discover 'How we can all avoid being scammed by AI?'

AI art has been evolving at a rapid pace. In a few short months images, sound and increasingly video have all become so realistic it’s hard to tell what’s created by humans verses machines.
The release of SORA, Open AI’s text to video model, has sent shockwaves through the film industry. Movie mogul Tyler Perry reportedly halted an $800 million studio expansion because he saw what SORA was capable of. He feared he was wasting his money. He thinks that AI will, ‘touch every corner of our industry”. He’s not the only one…
People are worried. Aleks and Kevin speak to some of them. They ask - will actors become obsolete? Will we create every location against a greenscreen? And if these elements go, what next? The whole ecosystem of filmmaking suddenly feels very fragile. Could this be the biggest change the industry has seen since it’s inception? The thing is, film can often represent the most human of moments and interactions, and the bottom line is that audience. Will people want to watch movies that have been mostly generated by AI?
In this episode, Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong want to know: 'Could AI win an Oscar?'

Artificial Intelligence is in our homes, schools and workplaces. What does this mean for us?
In a new series, Aleks Krotoski (The Digital Human, Radio 4) and Kevin Fong (13 Minutes to the Moon, BBC World Service) set out to 'solve' AI. Or at the very least, to answer our questions on all things artificial intelligence-related. Each episode will start with a question, and by the end, Aleks and Kevin give us answers we can take away and reflect on, making the subject a little clearer - for us, and for themselves. These are the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life?
In today’s episode, Sarah Jane asks, “Is AI better than my doctor?”
Sarah Jane is a breast cancer survivor, but overcoming the disease hasn’t stopped her feeling anxious about a recurrence. Could AI help to placate her fears? Could it immediately respond to her concerns, when a doctor is hard to reach? Aleks and Kevin find out…
Aleks and Kevin don't have all the answers, but they bring intelligence, curiosity and wit to the journey, seeking out the facts for us and speaking to those who are currently shaping our AI futures. This is very much a shared journey to get to the bottom of our deepest hopes and fears about these world changing technologies.

With over 50 elections around the world in 2024, how could AI influence the democratic process?
Disinformation has already been supercharged by digital technology - with bot farms, fake news and conspiracy theories running rampant across social media platforms.
But now, AI could potentially make it all the more difficult to sort fact from fiction in political discourse. We've already heard a deepfake of Sadiq Khan claiming to control the city of London, in the style of a cartoon villain - yet for something so false it’s uncomfortably convincing. Social Media platforms already struggled with misinformation, AI images, audio and video could make the situation so much worse.
It’s a big year for democracy, in the next 12 months we’re going to see more than 50 democratic processes unfolding around the world, not least our own general election and the US presidential election, and what Aleks and Kevin are going to find out is 'Can AI swing an election?' And what, if anything, can we do about that?
Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong
Producer: Elizabeth Ann Duffy
Researchers: Juliet Conway

Children always seem to figure out new technology before their parents, but as technology has become ever more advanced, and interactive, we have had to wrestle with questions about what technology, and how much is good for children, and what could potentially do them harm?
With the speedy proliferation of AI, these questions are all the more important. And the one Kevin and Aleks aim to answer this week is 'Should I let my kids use AI for their Homework?' Will AI just be a way to cheat on an essay, producing text to suit any topic in seconds? Will parents who reject AI see their children left behind their peers? Or could children, guided by teachers who understand the potential AI offers, use the technology to break free of old limitations, and have their capabilities expanded to get an education that truly sets them up for a future where AI is part of every facet of our lives?
Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong
Producer: Victoria McArthur
Researchers: Emily Esson and Juliet Conway