Are we giving up our freedom for convenience without realizing it?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a globally recognized AI ethics leader featured in Time and Forbes, to unpack the real risks of artificial intelligence, Big Tech power, and data privacy.

As the former Head of AI Ethics at Twitter and Accenture, Dr. Chowdhury shares an insider perspective on how Big Tech is consolidating power, why narratives around AGI and “AI intelligence” are often misleading, and how everyday tools from apps to social media, are quietly shaping a surveillance-driven ecosystem.

This conversation dives into AI ethics, surveillance, and the future of work, and explores why trust in AI is declining even as adoption accelerates. We also break down the real-world implications of AI, and most importantly, how you can protect your data, reclaim your agency, and use AI more intentionally.

In this video:

00:00 Intro

01:16 What’s wrong with AI today

02:18 Why people trust AI less every year

03:09 Big tech vs the technology itself

04:22 Dangerous narratives about AI

06:09 Anthropomorphism and moral outsourcing

07:40 The myth of AGI and profit motives

09:20 The economics behind AI power

11:21 Consumer responsibility and the privacy paradox

13:42 “I have nothing to hide” explained

15:04 How big tech is consolidating control

16:42 What consumers should actually do

18:30 Real-world consequences of data misuse

21:05 From Pokémon Go to surveillance systems

22:29 The dilemma of social media and platforms

26:05 Can AI still be used for good

28:20 Algorithms, manipulation, and loss of agency

30:12 Inside AI ethics at Twitter

33:48 Why leadership and trust are changing

35:17 Surveillance capitalism and public backlash

37:31 How to think strategically about AI

41:19 Finding agency and intentional use of AI

45:06 Will society push back against AI power

52:02 The role of AI ethicists and builders

56:41 The future of work and automation reality

01:01:32 Why expertise and discernment matter most

01:06:35 Advice for business leaders using AI

01:11:33 Final thoughts on agency and discernment

Connect with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rumman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rumman_c/?hl=en

Our links:

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