About this episode

Sayash Kapoor discusses the nature of AI as an ordinary technology shaped by human institutions.

Computer scientist Sayash Kapoor joins legal scholar Kevin Frazier to discuss “AI as Normal Technology,” the paper he co-authored with Arvind Narayanan, arguing that artificial intelligence is not an apocalyptic superintelligence or miraculous cure-all, but a powerful, ordinary technology shaped by human institutions and incentives. Kapoor challenges today’s AI hype and panic, urging us to see AI less as destiny and more as infrastructure—and to focus on governance, accountability, and public benefit. Grab your copy of AI as Normal Technology : https://knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-as-normal-technology This conversation was recorded on 01/29/2026. Watch the full video recording at: https://archive.org/details/ai-as-normal-technology Check out all of the Future Knowledge episodes at https://archive.org/details/future-knowledge

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Frazier

Guest: Sayash Kapoor

Topics covered

• artificial intelligence
• technology
• governance
• public benefit
• accountability

Keywords

• AI
• technology
• governance
• public benefit
• accountability
• hype
• panic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Arvind Narayanan, Internet Archive, Authors Alliance

Books & works: AI as Normal Technology

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