Episode #79: The AI Con Discussion Panel (Live)

Episode #79: The AI Con Discussion Panel (Live)

From Linguistics Careercast by Linguistics Careercast

September 16, 2025 · 1h 35m

About this episode

This episode features a panel discussion on the implications of AI in linguistics, focusing on the book 'The AI Con' and issues surrounding AI and inequalities.

This episode is an audio version of a virtual panel held online via the Linguistic Society of America, on August 16, 2025. This is part two of our conversation on GenAI and linguistics, this time focusing on Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna, Ph.D.’s recent book “The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want.” I am joined again by our amazing panel of linguists to talk about the problems of anthropomorphizing AI, how AI magnifies inequalities affecting minoritized people, and what linguists can do to push back against the constant AI hype. Panelists: Aubrie Amstutz, Responsible AI Research Scientist at Grid Dynamics Alicia Beckford Wassink, Director of the Sociolinguistics Laboratory and Professor of Linguistics at the University of Washington Katie Swindler, specialist in discourse analysis and sociolinguistics, most recently a Program Manager at Mother Tongue AI and currently freelancing as a consulting linguist Part 1 of the discussion is here Topics include – generative AI – ethical AI – AI hype – anthropomorphization – language use – journalism – activism If you’d like to support this show, we’ve got a Patreon!The post Episode #79: The AI Con Discussion…

People in this episode

Guests: Aubrie Amstutz, Alicia Beckford Wassink, Katie Swindler

Topics covered

  • generative AI
  • ethical AI
  • AI hype
  • anthropomorphization
  • language use
  • journalism
  • activism

Keywords

  • AI
  • linguistics
  • panel discussion
  • inequalities
  • anthropomorphization
  • ethical AI
  • generative AI

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grid Dynamics, University of Washington, Mother Tongue AI

Books & works: The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want

More episodes of Linguistics Careercast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Linguistics Careercast podcast page.