About this episode

Chip Usher discusses the potential use of AI companions as recruitment tools by China.

When you’re sitting alone, and you want company or advice, have you ever turned to Artificial Intelligence? Chip Usher, who spent 32 years in the CIA, has been looking at AI companions. The tech companies behind them claim they offer comfort and reliability. Chip says they mostly come from China, and eventually they will be used to collect personal data on users, building a roadmap for recruiting and influence. Chip has conducted research on the threat through his role as the Senior Director for Intelligence at a nonprofit called the Special Competitive Studies Project. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic…

People in this episode

Guest: Chip Usher

Topics covered

• Artificial Intelligence
• Recruitment
• Data Privacy
• China
• CIA
• Influence

Keywords

• AI companions
• China
• recruitment
• personal data
• CIA
• influence
• Chip Usher

Sponsors

N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, International Spy Museum

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CIA, Special Competitive Studies Project

Places: China, Washington, DC

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