It can be frustrating when voice recognition tools don’t understand what you’re saying. But it can also be creepy when they do. With more than 7,000 languages worldwide, who decides what languages computers should understand and who should benefit?

In episode 4 of the latest season of the IRL podcast, host Bridget Todd digs into how open data communities are pushing back against Big Tech’s dominance and reclaiming speech recognition — with and for their own language communities.

Episode 3: Crash test dummies

From autonomous vehicles in San Francisco to welfare fraud prediction algorithms in Rotterdam, Bridget Todd explores what it means to live with unproven AI systems as they roll out across public life. Listen to episode 3.

Episode 2: The humans in the machine

They’re the essential workers of AI — yet mostly invisible and exploited. Does it have to be this way? Bridget Todd talks to data workers and entrepreneurs calling for change. Listen to episode 2.

Episode 1: With AIs wide open

Are today’s large language models too hot to handle? Bridget Todd digs into the risks and rewards of open sourcing the tech that makes ChatGPT talk.
Listen to episode 1.

Blog: What to expect from Season 7

IRL executive producer and SVP for Global Programs at Mozilla, J. Bob Alotta talks about why Season 7 of IRL is all about putting people over profit in AI. Read the blog.