In this episode of AI-Curious, Jeff Wilser sits down with AnhPhu Nguyen, one of the Harvard students behind the I-XRAY, a controversial pair of hacked Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that use facial recognition technology to identify people in real-time, revealing personal details like names and home addresses.

AnhPhu discusses the ethical motivations behind the project, emphasizing how it was designed to raise awareness of AI privacy and surveillance risks rather than for profit. Together, they unpack the privacy issues, ethical implications, and the potential for policy changes in AI surveillance.

• [0:00] – Viral story of AI-driven facial recognition glasses

• [2:15] – Meet AnhPhu Nguyen: Harvard student and co-creator of the I-XRAY

• [5:07] – The project’s origin and purpose: Raising awareness on AI privacy

• [8:43] – How the I-XRAY works: Combining smart glasses, facial recognition, and AI

• [15:02] – The ethics of AI surveillance: Privacy vs. convenience

• [18:02] – Reactions from tech companies: Meta and PimEyes’ response

• [19:10] – Advice to developers on ethical tech design and responsible AI

• [22:36] – What’s next for AnhPhu: Exploring ethical boundaries in future tech

This conversation explores crucial questions around AI-driven surveillance, responsible tech development, and what needs to change in policy to avoid a dystopian future. If you’re interested in AI, privacy, and the future of ethical tech, this episode sheds light on how these issues intersect and what we need to consider moving forward.

AnhPhu's original Twitter/X post that went viral:
https://x.com/AnhPhuNguyen1/status/1840786336992682409

AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio's paper on how to make yourself "unsearchable":
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iWCqmaOUKhKjcKSktIwC3NNANoFP7vPsRvcbOIup_BA/preview

AnhPhu Nguyen on Twitter/X:
https://x.com/AnhPhuNguyen1

Caine Ardayfio on Twitter/X:
https://x.com/CaineArdayfio

Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2024/10/04/these-2-hackers-have-created-real-x-ray-specs/

Original coverage from The Register:
https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/04/harvard_engineer_meta_smart_glasses/

The New York Times coverage:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/technology/facial-recognition-glasses-privacy-harvard.html

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https://x.com/jeffwilser

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www.JeffWilser.com

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In this episode of AI-Curious, Jeff Wilser dives into his experience at TechCrunch Disrupt (aka “DorkFest 2024”), exploring AI’s trajectory from hype to real-world impact. With 99% of companies showcasing some form of AI, Jeff unpacks the crowded landscape, from AI infrastructure to flashy generative AI tools. Here’s what you’ll hear:

Main Topics Covered:

TechCrunch Disrupt & AI’s Ubiquity

•Flying cars, self-driving cars, and “non-human employees” headline Dorkfest 2024.

•Reflecting on how AI has taken over the tech industry and the potential future of AI startups.

•The competitive nature among AI giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.

Behind the Scenes: AI Startups and Industry Consolidation

•Why many AI startups focus on infrastructure over “shiny objects” like generative AI.

•Predictions for consolidation within the AI space and potential impacts on innovation.

3 Quick Things: This Week in AI News

1.ChatGPT with Search – OpenAI’s latest feature brings real-time web access, potentially disrupting traditional search engines like Google and Perplexity.

2.AI Deepfakes & 2024 Election – As of November 4th, deepfakes have not heavily influenced the U.S. election, despite prior concerns.

3.Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions of the Year” – Jeff shares his insights from writing for Time’s annual list, focusing on how AI is driving real solutions, from healthcare documentation to farming and cancer treatment.

In this episode of AI-Curious, we delve into the disconnect between businesses’ aspirations for AI and their practical implementation. Featuring insights from Anthony Batt and Shane Robinson, co-founders of Co-AI—a hub for AI knowledge and resources—this conversation explores how businesses can adopt AI more effectively.

Jeff, Anthony, and Shane start by identifying two major challenges: finding trustworthy AI tools among the influx of new options and addressing the gap between wanting to use AI and actually seeing results. They then dive into Co-AI’s practical approach, emphasizing the importance of mindset, cultural shifts, and active experimentation as foundational steps for businesses looking to leverage AI.

Topics include:

•How companies can create a culture of experimentation and reward AI exploration.

•Practical use cases of AI as a “thought partner” and “sales coach” to enhance productivity.

•Ways business leaders can overcome inertia and initiate AI practices that evolve with company needs.

•Stories from Anthony and Shane on AI’s role in business evolution, informed by their years in tech innovation.

This episode offers essential guidance for leaders, technologists, and anyone navigating the AI landscape. Join us to learn actionable strategies for bridging the gap between abstract AI goals and measurable business outcomes.