Surveillance, Power Plays, and Digital Minds
In this edition of Expl(ai)ned, a monthly newsletter by The New AI Project, explore DeepSeek’s market-upending release, President Trump’s second-term approach to regulation, and AI in the Super Bowl. In Taming AI, a column about ethics, policies, and regulation, examine the emerging “tech oligarchy” and the evolving relationship between the tech industry and U.S. politics. Tech Titans looks back on the market-shaking debut of China’s DeepSeek, and AI at Work covers the ongoing debate over AI’s role in workplace communication. In Research Revelations, explore the growing importance of reasoning models and their implications for the future of artificial intelligence. Stay informed with The New AI Project’s in-depth analysis of how AI is shaping industries, policy, and global competition on their LinkedIn page.
Experience the Episode
Thursday, February 13, 2025 12:00 pm
In this edition of Expl(ai)ned, a monthly newsletter by The New AI Project, explore DeepSeek’s market-upending release, President Trump’s second-term approach to regulation, and AI in the Super Bowl. In Taming AI, a column about ethics, policies, and regulation, examine the emerging “tech oligarchy” and the evolving relationship between the tech industry and U.S. politics. Tech Titans looks back on the market-shaking debut of China’s DeepSeek, and AI at Work covers the ongoing debate over AI’s role in workplace communication. In Research Revelations, explore the growing importance of reasoning models and their implications for the future of artificial intelligence. Stay informed with The New AI Project’s in-depth analysis of how AI is shaping industries, policy, and global competition on their LinkedIn page.
If you’re a fan of podcasts, The New AI Project team utilized NotebookLM, an exciting AI product from Google, to produce an in-depth podcast episode that covers everything they’ve written this month. NotebookLM can take up to 50 text inputs and generate a realistic conversation between two virtual podcast “hosts” that concisely covers the inputted material. Listen below for a wide-ranging conversation on all five articles they published this month!
The New AI is sponsored on ThinkND by the Technology and Digital Studies Program in the College of Arts & Letters. This program collaborates with the Computer Science and Engineering Department and other departments around the University to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, the Minor in Data Science, and the Idzik Computing & Digital Technologies Minor.
Register to receive emails about future events in the series below.
MoreAI In Primetime: How Super Bowl LIX Marked a New Era in AI Advertising
Super Bowl LIX marked a pivotal moment for AI in advertising, as tech giants like Meta, Google, and OpenAI invested millions to position AI as an approachable part of daily life. This year’s ads weren’t just about branding—they signaled a broader shift in public perception, framing AI as mainstream rather than experimental. Read more in this AI in Life column by Mary Claire Anderson.
The Tech Oligarchy: How AI Factors Into Power Dynamics in America
Trump’s alliance with Silicon Valley elites reveals an emerging Tech Oligarchy. As President Trump’s second term kicks off, the cozy relationship between the tech elite and the White House is sparking questions about the future of AI, free speech, and regulation. Curious how this alliance could reshape America? Read more in this Taming AI column by Clare Hill.
DeepSeek 1 Week Later: Market Overreaction and Privacy Underreaction
DeepSeek’s AI shook global markets, wiping $600B off Nvidia’s value and sparking bans over privacy fears. While initial reactions were dramatic, experts are now questioning whether the hype was warranted. Dive into the story behind DeepSeek’s rise and what’s next for the AI landscape in this Tech Titans column by Aiden Gilroy.
Breaking Language Barriers: How AI is Transforming Workplace Communication
AI is breaking down language barriers in the workplace, with real-time translation tools from Meta, Google, and DeepL making cross-language collaboration seamless. But as companies rush to adopt AI-powered communication, are we sacrificing cultural nuance and the richness of human language? Explore the future of AI translation in global business in this AI at Work column by Mary Claire Anderson.
A World Beyond Just Language: Reasoning, Multimodals, and the Road to AGI
AI isn’t just getting smarter—it’s learning to reason. DeepSeek-R1 is making waves—not just for its impressive problem-solving skills, but for the attention it brought to the newer and more robust “reasoning” models that think step by step. Read more about the world that lies beyond LLMs in this Research Revelations column by Annie Zhao.