The A.I. App for Rich People to Fight Journalists Who Embarrass Them

Objection.ai is the new AI-powered tool from Aron D’Souza and Peter Thiel. The duo who helped bankrupt Gawker ten years ago. They're also teaming up to bring the world the steroid-embracing Enhanced Games later this month. D’Souza says Objection.ai is about restoring public trust in journalism and making it more transparent. Critics worry about its ideological bent and what it means to subject journalists, and their sources, to an AI "judge".

Aron D’Souza joins Jesse to talk about the tech, what it means to "object" to a reporter’s work, and if there’s any reason to believe Objection.ai could work at all.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional music by Audio Network

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Photo: Objection.ai website (NOTE: This artwork for this episode was likely generated by A.I., by the website’s designers.)

More information:

• Can AI judge journalism? A Thiel-backed startup says yes, even if it risks chilling whistleblowers — TechCrunch
• Full transcript: Conversation with Aron D’Souza on Objection and AI in journalism — TechCrunch
• Hulk Hogan v. Gawker: Invasion of Privacy & Free Speech in a Digital World — First Amendment Watch NYU
• Trust in Media: How Canadians feel about news outlets — Pollara Strategic Insights
• Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S. — Gallup
• A Reporter Explains His Approach to Writing News and Features — New York Times
• Objection

Sponsors:

Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 40$ off and 10GB of free data.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.ca

Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit https://article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.