Is AI making you stupid? w/Jonathan Haidt

Video Description

Full audio episode here: https://tobias.substack.com/p/can-democracy-survive-this-a-conversation I sit down with top social psychologist and #1 NYT bestselling author Jonathan Haidt. We explore how AI and social platforms are reshaping democracy, childhood, and the very ability to think. We discuss polarization so deep it breaks our will to find compromise, the way attention is being fractured, and why technologies built for connection are now eroding it. From the promise of omniscience to the threat of omnipotence, Haidt warns of a world where anyone can harm anyone else, and where human relationships may be at risk of vanishing altogether. Where sustained attention is the most scarce resource we have, and most importantly what we can do to protect our kids. This is a conversation about how we got here, and what it will take to find a better way forward. Apple podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1-is-ai-making-us-stupid-a-conversation/id1824137015?i=1000727339905 Spotify podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/41xnTfJRj8Dvi2FPiSr2fu?si=11cbbb9f2bf74b78 Subscribe here for new episodes: http://tobias.substack.com/podcast Jonathan's book, The Anxious Generation: http://anxiousgeneration.com/ My book, Outrage Machine: https://www.outragemachine.org/ Research links to come. 00:00 A Journey Back to 2009 00:55 The Rise of Social Media Algorithms 02:20 The Impact on Society and Democracy 02:51 Introducing Jonathan Haidt 03:28 The Dark Side of AI and Social Media 07:12 The Future of Democracy and AI 11:02 The Psychological and Social Implications 14:17 The Potential of AI and Human Evolution 18:24 The Need for Regulation and Ethical Considerations 34:17 The Impact of Technology on Child Development 34:40 The Importance of Childhood Sequences 36:15 Systemizing vs. Empathizing: A Psychological Perspective 37:21 The Correlation Between Social Media and Mental Health 41:26 Collective Action Against Social Media Harms 42:37 Norms and Legislation for Protecting Children 43:52 The Role of Schools in Regulating Phone Use 46:07 The Dangers of Online Risks vs. Real-World Risks 54:10 The Future of Social Media and AI 01:01:35 Hope and Challenges for the Future