Emperors, Gladiators, and Algorithms in Democracy's Public Square

This 47-minute talk by Allison Stanger from Middlebury College, presented at the Santa Fe Institute, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming public discourse governance through the complex triple role of technology platforms. Examine how these platforms simultaneously function as market competitors, quasi-governmental entities ruling digital territories, and developers of algorithmic systems that moderate public debate. Discover insights on recent developments including the AI arms race triggered by ChatGPT and ongoing battles over free expression and content moderation. Understand how the combination of competitive pressure, private governance, and algorithmic control creates challenges for traditional democratic oversight. Learn why comprehending this complex adaptive system is essential for developing new accountability mechanisms that can preserve both technological innovation and democratic principles in our era of AI-mediated public discourse.