Forever Chemicals, Forever Consequences: What PFAS Teaches Us About AI

Artificial intelligence is set to unleash an explosion of new
technologies and discoveries into the world. This could lead to
incredible advances in human flourishing, if we do it well. The
problem? We’re not very good at predicting and responding to the
harms of new technologies, especially when those harms are
slow-moving and invisible.


Today on the show we explore this fundamental problem with Rob
Bilott, an environmental lawyer who has spent nearly three
decades battling chemical giants over PFAS—"forever chemicals"
now found in our water, soil, and blood. These chemicals helped
build the modern economy, but they’ve also been shown to cause
serious health problems.


Rob’s story, and the story of PFAS is a cautionary tale of why we
need to align technological innovation with safety, and mitigate
irreversible harms before they become permanent. We only have one
chance to get it right before AI becomes irreversibly entangled
in our society.

Your Undivided Attention is produced by
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Clarification: Rob referenced EPA regulations
that have recently been put in place requiring testing on new
chemicals before they are approved. The EPA under the Trump admin
has announced their intent to rollback this review process.

RECOMMENDED MEDIA


“Exposure” by Robert Bilott 


ProPublica’s investigation into 3M’s production of PFAS 


The FB study cited by Tristan 


More information on the Exxon Valdez oil spill 


The EPA’s PFAS drinking water standards
 


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Weaponizing Uncertainty: How Tech is Recycling Big Tobacco’s
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AI Is Moving Fast. We Need Laws that Will Too. 


Former OpenAI Engineer William Saunders on Silence, Safety, and
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