In this commentary, AI-leader Gary Marcus (see his substack here) highlights a critical research paper by legal scholars Woodrow Hartzog and Jessica Silbey regarding the existential threat artificial intelligence poses to society. The scholars argue that the fundamental design of generative and predictive AI is inherently incompatible with the transparency and accountability required for healthy democratic institutions. Rather than acting as neutral tools for efficiency, these systems actively hollow out essential sectors like journalism, healthcare, and education by replacing human nuance with automated rigidity.

The authors’ findings suggest that the widespread adoption of these technologies creates a degrading effect that could lead to the total collapse of civic governance. Marcus emphasizes the urgency of this message, noting that the researchers’ initial optimism vanished as they uncovered how effectively AI delegitimizes public trust. Ultimately, the text warns that modern AI acts as a destructive force against the foundational structures that support organized human life.

Note the spelling mistake in this image below… NoteBookLM can generate cool slides but correct spelling…. NOPE.

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I made a quick NotebookLM explainer with Gary's post and the research paper, below, plus an odd but curious slidedeck(gotta live this tool!)

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