Will the Tech Oligarchs Turn on Trump?
Kara Swisher on whether AI will ever be regulated
In this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic's David Frum and Kara Swisher discuss various topics, including Medicare for All, unregulated AI, and Robert Gordon's pessimistic assessments of American growth since 1970. Frum begins by questioning Swisher about her views on the growing calls for Medicare for All, pointing out that the regulation of technology is already extensive compared to the tech platforms themselves. Swisher agrees, emphasizing the need for regulation across the board.
Next, Frum and Swisher delve into the idea of extending Medicare to cover all Americans, with the U.S. Treasury paying for most healthcare expenses. They delve into the financial implications of such a transition, estimating the potential cost of $40 trillion over 10 years—far exceeding the original CBO estimate of $30 trillion. Frum and Swisher discuss the challenges of implementing this scheme, including the potential need for new taxes and the transition from private insurance to government-funded healthcare.
Finally, they turn to the book discussion, analyzing Robert Gordon's predictions about American growth since the Civil War and whether the rise of AI technology will alter his pessimistic outlook.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
