Guardrails are not something we actively use in our day-to-day lives, they’re in place to keep us safe when we lack the control needed to keep us on course, and for that, they are essential. Navigating the complexities of decision-making in AI and data can be challenging, especially on a global scale when many are searching for any sort of competitive advantage. Every choice you make can have significant impacts, and having the right frameworks, ethics and guardrails in place are crucial. But how do you create systems that guide decisions without stifling creativity or flexibility? What practices can you employ to ensure your team consistently make better choices and flourish in the age of AI?

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger is a distinguished Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. With a career spanning over decades, his research focuses on the role of information in a networked economy. He previously served on the faculty of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government for ten years and has authored several influential books, including the award-winning “Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age” and the international bestseller “Big Data.” Viktor founded Ikarus Software in 1986, where he developed Virus Utilities, Austria’s best-selling software product. He has been recognized as a Top-5 Software Entrepreneur in Austria and has served as a personal adviser to the Austrian Finance Minister on innovation policy. His work has garnered global attention, featuring in major outlets like the New York Times, BBC, and The Economist. Viktor is also a frequent public speaker and an advisor to governments, corporations, and NGOs on issues related to the information economy.

In the episode, Richie and Viktor explore the definition of guardrails, characteristics of good guardrails, guardrails in business contexts, life-or-death decision-making, principles of effective guardrails, decision-making and cognitive bias, uncertainty in decision-making, designing guardrails, AI and the implementation of guardrails, and much more.

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#237 Guardrails for the Future of AI with Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at the University of Oxford

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