A recent report released at https://maliciousaireport.com/ on the potential malicious uses for artificial intelligence brings us sharply to the present.  In the TEOTWAWKI episodes on AI, we focused on "hard AI" - the potentials for chaos and rapid change if artificial intelligence becomes "truly sentient". But in the shorter term, machine-learning algorithms and increasing automation are already impacting all of our lives to a greater extent. Recent efforts at electoral manipulation, for example, exploited aspects of the algorithms used by social media companies. Meanwhile, as we turn over the wheel to self-driving cars and the economy to automated industries, we are changing the nature of society - and the potential risks of abuse. These episodes will talk about the near-term potential for machine learning and AI to be used maliciously over the next decade or two.  To contact the show: www.physicspodcast.com @physicspod Don't forget our sister show, wrapping up the life of Stalin over at www.autocracynow.libsyn.com Comments, concerns, criticism, praise all welcome via the contact link at www.physicspodcast.com