Oprah Winfrey is set to explore the vast topic of artificial intelligence in a one-hour special airing on ABC tonight. Her new show, AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special, will include interviews with major tech leaders such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and other well-known figures in technology. reviewer Marques Brownlee.
“I decided to create this special because I’m in the same place as most of you when it comes to AI,” Oprah shared in an Instagram Reel earlier this week. “We keep hearing about AI and how it will impact our lives in the future. We see it on our phones, in our cars, and in certain areas of life, but what’s really coming? What’s happening with AI?”
The program will include conversations not just with tech experts, but also with individuals from other fields. FBI Director Christopher Wray, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson, and the co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology will join the discussion to talk about the risks AI may pose to both creators and society as a whole.
The AI special will air at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 12, and It will be available on Hulu the following day.
Initial Criticisms of Oprah Winfrey AI Special
Some critics have raised concerns about the guest lineup, saying it may present AI in a positive light without fully addressing its potential dangers. Artist and activist Karla Ortiz shared her concerns on X (formerly Twitter), urging Oprah to reconsider the show’s content.
Brian Merchant, a tech columnist for the Los Angeles Times and writer of the Blood in the Machine newsletter, called the special an “extended sales pitch for the AI industry at a time when its growth is slowing and the AI bubble may burst.”
This isn’t the first time Oprah has faced criticism. Back in March, she was also criticized for her special on the weight-loss drug Ozempic, which aired on ABC.
In an odd twist, a video made to promote the AI special showed a computer-generated version of Oprah interviewing herself, followed by an animated figure that vaguely resembled Sam Altman.
Conclusion
Oprah Winfrey’s AI special is highly anticipated, but not without controversy. As she delves into the future of artificial intelligence with influential guests, viewers will be looking to see whether the show provides a balanced view on the benefits and risks of AI technology.