AI Is Killing Free Will: Ex-Twitter Ethical AI Lead Explains How to Protect Yourself

Are we giving up our freedom for convenience without realizing it? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a globally recognized AI ethics leader featured in Time and Forbes, to unpack the real risks of artificial intelligence, Big Tech power, and data privacy. As the former Head of AI Ethics at Twitter and Accenture, Dr. Chowdhury shares an insider perspective on how Big Tech is consolidating power, why narratives around AGI and “AI intelligence” are often misleading, and how everyday tools from apps to social media, are quietly shaping a surveillance-driven ecosystem. This conversation dives into AI ethics, surveillance, and the future of work, and explores why trust in AI is declining even as adoption accelerates. We also break down the real-world implications of AI, and most importantly, how you can protect your data, reclaim your agency, and use AI more intentionally. In this video:00:00 Intro01:16 What’s wrong with AI today02:18 Why people trust AI less every year03:09 Big tech vs the technology itself04:22 Dangerous narratives about AI06:09 Anthropomorphism and moral outsourcing07:40 The myth of AGI and profit motives09:20 The economics behind AI power11:21 Consumer responsibility and the privacy paradox13:42 “I have nothing to hide” explained15:04 How big tech is consolidating control16:42 What consumers should actually do18:30 Real-world consequences of data misuse21:05 From Pokémon Go to surveillance systems22:29 The dilemma of social media and platforms26:05 Can AI still be used for good28:20 Algorithms, manipulation, and loss of agency30:12 Inside AI ethics at Twitter33:48 Why leadership and trust are changing35:17 Surveillance capitalism and public backlash37:31 How to think strategically about AI41:19 Finding agency and intentional use of AI45:06 Will society push back against AI power52:02 The role of AI ethicists and builders56:41 The future of work and automation reality01:01:32 Why expertise and discernment matter most01:06:35 Advice for business leaders using AI01:11:33 Final thoughts on agency and discernmentConnect with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rumman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rumman_c/?hl=enOur links:Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG