← Home
Masters of Scale · August 29, 2026 · 44m 34s

Pioneers of AI: Designing AI for people and the planet, with Aza Raskin

Aza Raskin

Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology and inventor of the infinite scroll, examines why the most powerful AI systems often fail to prioritize human well-being. He reflects on his own creation and its unintended consequences for attention and behavior. Raskin also introduces the Earth Species Project, which applies AI to decode animal communication, and argues for technology that serves both humanity and the planet.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

•
AI Development Is Not Human-Centered
Raskin argues that the most powerful AI systems are being built without prioritizing human experience or collective well-being, instead optimizing for metrics like engagement and profit.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
•
Earth Species Project: AI to Decode Animal Communication
Raskin leads the Earth Species Project, which applies machine learning to analyze vast amounts of data on animal sounds and behavior, aiming to decode the meaning behind animal communication.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

Editorial

•
The Infinite Scroll's Unintended Consequences
Raskin, who invented the infinite scroll, explains that a feature designed to create a seamless browsing experience instead removes natural stopping cues and has been widely adopted to maximize user engagement, often at the expense of well-being.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
•
Raskin's Journey from Inventor to Humane Tech Advocate
Raskin's personal trajectory—from creating the infinite scroll to co-founding the Center for Humane Technology—illustrates a reckoning with the unintended harms of one's own creations.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

Misc

✧Raskin invented the infinite scroll, a feature that loads content continuously as users scroll down. Once intended to make browsing seamless, he now sees it as a design that removes natural stopping cues and can encourage compulsive use.
Was this useful?