>> COMING UP NEXT, WHO IS TO BLAME FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION... THE PLATFORMS OR THE USER?

AND WHAT IS THE FIX TO AMERICA'S NEW MARIJUANA PROBLEM?

WE ALSO ASK WHAT A COLLEGE DEGREE IS WORTH THESE DAYS, NOW THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS HERE.

STAY TUNED FOR ANSWERS FROM THE COLLEGE PROFESSORS.

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY AARON STRONG OF HAMILTON COLLEGE AND JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY OVER 1500 LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS LIKE FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND TIKTOK.

THE FIRST OF THESE TO GO TO TRIAL BEGAN THIS WEEK IN A CALIFORNIA COURTROOM.

THIS WEEK.

THE PLAINTIFF CLAIMS THAT THESE COMPANIES INTENTIONALLY CREATED ALGORITHMS THAT CAUSE TEENAGERS TO BECOME ADDICTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THE TECH COMPANIES ARE PUSHING BACK.

THEY'RE ASSERTING THAT THEY HAVE DONE THEIR PART TO CURB EXCESSIVE USE.

THEY'VE CREATED PARENTAL CONTROLS AND THAT IT IS UP TO PARENTS TO USE THOSE CONTROLS.

OH, AND, BY THE WAY THEY ALSO SAY THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION.

JENNY WHAT'S YOUR ANALYSIS OF ALL THIS?

DOES THE PLAINTIFF HAVE A CASE?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING CASE BECAUSE IT RESTS NOT ON THE CONTENT, BUT ON THE ALGORITHMS.

SO THERE IS THIS REGULATION PASSED IN 199 *6 AS PART OF THE COMMUNICATION DECENTCY ACT CALLED SECTION 230.

AND SECTION 230 BASICALLY SAYS THAT THE INTERNET COMPANIES ARE REGULATED LIKE THE TELEPHONE; THAT IS, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT THAT HAPPENS THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATION NETWORKS.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO TRY TO CURTAIL SOME OF THE CONTENT: REMEMBER BETTER MODERATION AND THOSE THINGS AND DON'T FLY BECAUSE OF SECTION 230.

BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT THE ALGORITHMS AND THE IDEA THAT THESE ALGORITHMS ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO DRAW AND ADDICT PEOPLE TO THE CONTENT , THE ALGORITHM IS THE KEY.

BECAUSE THAT'S CREATED BY THE COMPANIES AND THAT'S NOT PROTECTED IN SECTION 230.

>> SO AS YOU POINT OUT, SECTION 230 PROTECTS CONTENT BUT THIS IS ACTION.

BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO CONSENSUS IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY THAT THE ALGORITHM IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS THAT THE PLAINTIFF IS LITIGATING.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> THE TRICKY PART HERE IS THAT AS RESEARCHERS WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO DEFINITIVELY DECLARE THAT THE TECHNOLOGIES ARE ADDICTIVE.

YOU CAN'T REALLY ISOLATE PEOPLE AND EXPERIMENT IN THE WAYS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT KIND OF DIRECTED CAUSAL CLAIM.

BUT WHEN FRANCIS HALGAN, WHO WAS THE WHISTLEBLUER WORKED-FOR-META, SHE WENT BEFORE CONGRESS AND SAID THE COMPANY ITSELF KNEW THAT THEIR CONTENT WAS ADDICTIVE, ESPECIALLY TO TEENAGERS.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORDS INTENTIONALITY AND ADDICTION IN THIS CONTEXT.

I MEAN, TO ME, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THESE DEVICES ARE INTENDED TO DELIVER DOPAMINE HITS THAT KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH THE CONTENT, MUCH LIKE A SLOT MACHINE OR PROP BETTING OR VIDEO GAMES FOR THAT MATTER: AND I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND, IS THIS A LITIGATION THING OR JUST LIKE CLEARLY THIS IS AN AREA FOR INCREASED REGULATION BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, LIKE WITH SECTION 230, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

IT'S THE FEASIBILITY OF MONITORING CONTENT.

THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

THERE IS FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES.

BUT THEN HERE, AS YOU SAY, WITH THE ALGORITHM, THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY EASY FIX.

YOU COULD SAY QUIT FEEDING THE DOPAMINE TO PEOPLE.

YOU ARE CONTROLLING NOT THE CONTENT THAT PEOPLE SEE BUT THE VOLUME OF IT THAT THEY'RE ACCESSING.

>> IT PRIVILEGES.

THE THINGS ABOUT THE ALGORITHM IS THAT THEY PRIVILEGE CERTAIN CONTENT OVER OTHERS AND THE ALGORITHMS ARE PRIVILEGING CONTENT THAT IS MORE PROVOCATIVE, MORE EXTREME AND THAT THAT IS HARMFUL.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY'RE ADDICTIVE OR NOT IS LEGALLY IMPORTANT FOR WHETHER THEY'RE LIABLE BUT IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE SCIENCE REALLY DOES SAY.

AND THE SCIENCE SAYS THAT KIDS HAVING SMART PHONES WITH ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA IS HARMFUL TO KIDS, RIGHT?

INCREASED RISK OF DEPRESSION, OBESITY, INSUFFICIENT SLEEP, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

FOR KIDS WHO GET SMART PHONES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA UNDER THE AGE OF 13, WE SEE THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

LOOK, YOU CAN'T BAN DOPAMINE.

I PLAY WORDLE IN A FEW MINUTES.

SPOILER ALERT.

TODAY'S WORD IS MOOCH.

I GET A DOPAMINE HIT FROM THAT BUT I DON'T SPEND HOURS SCROLLING.

THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE DOPAMINE HITS ARE CHASED AND CHASED WHERE IT DISRUCHTS LIVES AND CAUSES MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THIS IS AFFECTING OUR ENTIRE YOUTH GENERATION.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES REGARDS THAN WORRYING ABOUT PRECISE DEFINITIONS OF ADDICTIVENESS.

REGULATION IS THE SOLUTION HERE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT PES IN AUSTRALIA THAT TRIED TO BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR KIDS UNDER 16.

>> WE HAVE SEEN STATE GOVERNMENTS TAKE ACTION ON THIS, NOT FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S WHY IT IS WILD, WITTED WEST IN TERMS OF REGULATION AND DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC FOR KIDS.

>> I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF MY DEPTH HERE BUT I UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SOME OF YOUR CLAIMS ARE IN DISPUTE, SO LIKE YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE BY, FROM THE ECONOMIST BASICALLY ARGUING DON'T BLOCK TEENAGERS FROM USING SOCIAL MEDIA.

AMONG THE THINGS THEY CITE IS THAT THESE CAUSAL LINKS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT REALLY CLEAR; THAT, YOU KNOW, IS IT THE SOCIAL MEDIA THAT'S CAUSING DEPRESSION OR IS IT THE DEPRESSED KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE.

IS ONCE YOU START TO BAN ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT ARE THE KIDS GOING TO DO INSTEAD?

>> TALK TO EACH OTHER?

>> NO, NO, NO.

GOOD ONE, I'M GOING TO GO CLIMB TREES.

BE REALISTIC.

THE ARGUMENT THEY ARE MAKING IS THEY WILL TUNE TO VIDEO GAMES WHICH STILL HAS THE ONLINE CHATS AND YOU CAN'T REGULATE THAT EITHER SO YOU ARE STILL GETTING THE SAME NEGATIVE EFFECTS WITH THE ALTERNATIVE MEDIA THAT THE KIDS ARE GOING TO PURSUE.

>> SURE, BUT I THINK YOU RAISE AN IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT WHICH COMES FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG.

BUT JENNY, IF I UNDERSTOOD, SOME OF THE COURTING HERE, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THESE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES DELIBERATELY HID INFORMATION SO THAT USERS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, PAWRNTS COULDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS AN ADDICTIVE ELEMENT AS AARON SAYS, HOWEVER YOU DEFINE IT.

>> YEAH, NO, EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE COMPANIES HAVE VERY INTENTIONALLY STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED THE PLATFORMS TO BE AS STICKY AND ENGAINLING AS POSSIBLE-- ENGAGING AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT ALONE, IT HAS PARALLELS TO THE TOBACCO LAWSUITS TWO DECADES AGO, WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, THROUGH LEGAL OUTLETS, THE TOBACCO COMPANIES WERE FOUND TO BE INTENTIONALLY MARKETING TO KIDS AND I THINK VERY SIMILAR PARALLEL IS HAPPENING IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA CASE.

>> LUKE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED HAD TO DO WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO CENTRALIZE THE REGULATION OF A.I.

INSTEAD OF PERMITTING STATES TO DO SO.

WHICH DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST APPROACH?

NATIONAL REGULATIONS OR STATE-BASED?

>> I THINK A.I.

AND SOCIAL MEDIA ARE DIFFERENT.

SOCIAL MEDIA WE NEED NATIONAL REGULATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY WHERE THEY PULL THE LEADERS OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES IN FRONT OF CONGRESS AND ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS, THEY THREATEN TO CHANGE STEX 230 BUT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY DO IT.

IN TERMS OF META, FOR INSTANCE, THEY KNEW THAT PUTTING HARMFUL CONTENT IN FRONT OF YOUNG WOMEN MADE THEM CONSUME MORE.

HARMFUL CONTENT LIKE BODY IMAGE STUFF, SUICIDAL STUFF, AND THEY KEPT GOING DOING IT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WOULD GET MORE CUSTOMERS.

THAT'S WHEN I STOPPED USING FACEBOOK AND DON'T PERMIT IT IN MY HOUSEHOLD.

TECHNOLOGY IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

BUT I HAVE SEEN IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SURROUNDED BY TECHNOLOGY ALL THE TIME DO DIFFERENT THINGS AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE QUITE PRODUCTIVE.

>> I THINK WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOUTUBE, THIS ALGORITHM THING, THE AMOUNT THAT YOU ARE CONSUMING, WHEN I THINK OF SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, WHATEVER, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A GAME THEORY PROBLEM, PRISONER'S DILEMMA WHERE COLLECTIVELY WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IT BUT INDIVIDUALLY IT'S HARD TO OPT OUT BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED WHICH FOR TEENS IS TOUGH.

>> WHICH IS WHY ONLY A THIRD OF AMERICA KNOWLEDGES THESE THINGS ARE PROBLEM.

IT'S TIME FOR AMERICA TO ADMIT THAT IT HAS A MARIJUANA PROBLEM, AT LEAST SO SAYS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EDITORIAL BOARD.

THAT WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THAT CAME FROM MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, THERE ARE LOTS OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ALSO HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES LIKE SMOKING EVERY DAY.

ALSO CANNABINOID HYPERIMESIS SYNDROME AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

BUT WHAT IS THE FIX TO THESE PROBLEMS?

IS IT RECRIMINALIZATION?

STRICTER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS?

RESHAPING CULTURAL AND SOCIAL NORMS?

OR SOMETHING ELSE?

AARON, WHERE ARE YOU?

>> SO WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM HERE, BUT FIX IS NOT RECRIMINALIZATION.

LAST YEAR IN-- LAST YEAR WE HAVE DATA IN 2024 OVER 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION AND MARIJUANA SALE.

WHEN I DROVE INTO SYRACUSE THIS MORNING, I SAW A GIANT BILLBOARD ADVERTISING MARIJUANA THAT I CAN BUY HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

SO RECRIMINAL CRIMINALIZATION IS JUST GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY PUT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE BACK IN JAIL IN MORE PLACES BUT IT'S STILL NOT LEGAL IN HALF THE COUNTRY AND LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JAIL JUST FOR SMOKING WEED.

THE SOLUTION IS NOT THAT.

THE SOLUTION IS THAT WE NEED TO EVOLVE CULTURALLY SO WE START TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.

40% OF DRIVERS PULLED OVER IN OHIO-- WHO DIED IN CAR CRASHES IN OHIO HAD AMOUNTS OF THC IN THEIR BLOOD OVER 30 NANO GRAMS PER MILLILITRE.

IF YOU NEVER HEARD OF NANO GRAMS PER MILLILITRE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT BUT WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

WE NEED TO EVOLVE OUR REGULATORY LAWS SO WE RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM.

OVER USE OF MARIJUANA, DRIVING WHILE STONED.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT CULTURALLY.

>> AND IS PART OF THE ADDRESSING IT CULTURALLY RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD THIS, THIS IS NOT OUR PARENTS WEED, RIGHT?

THAT THE AMOUNT OF THC NOW IS NO LONGER 4% BUT NOW 90%.

HOW MUCH OF THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE GREATER CONCENTRATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK SOME OF THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS WE ARE SEEING DRIVEN BY HUGE AMOUNTS OF THC COMING IN.

CRYING FOR BETTER REGULATION, NOT RECRIMINALIZATION.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NEVER UNDERSTAND WHEN WE LEGALIZE THESE THINGS WHY THERE ARE NOT AN ELEMENT OF TAXATION THAT GOES BACK INTO THINGS LIKE BOTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS BUT THEN ALSO CAMPAIGNS AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDICTIONS.

THE SAME ISSUE WITH GAMBLING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE GAMBLING CULTURE NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE VERY ADDICTED AND IT'S QUITE DISRUPTIVE.

BUT YET WE HAVEN'T PUT THE EFFORT INTO SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO REALLY HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING.

CRIMINALIZATION IS NOT THE ANSWER BUT I THINK WE NEED BETTER SUPPORTS.

>> CHAD, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO RECLASSIFY OR HAS ACTUALLY ISSUED AN ORDER TO DO SO, WE WILL SEE WHAT CONGRESS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

AN ORDER THAT WOULD RECLASSIFY IT SO IT'S CONSIDERED A LESS DANGEROUS DRUG.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THAT IS THAT THERE WOULD BE FAVORABLE TREATMENT OF THE BIG WEED INDUSTRY.

WAS WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> I WANT TO ANSWER THE TAXATION QUESTION.

>> THIS IS ABOUT THE TAXATION.

THAT WOULD BE THE FAVORABLE TREATMENT.

>> IN SOME RESPECTS, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WEED, TORR YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FARMERS.

FARMERS DON'T MAKE MONEY UNTIL YOU GET INTO THE CORPORATE FARMING SITUATION AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.

THE TAXATION ISSUE THOUGH, I DON'T THINK TAXATION WORKS TASS A CURB BECAUSE DRUGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA OR CAFFEINE OR INSULIN, THEY HAVE STEEP DEMAND CURVES.

SO IF YOU TAX IT, YOU DON'T AFFECT THE QUALITY THAT IS CONSUMED BUT JUST MAKE THE USERS POORER.

WHEN YOU CURB TOBACCO USE IN THE 90s, THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY USING USERS INTO SOCIAL PARIAHS.

BANNING IT FROM BARS, RESTAURANTS AND WORKPLACES.

SO YOU HAD SOME FIRMS THAT BECAME LIKE NICOTINE-FREE EMPLOYERS.

THEY REDUCED HEALTHCARE COSTS AND INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY BY DOING NICOTINE SCREENING.

THAT KIND OF THING COULD WORK IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, CURBING USE.

>> LUKE, WHAT ABOUT ALSO BANNING ADVERTISING AS IS DONE IN SOME INSTANCES AND PERHAPS RESTRICTING WHO BOTH THE SELLERS AND USERS CAN BE RAISING THE AGE, WHAT ABOUT THOSE OTHER KINDS OF CONTROLS, IF YOU AGREE WITH CHAD THAT TAXATION IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

>> I THINK IT WAS A REASONABLE POINT HE MADE.

IN TERMS OF ADVERTISING, I THINK IT SHOULD BE LIKE SMOKING CIGARETTES.

THERE SHOULD BE DISCLAIMERS OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CONSUMING MARIJUANA.

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.

JENNY'S CONVERSATION ABOUT GAMBLING MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW MARIJUANA IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WHEN I SEE GAMBLING ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION, THERE ARE HELP LINES AND NUMBERS.

THERE IS NONE OF THAT FOR MARIJUANA BUT FOR ME FOR REGULATION, I THINK THE PRODUCT IS HEAVILY REGULATED IN NEW YORK STATE.

YOU LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO SELL MARIJUANA, THEY HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOOPS AND MAKE SURE THE PRODUCT IS SAFE, WHICH IS GOOD FOR CONSUMERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REGULATED MORE IN PUBLIC SPACES, RIGHT?

AS A PARENT WALKING DOWN THE STREET, SMELLING MARIJUANA ALL THE TIME, LIKE THAT'S-- I DON'T THINK THAT'S OPTIMAL IS THE INCREASE IN DAILY USE WHICH WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HAPPENING TO THIS DEGREE.

AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED THESE CAMPAIGNS, RIGHT?

BACK IN THE 70s, THAT WAS THE ERA OF WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DROVE DRUNK, RIGHT?

WE TALKED ABOUT ROAD SODAS AND NOW THERE IS AN AD ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING IN RIGHT NEXT TO THE AD ADVERTISING SELLING MARIJUANA THAT SAYS MANAHAR BROS IS MANAHAR IS DRIVING DRUNK.

WE NEED MORE OF THAT TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS HAPPENING AND LEAN INTO FOCUSING ON WHAT LEGAL MARIJUANA REALLY MEANS.

>> EXCELLENT POINT, LEAN IN.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS COMING FOR WHITE COLLAR JOBS AND THAT IS MAKING SOME WONDER WHETHER A COLLEGE DEGREE IS STILL WORTH THE ENORMOUS TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY THAT GOES INTO EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO IN LIGHT OF RECENT LABOR MARKET DATA THAT SHOW AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SKILLED TRADE WORKERS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, TRADE WORKERS WHO DON'T HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT ADVANTAGE OVER WHITE COLLAR WORKERS.

CHAD WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

IS A COLLEGE DEGREE STILL A WORTH IT?

>> YEAH, THE COLLEGE WAGE PREMIUM REESE FROM 40% IN 180 TO 75% IN 2000 WHERE IT REMAINS TODAY, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT QUICK TO RING THE DEATH NELL ON THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE.

BUT, LOOK, IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY, THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WERE DEVELOPED, THEY COMPLEMENTED COLLEGE EDUCATED WORKERS AND REPLACED MIDDLE SKILLED WORKERS LIKE BANK TELLERS, SECRETARIES AND ASSEMBLY LINE WORKERS.

THAT LED TO INCREASED INCOME IN EQUALITY.

A.I.

MIGHT DO THE OPPOSITE AND REPLACE THINGS LIKE COGNITIVE SKILLS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN THE COLLEGE WAGE PREMIUM WILL SHRINK AND YOU WILL GET RISING EQUALITY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE NECESSARILY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE YET.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THE LESSON IS THE SAME AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

BE ADAPTABLE.

FIGURE OUT HOW TO LET NEW TECHNOLOGY COMPLIMENT WHAT YOU DO OR IT WILL REPLACE YOU.

>> THAT'S A FASCINATING POINT YOU MAKE ABOUT CLOSING THE INCOME GAP.

WOULD THAT BE REASON FOR STATES TO TURN MORE TO TRADE SCHOOLS AND DO MORE BUILDING OF TRADE SCHOOLS?

>> POTENTIALLY.

THE CHALLENGE WITH THE TRADE SCHOOL ISSUE IS HOW MUCH IS MANUFACTURING REALLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES?

YOU KNOW, THE TARIFFS ARE SO ERRATIC AND ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TEMPORARY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE RECIPE FOR BRINGING ALL OF THAT BACK.

WHEREAS THE SUBSIDY PLANS IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SEEMED TO IMPLY MORE CERTAINLY AT THIS-- CERTAINTY UNTIL A LOT OF IT WENT AWAY.

WE NEED A MORE CERTAIN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT BEFORE WE CAN GET INTO THAT.

>> ON THE TRADE FRONT THOUGH, THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS AND PEOPLE WHO CAN REPAIR HVAC SYSTEMS.

I CANNOT GET SOMEBODY TO COME REPAIR MY REFRIGERATOR AT MY HOUSE, RIGHT?

THERE ARE REALLY URGENT NEEDS.

AND WITH THE CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION, WE NEED PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING SPACE, HOUSING BUILDING HOUSES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

YOU FOE, MY TAKE ON THIS-- YOU KNOW, MY TAKE ON THIS, I'M CYNICAL.

I THINK HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MANY PEOPLE IS NOT NECESSARILY WORTH IT.

WHILE IT IS THE CASE THAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS IF YOU GET A COLLEGE DEGREE, THAT INCREASES YOUR WAGES, BUT HAVE YOU TO LOOK AT THE DEBT FACTOR.

I'M AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY.

WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE OUR TUITION AGAIN ANOTHER 3.5%.

AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GOING TO TAX-- WE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY PRICE OURSELVES OUT OF THE MARKET.

I THINK THERE IS STILL A HUGE IMPORTANT ROLE FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TO PLAY.

THERE IS STILL MORE FINANCIALLY SOUND.

AND SENSIBLE.

BUT WHY WOULD YOU GO AND GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HISTORY-- SORRY, FRIENDS-- AT NYU FOR $70,000 A YEAR THAT, WITH A DEBT LOAD POTENTIALLY OF $500,000 WHEN YOU GRADUATE?

THAT MAKES LITERALLY NO SENSES.

>> BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PLUMBER.

I DID MANUAL LABOR FROM AGE 12 TO 27.

IT WAS FINE WHEN I WAS YOUNG BUT I'M SO GLAD I WENT TO COLLEGE.

I ALMOST DIDN'T.

MY PARENTS INSIST TODAY-- INSISTED THAT I DID.

IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE INFINITELY BETTER.

SKILLED LABOR IS IMPORTANT BUT EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT.

SO IF YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO DO THAT AND PURSUE THAT, GREAT.

ABOUT THE BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING TO COLLEGE LIKE IT'S A BAD OPTION.

YES, IT'S COSTLY AND THAT'S AN ISSUE BUT GOING TO COLLEGE IS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS AND THE PEOPLE WHO TEND TO SAY WE FEED MORE OF THESE OTHER JOBS ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, HIGHER EDUCATION IS CHANGING RAPIDLY.

IT'S NOT JUST A.I.

WE ALSO HAVE THIS THING CALLED THE DEMOGRAPHIC CLIFF.

SO A DECADE FROM NOW THERE WILL BE 15% FEWER 18 YEAR OLDS THAN THERE ARE TODAY SO YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO SEE COLLEGES START COMPETING FOR BUTS IN SEATS.

LAYER ON TOP OF THAT, THE MASSIVE SHAKEUP IN FEDERAL FUNDING WE HAVE JUST SEEN.

MADAME MAYOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES DEPEND ON FEDERAL FUNDING AND OVERHEAD FOR HUGE PORTIONS OF THEIR BUDGET.

A REALLY INTERESTING ARTICLE CAME OUT TWO WEEKS AGO IN "THE ATLANTIC" THE ACCIDENTAL WINNERS ON THE WAR ON HIGHER ED POINTING TOWARDS LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES AND SOME LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES THAT REALLY FOCUS AND LEAN INTO SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE SKILLS LIKE LIKE STRATEGIC THINKING, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING BUT WE ALSO NEED TRADE SCHOOLS.

THE QUESTION IF IS COLLEGE WORTH IT, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AND HOW DO YOU GET THERE WITHOUT TAKING ON HUGE MASSIVE DEBT.

COLLEGE IS STILL GOING TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS COUNTRY BUT IT'S CHANGING RAPIDLY AND A.I.

IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL FACTORS.

>> I WANT TO KIND OF MENTION, TOO, THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF-- MEN WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES IS TRUCK DRIVERS AND A.I.

AND AUTOMATION AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMING FOR THAT AND THAT WILL DECIMATE A SECTOR.

SO AGAIN THE KEY HERE IS ADAPTABILITY AND IN TERMS OF LIKE POLICY, THERE IS ABOUT A WEEK AGO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAD A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON A.I.

AND I RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT TALKS ABOUT IS ESTABLISHING A UNIVERSAL BASIC CAPITAL ACCOUNT SO EFFECTIVELY EVERYBODY GETS A STOCK MARKET PORTFOLIO AT BIRDS.

>> ISN'T IT LIKE WHAT TRUMP IS DOING NOW.

>> YOU CAUGHT ON TO THAT.

TRUMP ACCOUNTS WERE NOT IN THE TITLE.

I WAS TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES" READER.

BUT YES, THIS IDEA WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR LABOR BECOMES OBSOLETE?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EARN INCOME AND THIS MIGHT BE ONE WAY.

>> WELL, WHERE DID THE TIME GO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO TO OUR GRADE BOOKS AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU, LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO MASSIVE LAYOFFS AT THE WASHINGTON MOST.

300 JOURNALISTS WERE LAID OFF, 30% OF THEIR WORKFORCE.

YES, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS TO THRIVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE BUT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS DOING IT.

>> CHAD.

>> SIMILAR F GOES TO NEWS THAT AFTER 88 YEARS GALLUP WILL NO LONGER TRACK IF THE USUALLY APPROVAL RATINGS.

THIS WAS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF TIME SERIES EVIDENCE OF AMERICA'S POLITICAL VIEWS THAT ANALYSTS HAVE RELIED UPON TO UNDERSTAND SHIFTS IN THE COUNTRY'S SENTIMENT.

A SHAME WE WILL BE MISSING OUT ON THAT.

>> AARON.

>> MY F GOES TO THE REPEEL OF THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION YESTERDAY.

DECLARING GREENHOUSE GASES ARE NOT A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

I LITERALLY WOULD HAVE GIVEN AN F TO DOUG BURGUN INTERIOR SECRETARY IF HE WERE IN MY CLASS AND SAID Co2 WAS NOT A POLLUTANT.

THE Co2 WAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE, INTO THE FOOD AND COMES BACK.

WHEN WE BURN FOSSIL FUELS DOES AND THAT'S WARMING THE PLANET AND ENDANGERING HUMAN LIVES UNEQUIVOCALLY.

>> THE THINGS I LEARN.

>> MY F GOES TO TUCKER CARLSON AND REVIVAL OF PIZZA GATE WHICH IS THE MANUFACTURED CONSPIRACY THAT SURFACED IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF A CHILD SEX RICK ORGANIZED BY DEMOCRATS INCLUDING HILLARY CLINTON CHT RAN OUT OF A PIZZA SHOP OUT OF WASHINGTON D.C.

THE RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN RELATED DOCUMENTS HAS LED TO A BUZZ AGAIN ABOUT PIZZA GATE.

BECAUSE PIZZA APPEARS IN 842 DOCUMENTS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES, SUPPOSEDLY CODE FOR THIS ALLEGED SEX RING.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT SALAD APPEARS A THOUSAND TIMES AND SOUP APPEARS 677 TIMES.

PIZZA IS JUST PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO SHAME ON TUCKER CARLSON FOR BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A BASELESS CONSPIRACY THEORY.

>> WHEN PIZZA IS JUST PIZZA.

WELL, NOW IT'S TIME TO TURN TO OUR AS.

STARTING WITH YOU, LUKE.

>> MY A GOES TO THE END OF THE ICE SURGE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WE DISCUSSED WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN TOM HOLLEMAN SENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AND POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> CHAD.

>> TODAY IS FRIDAY 13th KNOWN AS COLGATE DAY.

A DAY WHEN COLGATE FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS WEAR MAROON AND CELEBRATE OUR SCHOOL.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR ALUMNI, THEIR GENEROSITY AND TIME TALENT AND TREASURE IS VITAL FOR MUCH OF THE EXCELLENT PROGRAMMING THAT OUR COMMUNITY OFFERS.

>> WAY TO SHOW ME UP, CHAD.

>> YOU HAVE YOUR COLGATE PEN PIN.

>> COMPLIMENTS TO AARON.

>> CORNELL EXTENSION.

THEY DO EVERYTHING FROM HELPING LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS GET ACCESS TO ENERGY SUBSIDIES, TO WORKING WITH FARMERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REDUCE POLLUTION.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU WANT TO LINK WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, IT'S QUITE HARD.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT WILL HOLD YOUR HAND AND FIPG OUT HOW TO DO IT AND THAT'S AMAZING WORK GOING ON EVERY DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY SO I WANT TO SING THEIR PRAISES.

GO COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

>> WELL, WELL.

JENNY.

>> SO MY A GOES TO NORTHWESTERN PROFESSOR JERRY GOLDMAN AND HIS NEW PROJECT ON THE DOCKET.

FOR DECADES THE SUPREME COURT HAS SEPTEMBER ITS BENCH ANNOUNCEMENTS WHICH ARE THOSE DRAMATIC MOMENTS WHERE THE DISSENTS AND DECISIONS ARE READ ALOUD.

IT HAS BEEN LOCKED AWAY ONLY AVAILABLE TO A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THE COURTROOMS.

HIS TEAM IS USE USING A.I.

TO CHANGE THAT.

THEY'RE CREATING AVATAR STYLE VIDEOS OF THE JUSTICES MATCHED TO THE REAL AUDIO BRINGING LANDMARK RULINGS TO LIFE FOR THE PUBLIC.

THEIR FIRST RELEASE IS A.I.

GENERATED CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS SUMMARIZING THE TRUMP IMMUNITY DECISION FOLLOWED BY JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR DISSENT.

IN AN ERA WHERE WE WORRY ABOUT A.I.

SPREADING MISINFORMATION, HERE IS A CASE WHERE IT IS MAKING DEMOCRACY MORE TRANSPARENT.

>> MORE TRANSPARENCY ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE WRITE IN AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY.DOORING.

I'M-- WCNY.ORG.

I'M MEAN THEY MEAN THEY.

FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, HAPPY COLGATE DAY.

>> FRIDAY THE 13th.

>> AND GOOD NIGHT.

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