AI will shape the future, but who will shape AI? | Brendan McCord at ARC 2025

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In his keynote, Brendan McCord explored the historical stakes of AI, contrasting control and freedom in past technological revolutions. Brendan calls for philosopher-builders to create AI systems that amplify reason, preserve autonomy, and resist centralisation. __ Purchase your copy of our new book, The Best of Our Inheritance. https://www.arc-conference.com/store/p/the-best-of-our-inheritance-arc-research?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inheritance_book With the return of the ARC Conference this February, we are launching our first book — a work that encapsulates the values and ideas that shape ARC’s mission. The Best of Our Inheritance brings together fifteen of the sharpest minds of our time to make a bold case for remembering the values of our civilisation. From Barry Straussʼ account of the Classical Tradition, Ayaan Hirsi Aliʼs personal reflections on the values of the West and its Christian roots to Nigel Biggarʼs chapter on human dignity and Joseph Laconte’s call to the artists, reading this book will give you a tangible vision for civilisational renewal. __ Brendan McCord is Founder and Chair of the Cosmos Institute, an academy developing philosopher-builders. He established the first U.S. Department of Defense-wide applied AI organisation and was founding CEO of two AI companies acquired for $400 million. __ 00:00 - The Choice: Freedom or Control 00:40 - Technology's Dual Legacy 01:21 - AI’s Transformational Impact 02:24 - The Global AI Race & Centralization 03:24 - Institutions & The Failure to Build 05:35 - Breaking the False Binary of AI Futures 07:16 - Truth-Seeking: Socrates, Mill & AI 10:20 - The Philosophy-to-Code Pipeline __ Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks - all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity. https://www.arc-conference.com/research-papers If you would like to support ARC’s mission financially, firstly - thank you so much for trusting us with your resources. And secondly, find out how here: https://www.arc-conference.com/donate If you have any questions for us, or would like to partner with us, contact us here: [email protected]