Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, made his fortune off a website that was founded in 1995 and hasn’t been updated in years. Despite its outdated appearance, Craigslist still offers apartment listings, a jobs board, and items for sale. However, other companies like Airbnb, LinkedIn, and Facebook Marketplace have surpassed Craigslist in value.
Although Newmark’s company may be outdated, his concerns about the future of the industry are not. Since the launch of Craig Newmark Philanthropies in 2015, he has donated millions of dollars to various media and technology causes. Most recently, his organization contributed $3 million to fund a new artificial intelligence (AI) and education initiative by Common Sense Media. This philanthropic effort focuses on the development of AI literacy courses and an AI ratings system that evaluates the safety of tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT for children.
Newmark, recovering from a heart procedure, discussed his interest in AI and language-generating software. He acknowledged the potential societal harm and risks associated with AI, particularly the amplification of disinformation by bad actors. He expressed concerns about tech companies not doing enough to combat dishonesty and misleading information on their platforms.
Regarding his philanthropic efforts, Newmark primarily supports organizations and causes related to journalism, combating misinformation, online harassment, cybersecurity, and supporting veterans and military families. Although he believes in the importance of protecting kids from the negative impacts of AI, he admitted that he doesn’t know where to start and relies on organizations like Common Sense Media to address these issues.
Newmark also addressed the polarized and politicized landscape surrounding topics like misinformation, journalism, and content moderation. He mentioned that certain organizations have cut back on funding research into combating misinformation due to fear of public criticism. Newmark applauded organizations like the Knight Foundation and Ford Foundation for their brave initiatives.
Highlighting his philanthropic ventures within journalism, Newmark mentioned the Craig Newmark Graduate School in Journalism at the City University of New York and The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom investigating the societal impacts of technology. While some of his efforts have been successful, others have not, and he remains discreet about those failures.
When it comes to social media platforms, Newmark expressed his disappointment with Twitter’s algorithmically recommended posts and mentioned exploring alternatives like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Meta’s Threads. He praised the slower growth and audience development of these platforms, reminiscent of the early days of the internet.
Newmark also emphasized his focus on cybersecurity, pledging millions of dollars to organizations working on cyber-related issues and supporting veterans and military members facing housing and financial challenges.
Overall, Newmark’s philanthropic endeavors aim to address the challenges and risks associated with AI, misinformation, journalism, and cybersecurity, supporting organizations that are making a difference in these areas.
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