Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ Skips David Ellison-Skydance News to Take on AI

On Sunday night, John Oliver dedicated the majority of his Emmy-winning show “Last Week Tonight” to the Secret Service’s failings in recent years while declining to address the major media news of the week: David Ellison’s newly-formed Skydance Corp. swallowing up Warner Bros. Discovery — which controls Oliver’s network HBO — and merging it with Paramount Skydance to form a mega-company.

So, would his late-night compatriot Jon Stewart give his two cents on the merger during Mondays’ episode of “The Daily Show,” since it’s also a part of Skydance Corp.?

Apparently not.

Stewart dedicated the show entirely to AI, first ripping apart AI leaders’ empty promises of job creation, economic prosperity and its ability to cure cancer while admitting that there’s a 10-25% chance it will kill us all. Currently, however, AI is primarily being used for ICE and other surveillance, drone warfare targeting and potential dynamic pricing at places like McDonald’s.

“What are we getting in exchange for this 10-25% chance at extinction?” asked Stewart, adding, “Right now it’s mostly murder, surveillance and surge pricing for the McRib? What a trade! I’m getting the sense that you guys might be full of shit.”

The comedian also pushed back at President Trump allowing these AI companies to self-regulate after his recent fawning AI summit, since the Zuckerberg’s and Musk’s of the world don’t exactly have a sterling track record when it comes to playing it safe. There’s also the matter of how many jobs AI will eliminate. Though AI leaders keep repeating over and over that the technology will lead to newer, different jobs and an economic windfall for everybody, they can’t say what jobs it would create or how it will economically benefit everyday people.

“The view of our self-policing geniuses is that the new world that we are building must continue without regulation or financial limitation because it’s important work carried out by important people,” offered Stewart. “And my guess is: They’ll still have jobs when this is done… Stop lying to us! Claims of universal high income and incredible hobbies isn’t going to paper over how frightening this future can sound.”