If you were around in the early days of the internet, there is little doubt you will remember a website called Craigslist. Still chugging along offering apartment listings, a job board, and a marketplace for various items, the website has, however, now been eclipsed in value by tech giants like Airbnb, LinkedIn, and Facebook Marketplace, all of which are driven by Wall Street’s relentless pursuit of growth and profit.
Seen as something of a relic of a by-gone era Craigslist hasn’t received an update in almost two decades.
While Craigslist may appear outdated, the site’s founder Craig Newmark’s concerns about the future of the tech industry are anything but. The site made has made Newmark a wealthy man, and in 2015 he launched Craig Newmark Philanthropies through which he has donated millions to various causes related to media and technology.
Speaking to CNBC while recovering from a minor heart procedure in late August, the 70-year-old Newmark, revealed his foundation has directed its efforts towards supporting journalism, combating misinformation, addressing online harassment, enhancing cybersecurity, and aiding veterans and military families.
The dangers of AI
Critically, Newmark’s attention has also turned to the rapid advancements in AI and the potential dangers they pose. Recently they have donated R65-million to a non-profit organisation called Common Sense. The AI project developed by that NGO aims to create an AI rating system to help parents, educators, policymakers, and regulators assess the safety of tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT for children. Additionally, the nonprofit offers online AI literacy courses to help parents and educators teach essential AI concepts to kids.
Newmark became acutely aware of AI’s capabilities and the risk of misuse as companies began to incorporate generative AI into search engines. He is concerned that malicious actors could exploit this technology to amplify and spread disinformation, while tech companies seem less committed to combating dishonest content.
Reflecting on the evolution of the internet, Newmark noted how it, like AI, has the potential to significantly impact society. Craigslist itself disrupted newspapers and classified ads but also attracted criminal activity. The internet’s capacity to enable dishonesty and misinformation at scale took many by surprise.
Why is Newmark so keen to be involved?
Newmark’s interest in language-generating software, such as ChatGPT, dates back to the 1970s, though he initially struggled to comprehend it. Now, as the technology proliferates, he refrains from naming specific organizations causing societal discord through AI, instead relying on braver and smarter individuals to draw attention to these issues.
Protecting children from AI’s potential harms is a major concern for Newmark, driving his donation to Common Sense Media. He acknowledges the polarized and politicized nature of discussions on misinformation, journalism, and content moderation in recent times.
Within journalism, Newmark’s notable contributions include the Craig Newmark Graduate School in Journalism at the City University of New York and funding for The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom investigating the impact of technology on society.
While some of Newmark’s philanthropic efforts have been successful, he remains discreet about those that haven’t. He estimates his philanthropic success rate at 70% to 80%, acknowledging that it’s not perfect.
Still active
Newmark remains active online, particularly on X, where he promotes the work of teachers. However, he believes Twitter has lost its effectiveness as it relies more on algorithmic recommendations. He is exploring alternatives like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Meta’s Threads, which he finds reminiscent of the early internet’s slow growth.
Cybersecurity is another area of focus for Newmark, with a significant commitment to organizations combating cyber threats and sharing threat information.
In June, his philanthropy arm pledged $100 million to support veterans and military members facing housing and financial challenges, emphasizing the national security implications of their treatment.
Newmark concludes by emphasizing that his philanthropy is not driven by vanity or altruism but by values instilled in him from his upbringing. Giving brings him satisfaction, a sentiment that harks back to his Sunday school teachings.
