>> TONIGHT ON KQED NEWSROOM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOLLS BUILT RIGHT HERE IN THE BAY AREA ARE CHANGING THE WORLD.
WE TALK WITH A CALIFORNIA úLAWMAKER WHO IS URGING CONGRES TO EXPLORE THIS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
A.I.
IS ALSO INFLUENCING THE ART WORLD.
WE TALK WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ABOUT HER INNOVATIVE FIRST SEASON OF SHOWS, WHICH INCLUDES A PIECE INSPIRED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
COMING TO YOU FROM KQED HEADQUARTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO, THIS FRIDAY MAY 12th, 2023, HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
I AM PRIYA DAVID CLEMENS.
IN THE 1950s, A SCIENTIST MADE UP THE IMITATION GAME.
A TEST OF WHETHER A COMPUTER CAN MAKE A HUMAN THINK THAT THEY WERE SPEAKING WITH ANOTHER HUMAN THEN WITH A COMPUTER.
IT BECAME KNOWN AS THE TURING TEST.
MANY SITE CURRENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOLLS CAN EASILY PASS THE TEST AND TO BECOME MORE INTELLIGENT THAN HUMANS.
ALTHOUGH THERE INTELLIGENCE IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND THAN PEOPLE.
SO WHAT SORTS OF THREATS AND BENEFITS TO THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES POST TO HUMANITY AND WHAT ARE OUR LEADERS DOING TO ADDRESS THESE TECTONIC SHIFTS?
SAM ALTMAN, THE MAKER OF CHATGPT, THE IMMENSELY POPULAR CHATBOT TOLL DRIVEN BY AIS HAD TO TESTIFY TO CONGRESS NEXT WEEK.
HE SAID, WE NEED OUR GLOBAL LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A REGULATORY FRAMEWOR FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY.
HE HAS ALSO SAID THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD BE UNBELIEVABLY GOOD OR COULD SPELL, QUOTE, LIGHTS OUT FOR ALL OF US.
REPRESENTATIVE TED LIEU FROM CALIFORNIA SHARES MANY OF THESE CONCERNS.
LIEU IS WORKING TO KEEP HUMANS, NOT COMPUTERS, AS THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKERS, PARTICULARLY IN NUCLEAR WAR THERE.
LIEU IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND SERVES ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE JUDICIARY AND SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEES.
REPRESENTATIVE LIEU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, PRIYA.
HONORED TO BE ON THE SHOW.
>> WE ARE SEEING THIS IN A MULTITUDE OF INDUSTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.
TELL ME ABOUT THIS HISTORIC MOMENT IN TIME.
WHAT YOU CALL THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION?
>> AS A COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR, I AM AMAZED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
WE HAVE SEEN ADVANCEMENTS FOR US IN EACH OF OUR DAILY LIVES, SUCH AS HELPING US NAVIGATE TO ANY LOCATION WITH A GPS ON OUR PHONES.
IT IS HELPING TO PROTECT OUR HOMELAND FROM ANY RISK OF CYBER ATTACKS, AND IT IS DOING A LOT IN WEATHER PREDICTION.
SO IT IS ALSO HELPING US.
BUT I CAN HARM US AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNIFICANT JOB DISPLACEMENT.
I LIKEN THIS TO THE STEAM ENGINE WHEN IT WAS LIKENED TO SOCIETY.
IS QUITE DISRUPTIVE.
BUT IN A FEW YEARS, IT WILL LOOK LIKE A SUPERSONIC JET ENGINE WITH A PERSONALITY AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
>> EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING SO FAST.
WE ARE ALL JUST TRYING TO COMPREHEND WITH THE CHANGES AHEAD LOOK LIKE.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT HOW A.I.
COULD TAKE JOBS AWAY.
WHAT SORT OF IMPACT YOU EXPECT A.I.
TO HAVE ON THE LABOR MARKET IN THE COMING YEARS?
>> I URGE EVERYON TO TRY CHAT GTP ON THE INTERNET.
IT IS FREE.
OR YOU COULD TRY MICROSOFT BING THAT USES THE SAME TECHNOLOGY.
GOOGLE HAS BARD WHICH DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR.
YOU WILL SEE HOW FAR A.I.
HAS, AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY A.I.
WILL START REPLACING SOME JOBS IN THE FUTURE.
SOME NEW JOBS WILL BE CREATED, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOME THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE RETRAIN PEOPLE FOR JOBS THAT MAY BE DISPLACED?
>> APP.
BECAUSE THOSE TOLLS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THEY CAN HELP YOU WRITE EVERYTHING FROM POEMS TO ESSAYS.
IT CAN HELP YOU CODE.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN DO.
WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT SCAMS STEMMING FROM A.I.
FOR EXAMPLES, THERE ARE TOLLS THAT LET A.I.
SAMPLE A HUMAN VOICE FOR JUST THREE SECONDS AND THEN CREATE AN ENTIRE VOICE, AND PEOPLE GET CALLS FROM FOLKS WHO SOUND LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER OUR BANK AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS TRUE.
DEEP FAKE VIDEO.
DEEP FAKE PHOTOS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE REALISTIC.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
HOW DO WE NAVIGATE THE WORLD WHEN WE CANNOT TRUST OUR EYES AND EARS TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUE AND WHAT IS FALSE ANYMORE?
>> I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, FIRST OF ALL, NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY READ ON THE INTERNET.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE A.I.
TOOLS AND SOFTWARE THAT CAN COUNTER BAD A.I.
FOR EXAMPLE, ADOBE IS WORKING ON A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN AUTHENTICATE IMAGES AND LET YOU KNOW IF IT WAS A REAL IMAGE OR ALTERED.
THERE MAY BE WAYS TO COUNTER SOME OF THEIR SCAMS THAT WE ARE SEEING.
BECAUSE THIS IS MOVING FAST, CONGRESS SHOULD CREATE A BIPARTISAN BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS TO HOW WE SHOULD REGULATE A.I.
AND WHAT KINDS OF A.I.
WE SHOULD REGULATE, AND I AM WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO DO JUST THAT.
>> YOU ALSO INTRODUCED A BILL TO BLOCK THE LAUNCH OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS UNLESS A HUMAN IS MAKING THE FINAL DECISION.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
WHY IS THIS LEGISLATION EVEN NECESSARY?
>> THIS LEGISLATION IS BICAMERAL.
WE HAVE SENATOR MARKEY INTRODUCING THE SAME LEGISLATION ON THE CENTER SIDE.
IT IS BIPARTISAN.
I HAVE INTRODUCED THIS WITH REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN KEN BOCK AND CONGRESSMAN DON BIER, A DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS WHAT ARE KNOWN AS AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS, WEAPONS THAT LAUNCH AUTOMATICALLY, AND WE SIMPLY WANT TO PUT IN A LAW THAT NO MATTER HOW AMAZING A.I.
GETS AND HOW SMART IT GETS, IT CAN NEVER LAUNCH A NUCLEAR WEAPON BY ITSELF.
THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A HUMAN IN THE LOOP.
THAT IS BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW A.I.
THANKS.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW IT GOES FROM POINT A TO THE CONCLUSION, BUT WE CANNOT EXACTLY TRACE HOW IT GETS THERE.
THAT IS VERY DISTURBING WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO US A LITTLE BIT, AS A FORMER COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR, AS A PERSON WHO IS USED TO TRANSLATING COMPLEX ISSUES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HOW IS IT WE HAVE THIS GENERAL TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN UNLEASHED INTO THE WORLD WITH NEW APPLICATIONS COMING EVERY DAY HOT AND HEAVY, FAST AND FURIOUS, AND YET WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW HOW IT WORKS?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
WHEN I WAS GETTING MY COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE, THERE WERE THESE FOLKS WORKING ON NEURAL NETWORKS.
WE SORT OF IGNORED THEM.
WE THOUGHT, OH, IT IS PIE IN THE SKY.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE COMPUTERS ACT LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.
LIKE, THAT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN.
THAT IS WHY VOICE RECOGNITION IS AMAZING.
YOU CAN SLUR YOUR WORDS OR HAVE ANY ACCENT YOU WANT AND YOU CAN HAVE IT UNDERSTAND WHAT FLIGHT YOU WANT TO GET ON.
EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF LARGE DATA AND PATTERNS IT CAN DO BETTER THAN HUMAN BEINGS.
THIS YEAR, WE SAW AN ADDITIONAL STEP.
INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING WHAT ARE PUPPIES AND WHAT ARE ELEPHANTS AND WHAT ARE CATS, NOW YOU TELL IT CAT, AND IT GENERATES 27 PICTURES OF CATS FOR YOU.
IT IS CREATING DATA FOR YOU NOW.
IT IS GENERATING CONTENT.
THAT IS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.
IT IS CALLED GENERATIVE A.I., AND THAT WILL LEAD TO A LOT OF GEARED APPLICATIONS TO SOCIETY AND AS WE SAID BEFORE IT WILL DISPLACE SOME JOBS.
>> ON MONDAY, CONGRESS WILL BE HEARING FROM SAN ALTMAN, THE MAKER OF CHAT GTP, WHICH WE REFERENCED, AND THEN HE WILL BE ATTENDING A BIPARTISAN DINNER WHICH YOU ORGANIZED.
WHAT SORT OF IMPACT ARE YOU HOPING THIS WILL HAVE?
>> I WANTED TO THANK SAN ALTMAN FOR COMING TO CONGRESS TO BRIEF LAWMAKERS.
I INVITED HIM TO A BIPARTISAN DINNER WE'RE HAVING NEXT WEEKEND WE ARE HAVING SOME VERY PATIENT LOTS OF INGRESS FROM LOTS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THERE IS A GREAT DEGREE OF THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE.
I THINK MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW, HOW DOES THIS A.I.
WORK.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HARMS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS?
YOU HAVE MEMBERS THERE WHO USE CHAT GTP EVERY DAY TO ASSIST WITH THEIR TASKS.
YOU HAVE MEMBERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CHAT GTP IS.
I THINK THAT REFLECTS A LOT OF AMERICA.
YOU HAVE VARIOUS DEGREE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS GET EVERYONE INFORMED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY, WHAT IT CAN DO, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RISKS.
>> LAST WEEK, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS MET WITH SEVERAL LEADERS OF THE COMPANY'S.
A NEW $140 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO SEVERAL NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESOURCE CENTERS IN AMERICA.
WHERE DO YOU THINK AMERICA STANDS IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS, RESEARCH, KNOWLEDGE, COMPARED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CHINA?
>> CHINA, RUSSIA, THE U.S., A LOT OF COUNTRIES ARE LOOKING AT A.I., AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE PURPOSES.
AND ALSO FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.
ISRAEL, BY THE WAY, IS ONE OF THE LEADING COUNTRIES IN COMMERCIALIZING A.I.
SO YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS.
IN TERMS OF A.I.
RESEARCH, THE U.S.
DOES PRETTY WELL.
WE HAVE AMAZING COMPANIES THAT HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS.
AND WE HAVE A FREE OPENED AND DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.
SO AMERICA'S WHERE IMMIGRANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH GREAT IDEAS CAN COME HERE AND KNOW THAT THEIR IDEA WILL BE PROTECTED WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND WHERE THE TALENT POOL CAN MAKE IT INTO REALITY.
>> HOW CAN PEOPLE BEST EQUIPPED THEMSELVES TO NOT ONLY LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS COMING, BUT TO HELP SHAPE THE COURSE THAT AMERICA TAKES OVER THE COMING YEARS, TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR JOB SECURITY, FOR PERSONAL SECURITY?
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE AS A SOCIETY WE HAVE THE SAFEST SYSTEM POSSIBLE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE AGENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT TRY TO MAKE SURE PRODUCTS ARE SAFE.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE A COMPUTER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION -- AND I MET WITH ONE OF THEIR COMMISSIONERS LATELY.
YOU HAVE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE CARS DO NOT KILL YOU.
RIGHT?
WE KNOW THAT A TESLA LAST NOVEMBER IN FULL A.I.
AUTOMATED DRIVING MODE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TUNNEL IN SAM FRANCISCO CAUSING A MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT INJURING MULTIPLE VICTIMS.
I THINK FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT A.I.
TO REALLY LOOK AT THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF A.I.
AND ANY OBJECT THAT CAN KILL US.
BECAUSE WHEN YOUR LAPTOP 50 MILES PER HOUR.
NOT GOING WE ALSO AS A SOCIETY NEED TO GET MORE INFORMED ON A.I.
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE A.I.
TO READ ABOUT IT.
TO WATCH YOUR SHOW.
TO LEARN ABOUT IT.
THE MORE WE GET INFORMED, THE BETTER WE WILL BE AT TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THE RISK AND BENEFITS OF A.I.
AND FOR PEOPLE TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS.
I VOTE OVER 1000 TIMES IN OUR LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.
AND OVER 80% OF THOSE VOTES, I DO NOT GET A SINGLE PHONE CALL, EMAIL, OR MEETING.
SO WHEN YOU COME IN OR WRITE A EMAIL AND DEMAND A MEETING WITH A LEGISLATOR OF YOUR STAFF, THAT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
>> CONGRESSMAN TO LOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>>> SAM FRANCISCO HAS THE OLDEST BELLY COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE SECOND AFTER NEW YEAR.
THE FIRST WOMAN EVER IN THE POSITION.
SHE HAS COME FROM THE UK WHERE SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL DANCER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH HER TO DISCUSS THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE SAM FRANCISCO BALLET.
TAMARA, TELL ME HOW YOU ARE LIKING SAM FRANCISCO AND HOW IT MATCHES IN YOUR HEAD OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE.
>> I REALLY, REALLY LIKE IT.
IT IS SO DIVERSE.
YOU CAN FIND AMAZING FOOD FROM SO MANY DIFFEREN CULTURES.
I AM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WEATHER.
>> GOOD LUCK.
ESPECIALLY THIS SEASON WITH ALL THE RAIN THAT WE HAVE HAD AN AWESOME GLORIOUS SUNSHINE.
>> YEAH.
IT IS LOVELY.
>> SO YOU ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY AWARDED.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARD.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A GOLD MEDAL FROM THE KENNEDY CENTER.
THE KING OF SPAIN HIMSELF HAS DECORATED YOU THREE TIMES WITH SPAIN'S HIGHEST HONORS.
WHAT IS IT THAT MOTIVATES YOU AS A DANCER AND AS A ARTIST?
>> I GENERALLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PERFORMING ARTS OR ANY ARCH, BUT PARTICULARLY IN PERFORMING ARTS TO CHANGE PEOPLE LIKE FOR THE BETTER.
IT IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LAST YEARS AND SHARE A COMMON EXPERIENCE AND FIND WHAT MAKES US THE SAME AND THE THINGS THAT UNITE US AS HUMAN BEINGS.
I LOVE WHEN CHILDREN COME TO THE BALLET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SEE AN ORCHESTRA PERFORMING LIVE AND SEE A WAVE OF EXPRESSIONS AND EMOTIONS THAT IS DIFFERENT AND IT IS JOYOUS.
SO THAT IS WHAT MOTIVATES ME.
SHARING THE ART FORM.
>> DID YOU YOURSELF FALL IN LOVE WITH BALLET AS A CHILD?
>> I DID, BUT NOT WATCHING A PERFORMANCE.
I STEPPED BY ACCIDENT INTO A BALLET CLASS.
>> BY ACCIDENT?
>> BY ACCIDENT.
YES.
I WAS WAITING FOR MY MOM AND SHE WAS RUNNING A BIT LATE AND IT WAS RAINY.
A TEACHER FROM THE SCHOOL SAID, COME INTO THE GYM.
WE ARE DOING BALLET.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS, BUT THE GYM WAS WARM.
I FOUND BALLET AND INITIALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
>> HOW OLD WERE YOU?
>> I WAS SIX.
>> YOU CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
WHEN DID YOU START PROFESSIONALLY PERFORMING?
>> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LATE.
I JUST ENJOYED THE FREEDOM THAT BALLET GAVE ME.
THE EMOTIONAL FREEDOM AND -- I DON'T KNOW -- THERE WAS SOMETHING QUITE LIBERATING ABOUT BEING IN A BALLET STUDIO.
THEN I WATCHED A PERFORMANCE AND THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT SHOCKING BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW BALLET WAS A PERFORMING ARTS.
I THOUGHT BALLET IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STUDIO AND THEN YOU BECAME THE BALLET TEACHER.
AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT TAKEN BACK.
BUT I JUST LOVED DOING IT SO MUCH.
THE KIND OF SLOWLY EVOLVED INTO A SITUATION WHERE I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A MORE PROFESSIONAL AMBITION.
IN A WAY, IT JUST WAS A NATURAL EVOLUTION FOR ME.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY PUSH OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE JOY OF DANCING.
>> ONE WAS YOUR FIRST BIG BREAK?
>> ACTUALLY, IT WAS WHEN I WAS 19.
I WAS ALREADY A PROFESSIONAL.
I STARTED DANCING IN A SMALL COMPANY IN MADRID WHEN I WAS 16.
AND THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN PARIS.
I DECIDED AT THE LAST MINUTE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND I DECIDED TO JUST DRIVE BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE I REALLY WAS IN THE INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE.
YOU KNOW?
I FELT THAT SO FAR, I HAD BEEN KIND OF PROTECTED BY BEING IN A LOCAL COMPANY THAT CAME FROM MY SCHOOL.
AND I WAS NOT SURE IF I WAS REALLY ANY GOOD AT IT.
SO I WENT TO PARIS AND I WON, AND THAT OPENED ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THAT.
>> BALLET DANCERS HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BEING EXTREMELY TOUGH.
AND YOU, YOURSELF, ONCE DANCE AN ENTIRE PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER WITH A BURST APPENDIX.
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT DRIVE?
I THINK OUR PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH IS CHANGING OVER THE YEARS.
WE THINK MORE ABOUT WELLNESS, ABOUT MENTAL WELLNESS, ABOUT PHYSICAL WELLNESS.
IS THAT A LEGACY THAT SHOULD úCONTINUE OR SHOULD WE CHANGE THAT PERSPECTIVE?
>> ABSOLUTELY, WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYBODY PERFORM WITH A BURST APPENDIX.
I DID NOT KNOW I HAD A BURST APPENDIX, BUT NEVERTHELESS, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND CERTAINLY SINCE I HAVE COME HERE, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT, THE MEDICAL SUPPORT, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT, THE NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, TO THE DANCERS.
AND I WANT AN ENVIRONMENT OF HEALTHY DANCERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE AS LONG A CAREER AS POSSIBLE, AND AS HEALTHY AND FULFILLING A CAREER AS POSSIBLE.
SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT PUSH THAT MANY ATHLETES AND MANY DANCERS SHARE TO BECOME YOUR BEST.
YOU WANT TO BE YOUR BEST.
YOU WANT TO BE BETTER THAN YESTERDAY.
THAT IS A NATURAL THING THAT MANY HUMANS HAVE.
THAT INSTINCT OF SEPARATION OF YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS.
BUT THAT HAS TO BE BALANCED WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A LONG JOURNEY AHEAD OF YOU, AND ALSO THERE IS A LIFE AFTER DANCING.
>> SO, FOR YOU, YOU ARE STEPPING INTO THAT LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ACTUALLY STOPPED DANCING.
ARE YOU FULLY RETIRED?
ARE YOU GOING TO RETURN TO THE STAGE AT SOME POINT?
>> FULLY RETIRED.
IF I EVER SAY I AM COMING BACK, I WANT SOMEBODY TO HIT ME ON THE HEAD.
I HAD THE BEST CAREER.
I WAS SO FULFILLED AND DID SO MANY THINGS I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE.
>> SUCH AS?
>> JUST PERFORMING IN THE BEST THEATERS IN THE WORLD AND WITH THE BEST PARTNERS.
AND DOING THINGS THAT ANY BALLERINA COULD DREAM OF.
I MEAN, I GENERALLY LIVED THE DREAM.
I AM ALSO VERY AWARE THAT WHAT I WANT TO DO NOW IS CREATE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER DANCERS TO CREATE THEIR OWN ASPIRATIONS AND DREAMS.
NO INTENTION OF GOING BACK ON THE STAGE.
>> WELL, YOU ARE STEPPING INTO A STORIED INSTITUTION.
YOUR PREDECESSOR HAD BEEN THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HERE FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
AND IT WAS PLANNED THAT YOU WILL COME AND TAKE OVER FOR HIM.
YOU ARE CURRENTLY FINISHING UP HIS SEASON, WHAT HE HAD PLANNED.
AND, NEXT SEASON, IT IS ALL YOURS.
WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR US?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE?
>> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT NEXT SEASON.
I AM EXCITED BECAUSE I AM BRINGING NEW ARTISTS THAT HAVE NEVER WORKED IN SAM FRANCISCO.
I AM BRINGING BALLETS THAT I KNOW THE DANCERS ARE REALLY EAGER TO PERFORM AND HAVE RARELY SEEN, LIKE PIECES CREATED BY RUDOLPH MARIANNE WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF THEIR OWN HERE IN SAM FRANCISCO.
WE ARE INVITING THE CREATION OF A NEW CARMEN FOR US.
I AM BRINGING IN A PIECE ABOUT FREDA CALLOW.
AND A BIG PIECE OF WORK FOR AN AMAZING COMPOSER, SAM SHEPPARD, CALLED "MERE MORTALS," AROUND THE MORAL QUESTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME OR HAVING A FULL LENGTH BY A FEMALE CHOREOGRAPHER IN SAM FRANCISCO BALLET.
WE ARE ALSO BRINGING IN SOME FAVORITE FAMILY SHOWS.
YOU KNOW?
NUTCRACKER.
SWAN LAKE.
SO MUCH IS NEW, BUT SO MUCH OF THE OWNERS ARE ON LEGACY.
>> SO THERE ARE SOME THAT IS FAMILIAR AND SOME THAT IS PUSHING INTO NEW TERRITORY?
LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BALLET THAT IS LOOKING AT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
YOU ARE IN THE CENTER WHERE SO MANY COMPANIES ARE BUILDING OUT THAT TECHNOLOGY.
WHAT IS IT THAT DREW YOU TO BLENDING THE ART FORM AND THIS TECH?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY MOTIVATES ME IS TO MAKE SURE THE ART FORM IS RELEVANT, THAT WE ARE SPEAKING STORIES OR TELLING STORIES THAT ARE -- THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO THE AUDIENCE OF TODAY, AND THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY ALSO REACH INTO AUDIENCES THAT HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED BALLET AS AN ART FORM FOR THEM.
I THINK ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THE MORAL QUESTION OF OUR TIME.
AND LIKE EVERY TIME THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRICE TO PAY.
AND, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE IDEA WITH SOME, WE WERE THINKING, WHAT OTHER MOMENT IN TIME HAVE HUMAN BEINGS BEEN IN THIS CROSS WORLDS?
AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS CONSTANT.
THE STEALING OF FIRE, WHICH DREW US TO THE PANDORA METHOD, WHICH IS WHAT "MERE MORTALS" IS ABOUT.
I FEEL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS OPENING THE BOX, AND WE DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT IS COMING OUT.
BUT IT SEEMS THAT HUMANITY ALWAYS PUSHES FORWARD.
AND AT WHATEVER COST.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS IN A WAY BY BRINGING THIS WORK.
QUESTIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING OURSELVES.
>> FOR THE FIRST FEMALE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HERE.
DO YOU THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHAT GENDER YOU ARE IN THAT ROLE?
YOU ALSO MENTIONED THERE IS A FEMALE CHOREOGRAPHER WORKING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A FULL- LENGTH PIECE HERE.
WHAT IS THE SHIFT THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING WOMEN INTO THESE POSITIONS?
>> HAS A QUESTION I HAVE ASKED MYSELF MANY TIMES.
I THINK I DID NOT GET THE JOB BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN.
I GOT THE JOB BECAUSE I HAVE A CURRICULUM.
HOPEFULLY, MY VISION WAS THE RIGHT VISION FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
THEN BUT, OF COURSE, I DO HAVE MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND I HAVE MY OWN BIASES WHEN I AM REACHING OUT TO COLLABORATORS, PERHAPS, OR DISCUSSING STORY LINES ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE WITH OTHER ARTISTS AND COMMISSION.
SO IT WILL INFLUENCE, OBVIOUSLY, MY DECISIONS BECAUSE IT IS MY LIFE AND MY PERSPECTIVE.
BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT I WOULD GENERALIZE IN TERMS OF, IS THERE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
WHEN I WAS A DIRECTOR OF ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET, I COMMISSIONED OVER 40 WOMEN DURING 10 YEARS TO CREATE WORKS.
TO SAY THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEMALE CHOREOGRAPHERS AND MALE CHOREOGRAPHERS AND MY TAKE WAS THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS, AND THAT EACH OF THOSE CHOREOGRAPHERS WAS DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER.
I AM NOT SURE I WILL BE AS CLEAR-CUT AS THAT.
>> WOULD YOU LAY OUT FOR ME WHAT YOUR VISION IS FOR SAM FRANCISCO BALLET GOING FORWARD?
>> MY VISION IS TO BUILD ON THE LEGACY OF PREVIOUS DIRECTORS, AND TO CURRENT CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR FRONT FOOT FORWARD, TO BRING THE BEST POSSIBLE DANCE AND THE BEST POSSIBILITY TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE AND TO OPEN IT UP TO NEW AUDIENCES AND NEW CREATIVE'S AND TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF SAM FRANCISCO.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NEW AUDIENCES, BELLY IS NOT ALWAYS INEXPENSIVE.
IT CAN FEEL LIKE IT IS INACCESSIBLE, SOMETHING THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT.
IS NOT PART OF THEIR WORLD EVERY DAY.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE NEW AUDIENCES?
>> I THINK IT IS BY OPENING THE ART FORM TO NEW COLLABORATORS.
THAT BRINGS STORIES THAT PERHAPS RESONATE WITH AUDIENCES THAT HAVE NOT CONSIDERED COMING TO SEE US PERFORM BEFORE.
BY TELLING THE STORIES THAT CHILDREN WANT TO SEE AND THEIR FAMILIES WANT TO BRING THEM TO.
BY REACHING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY'S.
WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK.
WE WANT TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR CITY AND IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE ARE GOING TO KIND OF DIG DEEPER INTO THAT SIDE OF WHAT WE DO.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF PEOPLE'S CULTURE AND PART OF THE IDENTITY OF THIS CITY.
AND UNQUESTIONABLE PART OF THIS CITY.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE ARE PLANNING IN TERMS OF WHERE WE PERFORM, WHAT WE PERFORM, WHEN WE PERFORM.
HOPEFULLY, SOME OF THOSE PERCEPTIONS MAY BE SHIFTED.
>> TAMARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> STICKING WITH THE ARTS, SINCE 2009, THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM HAS ALLOWED VISITORS TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE PERSONAL LIFE AND LEGACY OF WALT DISNEY.
JOIN US AS WE TRAVEL TO TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THIS ICONIC ESTABLISHMENT FOR THIS WEEK'S LOOK AT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WHAT A FUN PLACE.
THAT IS THE END OF OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.
WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WITH US, YOU CAN EMAIL US OR FIND OUR NEWSROOM ONLINE OR ON TWITTER AND YOU CAN REACH ME ON LINKEDIN AT PRIYADCLEMENS.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
