Episodes

Q* and OpenAI's Strange Loop: We Pecan't Even

Episode 10 · November 24, 2023 · 43:48

We break down all the recent events of AI, and live react to some of the news about OpenAI's new super-method, codenamed Q*. From CEOs to rogue AI's, no one can be trusted in today's...

OpenAI: Developers, Hegemons, and Origins

Episode 9 · November 10, 2023 · 47:56

We cover all things OpenAI as they embrace their role as a consumer technology company with their first developer keynote.Lots of links:Dev. day keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch...

Executive Orders, Safety Summits, and Open Letters, Oh My!

Episode 8 · November 3, 2023 · 53:02

We discuss all the big regulation steps in AI this week, from the Biden Administration's Executive Order to the UK AI Safety Summit. Links:Link the Executive OrderLink the Mozilla Op...

Transparency (Tom and Nate's Version)

Episode 7 · October 27, 2023 · 45:51

This week, we dunk on The Center for Research on Foundation Models's (Stanford) Foundation Model Transparency Index.Yes, the title is inspired by Taylor.Some links:The Index itself. ...

Techno-optimism: Safety, Ethics, or Fascism?

Episode 6 · October 20, 2023 · 41:28

Tom and Nate sit down to discuss Marc Andreessen's Techno-Optimist Manifesto. A third wave of AI mindsets that squarely takes on both AI Safety and AI Ethics communities.Some links: ...

Methods of Rationality in the Time of Hype

Episode 5 · October 13, 2023 · 53:58

This week, Tom and Nate discuss some of the core and intriguing dynamics of AI. We discuss the history of the rationality movement and where Harry Potter fan fiction fits in, if AI w...

Developing LLMs: Open, closed, or democratic?

Episode 4 · October 6, 2023 · 57:44

This is a big one. Getting going on if LLMs should be more open or more closed. We cover everything, OpenAI, scaling, openness for openness sake (relative to OpenAI), actual argument...

As Above, So Below: Alchemy, AI Safety, and RLHF

Episode 3 · September 29, 2023 · 57:36

Tom and Nate discuss a few core topics of the show. First, we touch base on the core of the podcast -- the difference between empirical science, alchemy, and magic. Next, we explain ...

AI in public: education, roads, and institutions

Episode 2 · September 22, 2023 · 50:23

Tom and Nate discuss some of the public institutions that form the bedrock of society -- education and roads -- and how AI is poised to shake them up.Some related reading on Intercon...

Alchemy, Oppenheimer, and the quest for AGI

Episode 1 · September 15, 2023 · 01:04:21

Tom and Nate discuss some of the most dominant metaphors in machine learning these days -- alchemy and deep learning's roots, the Oppenheimer film and a modern "Manhattan Project for...

Teaser: Welcome to The Retort

Trailer · September 6, 2023 · 05:32

A brief introduction to the many problems facing AI and a sneak peak into episode 1, coming soon!