Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence, discussing its current capabilities, future potential, and ethical considerations. From AI’s role in personal training and spam evolution to its application in coding and art generation, the hosts cover a broad spectrum. They highlight the efficiency and affordability of AI in creating content, including music and images, and ponder its impact on the creative industry. The conversation also touches on the regulatory landscape, with a particular focus on the EU’s approach to AI governance.
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through a variety of topics, starting with a real-world disaster involving a boat crash and a collapsed bridge. They speculate on the implications of tainted fuel and the role of the National Transportation Safety Board in such incidents. The conversation then shifts to the potential for economic and infrastructural disasters, including the hypothetical use of nuclear weapons to disrupt GPS systems. The hosts also discuss the fragility of modern infrastructure and the importance of disaster preparedness. The conversation takes a turn into the realm of technology and security, with a focus on the challenges posed by AI and deepfakes in authenticating identity. They explore the idea of a secure, emergency communication system to verify callers during crises. Finally, the hosts share their picks, including a book recommendation and thoughts on the Netflix adaptation of ‘The Three-Body Problem’, noting its strengths and weaknesses.
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dive into a variety of topics starting with Boom’s attempt to bring back supersonic flight, despite the historical and regulatory hurdles. They also touch on the story of a toxic cat in Japan that fell into a vat of chemicals, raising concerns about its whereabouts. The conversation shifts to the rapid advancements in AI, including its use in automating mundane tasks and its potential impact on various industries. The hosts share their excitement and concerns about the future of AI, emphasizing its role as a powerful tool rather than a wish-granting entity. The episode wraps up with discussions on the economic implications of AI and the importance of understanding its capabilities.
Picks:
Brian Brushwood: The Good Place
Justin Robert Young: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dive into a whirlwind of topics, starting with a unique birthday greeting from an internet celebrity to Justin, courtesy of Andrew. The conversation quickly shifts to the latest achievements in space exploration with SpaceX’s Starship making headlines. However, the meat of the discussion lies in the advancements in AI and robotics, particularly with a company integrating ChatGPT with robots to perform household tasks. The trio marvels at the rapid pace of technological advancements and speculates on the future implications for society, labor, and even off-world colonization. Amidst the awe, there’s a touch of concern about the societal adjustments required to embrace this new era.
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a chat about SpaceX’s upcoming Starship launch and the company’s approach to failure as a step towards innovation. They delve into the history of space travel, highlighting the Space Shuttle’s design compromises and the importance of testing. The conversation shifts to Apple’s VR headset, with Brian sharing his mixed feelings about its practicality and Apple’s missed opportunity to create compelling content for spatial computing. The trio then explores the ambitious project of resurrecting woolly mammoths by Colossal Biosciences, discussing the scientific and ethical implications. Lastly, they touch upon the intriguing possibility of naturally occurring hydrogen production within Earth, which could revolutionize energy sources.
In an episode that could be mistaken for a cryptic message left by time travelers, Andrew offers a brief apology to the Weird Things audience for the recent lack of episodes. He assures listeners that while the episodes have been recorded, changes in the backend process have led to a temporary blackout. The episode ends with a promise of a return to normalcy, leaving listeners to ponder the mysteries of what these ‘backend changes’ could entail.
OHO! BEHOLD WHAT MYSTERIES LAY BEYOND IN THE REALITY WHERE BRIAN GETS TO TYPE THIS TEXT HERE! YES! THE EPISODES WILL BE CAUGHT UP! YES! PATREON WILL GET CURRENT!
…But most importantly: yes. Nobody can stop Brian from writing whatever he wants here. ?
A Thai restaurant tried to game Google, but accidentally went viral. We knew Google paid Apple a lot to be the default search engine. We didn’t know it was *a lot.* The Humane AI Pin? Send your project questions/ideas to neshcom@gmail.com, subject line “After Things.”
Out of the fire and into the even hotter frying pan! The end of the iTunes brand? Millenial speak. Snoozing, but not necessarily losing. A 104-year-old silent film is found. Got something weird? Email neshcom@gmail.com, subject line “Weird Things.”
