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Jun 2024
1h 42m

Ep. 306: Defusing AI Panic

CAL NEWPORT
About this episode
One of the simmering concerns surrounding the current AI revolution is the fear that we might accidentally create an “alien mind” smarter than we expected. In this episode, Cal puts on his Computer Scientist hat and directly addresses this potential by sketching his emerging concept of intentional artificial intelligence (or, iAI for short). He then answers ... Show More
Up next
Nov 17
Ep. 379: The Flexibility Myth
<p>When companies began instituting return-to-office plans after the pandemic, a disproportionate number of women chose instead to leave the workforce. Why? The obvious answer is that they wanted the flexibility of remote work. But in this episode, Cal draws on a recent New York ... Show More
1h 55m
Nov 10
Ep. 378: The Lost Art of Long Thinking
<p>We often talk on this show about how digital devices undermine our ability to consume more complicated and meaningful ideas. But what about our ability to <i>produce</i> such ideas from scratch? In this episode, Cal identifies a key productive skill –  long thinking – that we’ ... Show More
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Nov 3
Ep. 377: The Case Against Superintelligence
<p>Techno-philosopher Eliezer Yudkowsky recently went on Ezra Klein's podcast to argue that if we continue on our path toward superintelligent AI, these machines will destroy humanity. In this episode, Cal responds to Yudkowsky’s argument point by point, concluding with a more ge ... Show More
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