logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
57m 16s

From the Vault: The Machine Speaks

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Long before such things were possible, our ancestors envisioned artificial heads that were capable of speech. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the journey from ancient tales of artifice and wizardry to the early breakthroughs in speech synthesis technology. (originally published 06/29/2023)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
From the Vault: The Burning Mountains of Io, Part 3
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe return once more to the Jovian moon of Io, to discuss more recent findings about its volcanism and geology, as well as a look at the mythology behind its name. (part 3 of 3) (originally published 2/13/2025)See omn ... Show More
49m 38s
Feb 13
Weirdhouse Cinema: Magic of Spell
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the wild world of Taiwanese fantasy with 1988’s “Magic of Spell,” a direct sequel to “Child of Peach” from the previous year. It’s once again directed by Chung-Hsing Chao, stars Hsiao-Lao Lin and is totally bonkers. See ... Show More
1h 29m
Feb 12
STBYM: Biophilia and Pokémon
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the possible effect that the Pokémon franchise has had on the natural sciences during its three decades of pop culture dominance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 4m
Recommended Episodes
May 2020
48: Thinking Machines (Philosophical Basis of Artificial Intelligence)
Machines, during the lifetime of anyone who is listening to this, have advanced and revolutionized the way that we live our lives. Many listening to this, for example, have lived through the rise of smart phones, 3d printing, massive advancements in lithium ion batteries, the Int ... Show More
54m 44s
Jan 2025
CLASSIC: The Rise of the Chimera
From ancient stories of shapeshifters to works of fiction like "The Island of Dr. Moreau", humanity has always been fascinating with the line between people and non-human animals -- but modern technology may finally allow us to create real-life chimeras. In fact, it already has. ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 2024
The AI-powered tools supercharging your imagination
The TED AI Show is going on a short summer break! In the meantime, we're sharing a special episode of TED Tech, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective that we think you'll love. Listen every Friday as TED speakers explore the way tech shapes how we think about society, sci ... Show More
18m 20s
Mar 2025
Good Robot #1: The magic intelligence in the sky
Before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many billionaires and tech leaders worried about… paper clips? This is the first episode of our new four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. ... Show More
49m 41s
Oct 2025
929: Dragon Hatchling: The Missing Link Between Transformers and the Brain, with Adrian Kosowski
Breaking news: Jon Krohn welcomes Adrian Kosowski to the show to talk about the groundbreaking research happening at Pathway. Adrian and his team demonstrate how they have brought attention in AI closer to the way the brain functions, creating, in essence, a “massively parallel s ... Show More
1h 14m
Sep 2025
Unpacking the Brain’s Role in Inventing Your Perception
Human brains don’t just perceive reality—they invent it. In this episode of Science Quickly, cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Yon speaks with host Rachel Feltman about how perception is an active process of prediction in which the brain constructs theories about the world that can ... Show More
15m 37s
Sep 2024
Selects: How Futurology Works
Science fiction writers have made some amazingly accurate predictions over the years, but in 1945 the pace of technological change created a field that spun off of sci-fi forecasting, futurology. Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/li ... Show More
39m 55s