My thoughts on what's happening in the mad world of generative AI, announcing my new home online at robreid.substack.com, and more.

The After On Podcast

59: Generative AI | What’s New & What’s Next

USAID’s new “DEEP VZN” program aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses, then broadcast their genomes to the world, according to MIT evolutionary engineer Kevin Esvelt. He estimates that 30,000 people in dozens of countries could then easily assemble them.

58: Recipes for Future Plagues | Kevin Esvelt

A wide-ranging discussion of cognition in octopuses & cuttlefish, plus many, many other topics with globally renowned sensory ecologist Roger Hanlon.

57: Octopus Intelligence (and more!) | Roger Hanlon

Harvard epidemiologist Megan Murray tells us all about the anti-tuberculosis vaccine “BCG,” and the astonishing protection it may provide against Covid -- as well as looming future pandemics.

56: A Massive Future for an Old Vaccine? | Megan Murray

This is closely tied to a 4-hour collaboration between Sam Harris and me, which Sam is posting to his podcast's feed. I strongly recommend that episode too! But it's not "required" for you to get everything out of this fascinating conversation with Seth.

55: Detecting Disease Outbreaks from Internet Traffic | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

This "episode" is just a quick new announcement of a new season of the podcast (finally)! And also of something very cool that I'm working on with fellow podcaster Sam Harris.

54: Announcing a New Season

Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.  

53: The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated)

Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.

52: Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll

The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.

51: On Consciousness | Annaka Harris

This morning, TED posted a talk I just gave at their annual conference (on 11 days notice!). Kevin Rose interviewed me about my talk for his podcast. I’m posting his interview here as well.

50: About that TED Talk | Kevin Rose

The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

49: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 2) | Rick Doblin

48: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 1) | Rick Doblin

Stuart Russell’s textbook is used to teach AI in over 1,400 universities and 120 countries. If AI scares him, it should scare you too.

47. AI Boom, or Doom? | Stuart Russell

The food allergy epidemic is mysterious, volatile, and growing fast. Kari Nadeau and her Stanford team are trying to halt it.

46: Defeating Food Allergies | Kari Nadeau

A rampage killer with a knife can kill a few. With a gun, dozens. With a jetliner, way more. What might future tech enable? In Part Two of our conversation, Naval and I discuss "The Ender."And how to preclude this monstrosity.

45: End Games (part 2) | Naval Ravikant

We dive deep into the science, tech, and social issues explored in the novel "After On." It's NOT necessary to be an "After On" reader to listen, learn & enjoy this podcast!

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The After On Podcast

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