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Episode 122 – Age of Mediocrity

Is there anything really excellent going on in our lives today? Join us as Jordan and Bobby continue to discuss the implications of social media, AI and other forms of modern copycat-ism and how it shapes our cultural identity.

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In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

Mark Twain

Referenced in the Podcast

7 Comments

  1. Dr Nick Riviera
    Dr Nick Riviera April 11, 2023

    On Age of Pisces vs Age of Aquarius — I share your view that we have essentially made the transition. Pisces is a sign of spirituality and ascent, or forever circling and retreading the same ground (among other things, of course). The glyph for Aquarius is waves, and as an air sign is often said to represent electromagnetic waves. If I had to pick a date for the beginning of the age of Aquarius, I’d nominate the invention of short-wave radio as a candidate. Today, we’re so inundated with EM waves of all varieties that touch literally every part of life that I think there’s no question the Age of Aquarius has begun.

  2. I play the radio
    I play the radio April 12, 2023

    “You’re not even willing to read 30 minutes”
    “Indoctrinated to the greatness of the state”
    “They’re trying to sell us this as if we’re some sort of college”
    “You could argue against it, but you’d be wrong”

  3. TBM
    TBM April 12, 2023

    Per our discussion around the 24 min mark:

    I’m definitely not taking Yudkowsky’s position of [shutting down all AI advancements, by force until governments can control it]

    I’m taking the position that this needs to become ubiquitous as quickly as possible so that gov’t can’t control it. Currently the picture version of AI, Stable Diffusion, is something that you can put on your computer at home and run it without needing big tech. The hope I have is for a similar thing with text AI.

    • TBM
      TBM April 13, 2023

      Whatever side Chuck Schumer is on, I generally don’t want to be on it:

      https://www.reuters.com/world/us/senate-leader-schumer-pushes-ai-regulatory-regime-after-china-action-2023-04-13/

      ************
      Schumer’s proposal would require companies to allow independent experts to review and test AI technologies ahead of public release or update, and give users access to findings. He has not yet drafted legislation.

      Schumer cited China’s release this week of its own approach to regulating AI, calling it “a wake-up call to the nation”.

      • Whitaker
        Whitaker April 17, 2023

        You wouldn’t want to write the legislation until you get the highest bid for bribes so you know which tech company to favor in your regulation. Did you know that some people think that regulation is actually meant to keep the consumer safe instead of to favor the well connected?

  4. TBM
    TBM April 12, 2023

    For the final exam I’m giving in a college class I’m asking a question, posting chatGPT’s answer to the question, and asking students to critique GPT’s answer.

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