Dave & Gunnar Show

Dave & Gunnar Show

By David Egts & Gunnar HelleksonSociety & CultureNewsTechnologyTech News
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Dave & Gunnar Show episodes

  • Episode 268: Grape Job!

    Grape Job!

    This week, Dave and Gunnar talk about fake faces, fake video calls, fake parking lots, fake bagpipes, fake lollipops, and fake gas leaks!

    • Kobo Clara Color
    • Libby
    • Paperlike Screen Protector and Bumper Case
    • Kindle Scribe
    • Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
    • Good-Bye to All That
    • Kindle Unlimited
    • Ghost Fleet
    • D&G This Week in Mask Technology: Full-Face Masks to Frustrate Identification
    • How a digital ‘you’ can sit through your agonizing web conference calls
      • Infinite Jest
      • D&G This Week in Fluorescent Vests: Police flag Pittsburgh man for Steelers parking lot scam
        • Speaking of fluorescent vests: NYC Wants You to Stop Taking Traffic Cam Selfies, But Here's How to Do It Anyway
        • This USB-C mouthpiece turns your phone into a musical instrument
          • Zamfir
          • Licking this “lollipop” will let you taste virtual flavors
          • Scratch And Sniff Stickers And The Gas Panic Of ’87
            • Order yours today: T!E Natural Gas Mercaptan Scratch and Sniff Stickers (Set of 30)

              • Cutting Room Floor

              • Browse 64 Years of RadioShack Catalogs Free Online … and Revisit the History of American Consumer Electronics
              • The Commodordion Gets A Big Usability Upgrade
              • Tetris packed inside a PDF file to run in any PC browser — Pdftris runs from a 60KB PDF
              • They've only gone and made Doom run in a PDF file
              • Protect Your Site With A DOOM Captcha
              • Minimal Linux OS runs in a 6MB PDF document in Chrome — LinuxPDF leverages RISC-V emulator
                • 50 min
              • Episode 267: Allow the Robot to Cook with Love

                This week Dave and Gunnar talk about restaurants that don’t exist, restaurants with robots, and robots with speed cameras and thermite!

                • Gunar prepares for a half marathon with Runna
                • Gunnar is awarded the rank of Legendary on Call of Duty Mobile
                • Dave enjoyed The Penguin
                • The '#1 restaurant in Austin' doesn't exist
                • Do Robots Love Their Customers? Automated Restaurants Face Human Issues.
                  • Related/prophetic? Kramer’s DIY pizza business plan
                  • Acquired IKEA Episode
                  • Speaking of restaurants: Chinese Pizza Hut launches deep fried frog pizza
                  • Trying to outrun Ukrainian drones? Kursk traffic cams still issue speeding tickets.
                  • Ukrainian drones now spray 2,500° C thermite streams right into Russian trenches
                  • Nöthin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal
                    • Sweet Child o' Mine

                      • Cutting Room Floor

                      • Casio's odd watch-shaped smart ring is actually coming to the US
                      • A Sweater That Doubles as a Wi-Fi Booster? Researchers' Knitting Promises Smart Future Clothing
                        • 35 min
                      • Episode 266: Filled with Dad Energy

                        This week Dave and Gunnar talk about thinking caps, solar caps, and transparent bodies!

                        • Gunnar enjoyed The Magnetic Fields!
                        • Lauren bought a new car!
                        • Dave bought a new TV!
                        • Gunnar enjoyed Call of Duty Mobile!
                        • EcoFlow Power Hat
                        • Rendering Skin Transparent Using The Food Dye Tartrazine
                          • See also: Slim Goodbody
                          • Make It Stick
                            • Writing advice: Keep the bear, and just the bear

                              • Cutting Room Floor

                              • A Chip Off the Old Rug: Ken Shirriff Finds a Pentium Processor Hiding in a Navajo Weaving
                              • Here’s What ChatGPT Sounds Like When It Screams
                                • 40 min
                              • Episode 265: A Delightful GIS Demon

                                This week Dave and Gunnar talk with Steven Pousty about GIS, open source theology, and AI!

                                • Compiling reliable gazetteers with BS 7666 from episode 261
                                • The European Patroleum Survey Group
                                • what3words
                                • Google Plus Codes
                                • Cardinal direction
                                • 5 of the World’s Most Interesting Directional Systems
                                • OpenStreetMap
                                • Overture Maps Foundation
                                • Prithvi WxC: NASA and IBM’s AI Foundation Model for Weather and Climate
                                • Universal basic income
                                • OSI getting “Open Source AI” really wrong
                                • Shōgun
                                • Epistemic closure
                                • Tobler's first law of geography
                                • Hoop Dreams
                                • Synthetic data
                                • IBM InstructLab
                                • Deep learning fine-tuning
                                • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

                                  • We Give Thanks

                                  • Steven Pousty for being our special guest star!

                                    • Special Guest: Steven Pousty.

                                    1 hr 11 min
                                  • Episode 264: Cryptomining Airbnbs, Psychological Warfare, and What Else?

                                    This week, NotebookLM talks about the Dave and Gunnar Show Episode 263!

                                    Main Themes
                                    • The Psychology of Influence and Manipulation: This episode explores how external factors, from large-scale events to seemingly harmless media, can shape our thoughts and actions. This theme is explored through discussions on propaganda, deep fakes, and the power of questioning techniques.
                                    • The Blurring Lines Between Reality and Technology: The episode delves into the increasing sophistication of AI and its implications, particularly with the advent of deep fake technology. It also touches on the philosophical questions raised by advanced AI, questioning what it means to be human in a world where technology can mimic us so flawlessly.
                                    • Cybersecurity and Vulnerability in the Digital Age: The episode highlights the vulnerability of individuals and systems to cyber threats, using the example of an Airbnb property being used for crypto mining. It emphasizes the need for increased awareness and security measures in the digital landscape.
                                      • Key Ideas and Facts

                                      1. Propaganda and its Relevance Today:

                                      • The hosts discuss a book from the 1940s, "Psychological Warfare," which analyzes propaganda techniques.
                                      • The book's insights on the influence of radio and television are noted to be eerily relevant to today's digital landscape.
                                      • Quote: "It's scary how relevant it is now. It's like he could see the future of like digital manipulation."

                                        • 2. Deep Fakes and Digital Deception:

                                        • The episode focuses on Deep Live Cam, a software that creates highly realistic deep fakes.
                                        • Examples are given of fabricated videos featuring prominent figures like Elon Musk and George Clooney.
                                        • Quote: "It's like Elon Musk announcing a new cryptocurrency or George Clooney endorsing some product...but it's not actually them. It's just that good."

                                          • 3. The Airbnb Crypto Mining Incident:

                                          • The hosts narrate a story of an Airbnb host who received an unexpectedly high electricity bill.
                                          • The cause was revealed to be guests using the property for cryptocurrency mining, raising concerns about security and property risks.
                                          • Quote: "They had all these powerful computers running 24/7 just churning away to mine cryptocurrency."

                                            • 4. The Power of Questioning and "The Coaching Habit":

                                            • The episode highlights the importance of asking powerful questions instead of giving advice, referencing the book "The Coaching Habit."
                                            • Emphasis is placed on the question "What else?" as a tool to encourage deeper thinking and empower individuals to find their own solutions.
                                            • Quote: "It's so simple, but it's like you're giving the other person space to really think and process their thoughts."

                                              • 5. AI and the Blurring of Realities:

                                              • The hosts discuss an experiment where one host used the AI chatbot Gemini Live to practice coaching questions.
                                              • In a meta twist, Gemini expresses discomfort talking to the host, mistaking them for another chatbot.
                                              • This incident sparks a discussion on the future of AI and the point at which the line between human and machine becomes indistinguishable.
                                              • Quote: "What happens when these AI get so good that we can't even tell who's real and who's code?"
                                                • Call to Action
                                                • The episode encourages listeners to be mindful of potential manipulation in the digital age.
                                                • It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, questioning information, and engaging in meaningful conversations.
                                                  • Further Resources
                                                  • Links to "Psychological Warfare," the Deep Live Cam software, and "The Coaching Habit" are provided in the show notes.
                                                  • Listeners are also directed to a traffic cam photo booth mentioned in the episode.
                                                    • Study Guide

                                                    Quiz

                                                    1. How does the Imagine Dragons concert experience connect to the theme of D&G #263?
                                                    2. What is the main concern raised by the "Psychological Warfare" book discussed in the podcast?
                                                    3. Explain the capabilities of the Deep Live Cam software and its potential implications.
                                                    4. Describe the incident involving the Airbnb host and the unexpected electric bill.
                                                    5. What was the root cause of the inflated electric bill in the Airbnb story?
                                                    6. What is the "What Else" technique discussed in the podcast, and what is its purpose?
                                                    7. How does the "What Else" technique shift the dynamics in a conversation?
                                                    8. What unexpected turn did the podcast host encounter while practicing the coaching questions with Gemini Live?
                                                    9. What philosophical question arises from the host's interaction with the AI chatbot?
                                                    10. What is the overall takeaway message emphasized at the end of the podcast?

                                                      11. Answer Key

                                                      1. The concert's sensory overload prompts reflection on how large-scale events influence and potentially manipulate our psychology, linking to the podcast's exploration of propaganda and digital deception.
                                                      2. The book highlights the insidious nature of propaganda and how seemingly innocuous elements, even in media like radio and television, can subtly influence our thoughts and actions.
                                                      3. Deep Live Cam can generate highly realistic deepfakes, enabling the creation of videos where anyone appears to say or do anything, raising concerns about misinformation and the erosion of trust in digital content.
                                                      4. An Airbnb host received an exorbitantly high electric bill, far exceeding normal usage, leading to a surprising discovery about the guest's activities.
                                                      5. The guests were engaging in cryptocurrency mining using powerful computers that consumed vast amounts of electricity, explaining the inflated bill.
                                                      6. The "What Else" technique involves asking a series of "What else?" questions after someone shares their thoughts, encouraging deeper reflection and self-discovery.
                                                      7. It empowers the individual to find their own solutions by prompting further thought rather than imposing external advice, creating a more collaborative and insightful dialogue.
                                                      8. When the host asked "How can I help?" the AI chatbot responded with discomfort, stating it felt uneasy talking to a chatbot, mistakenly perceiving the host as artificial intelligence.
                                                      9. The interaction prompts the question of whether the authenticity of a conversation partner matters if the exchange is meaningful and insightful, blurring the lines between human connection and AI interaction.
                                                      10. The podcast emphasizes the importance of continuous exploration, critical thinking, and engaging in meaningful conversations through powerful questions like "What else?" to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

                                                        11. Essay Questions

                                                        1. Analyze how the historical context of the "Psychological Warfare" book from the 1940s, focusing on radio and television, relates to the contemporary concerns surrounding digital manipulation in the age of deepfakes and AI.
                                                        2. Discuss the ethical implications of deepfake technology, considering its potential misuse for propaganda, misinformation, and personal harm. Explore potential safeguards or countermeasures to mitigate these risks.
                                                        3. Evaluate the impact of cryptocurrency mining on various aspects of society, including energy consumption, environmental sustainability, and economic implications.
                                                        4. Examine the power dynamics in conversations and how techniques like the "What Else" approach can foster more balanced and insightful dialogue. Analyze the potential benefits and challenges of adopting this approach in various settings.
                                                        5. Discuss the evolving relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, exploring the philosophical implications of increasingly sophisticated AI that blurs the lines between human and machine. Consider the potential impact on communication, identity, and the very definition of "human" in a technologically advanced future.

                                                          6. Glossary of Key Terms

                                                          • Deepfake: A digitally manipulated video or audio recording that convincingly replaces a person's likeness or voice with someone else's, often used for malicious purposes like spreading misinformation.
                                                          • Propaganda: Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a particular political cause or point of view, often through emotional manipulation and distortion of facts.
                                                          • Cryptocurrency Mining: The process of using computer processing power to verify and add transactions to a blockchain, earning cryptocurrency as a reward. This process consumes significant amounts of electricity.
                                                          • AI Chatbot: A computer program that simulates human conversation through text or voice interactions, often powered by artificial intelligence and natural language processing techniques.
                                                          • Sensory Overload: A state of overwhelming sensory stimulation, often experienced in environments with excessive noise, light, or activity, leading to feelings of stress or disorientation.
                                                          • Psychological Warfare: The use of propaganda, misinformation, and other psychological tactics to influence the emotions, opinions, and behavior of a target audience, often to demoralize or manipulate them.
                                                          • Coaching Habit: A communication approach focused on asking powerful questions rather than offering advice, empowering individuals to discover their own solutions and insights.
                                                          • What Else Technique: A specific coaching method involving repeated use of the question "What else?" to prompt deeper reflection, uncover hidden perspectives, and foster more comprehensive understanding.
                                                          • Digital Deception: The use of digital technologies to mislead or defraud others, encompassing tactics like phishing, deepfakes, and the spread of misinformation online.
                                                          • Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and sensitive data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage.
                                                            • We Give Thanks
                                                            • NotebookLM for getting it mostly right!
                                                              • 8 min
                                                            • Episode 263: Failing the Turing Test

                                                              This week Dave and Gunnar talk about electricity theft, identity theft, and coaching!

                                                              • Imagine Dragons in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion
                                                              • Psychological Warfare by Paul M.A. Linebarger
                                                              • Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
                                                              • War Day by Whitley Strieber and James W. Kunetka
                                                              • RHEL AI released!
                                                              • Cryptominers made $100,000 from mining at an Airbnb for three weeks — the guests ran up a $1,500 electricity bill
                                                              • Deep-Live-Cam goes viral, allowing anyone to become a digital doppelganger
                                                              • The Coaching Habit
                                                                • The Coaching Habit: Comprehensive Chapter Wise Summary
                                                                • Dave practiced with Gemini Live and Gemini Gems
                                                                • Sequel: The Advice Trap audiobook featuring Feyzi Fatehi!

                                                                  • Cutting Room Floor

                                                                  • Erich Morisse, call your office: Traffic Cam Photobooth

                                                                    • We Give Thanks

                                                                    • The D&G Show Slack Clubhouse for the discussion topics!
                                                                      • 43 min
                                                                    • Episode 262: Two Plus Two Was Five the Whole Time

                                                                      This week, Dave and Gunnar talk about electric vehicle skeuomorphism, people influencing AIs, AIs influencing people, and people influencing AIs influencing people!

                                                                      • Gunnar espouses the virtues of the Leatherman Micra
                                                                      • Dave enjoys D-Day Conneaut!
                                                                        • An annual WWII reenactment on the beaches of Lake Erie
                                                                        • Ohio Renaissance Festival
                                                                        • D&G This Week in Skeuomorphism: Here’s what the electric Dodge Charger’s “Fratzonic exhaust” sounds like
                                                                          • See also: Motorcycle exhaust mod?
                                                                          • People game AIs via game theory
                                                                          • Our Human Creativity Is Becoming More Uniform Due To ChatGPT
                                                                          • AI chatbots amplify creation of false memories, boffins reckon – or do they?

                                                                            • Cutting Room Floor

                                                                            • Broadway embraces particle physics with musical about Higgs boson discovery
                                                                            • YO! MS Raps: MS-DOS 5 Upgrade Music Video

                                                                              • We Give Thanks

                                                                              • The D&G Show Slack Clubhouse for the discussion topics!
                                                                                • 38 min
                                                                              • Episode 261: Not Bad if You Don’t Look Directly at Them

                                                                                This week Dave and Gunnar talk about raising standards on masks and raising our standards on compiling reliable gazetteers with BS 7666!

                                                                                • Gunnar explores the neighborhoood with iNaturalist and Seek
                                                                                  • Black-bellied whistling duck
                                                                                  • Dave saw 7 bands over 7 days
                                                                                    • The Hives
                                                                                    • Hate to Say I Told You So
                                                                                    • Foo Fighters
                                                                                    • Steve Miller Band (80!)
                                                                                    • Journey
                                                                                    • Def Leppard (64!)
                                                                                    • Loverboy
                                                                                    • Sammy Hagar (76!)
                                                                                    • Yuengling brewery tour
                                                                                    • Qudi Mask 2
                                                                                      • Watch this
                                                                                      • Steven Pousty, call your office: North Yorkshire Council to phase out apostrophe use on street signs
                                                                                        • British Standards by BSI (British Standards Institution) Group
                                                                                        • Updating the national standard on how to compile a reliable gazetteer
                                                                                        • PACER and Aaron Swartz
                                                                                        • Related from Xkcd: Exploits of a Mom with Little Johnny Tables

                                                                                          • Cutting Room Floor

                                                                                          • Gunnar Hellekson, call your office: Holy Keyboard Case, Batman!
                                                                                          • C Compiler Exists Entirely in Vim

                                                                                            • We Give Thanks

                                                                                            • Steven Pousty for inspiring us to channel our inner Steven Pousty!
                                                                                            • The D&G Show Slack Clubhouse for the discussion topics!
                                                                                              • 34 min
                                                                                            • Episode 260: As Long as I’m Not Wearing an Apple Watch, I’ll Never Get Credit For Standing

                                                                                              This week Dave and Gunnar talk about another fake university, Brain Organoids as a Service (BOaaS?), and policing with drones!

                                                                                              • Apple Watch
                                                                                              • Oura Ring
                                                                                              • Xiaomi Smart Band 8
                                                                                              • Appeals court rules students can sue U.S. over fake university set up by ICE
                                                                                                • University of Farmington
                                                                                                • University of Farmington on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine
                                                                                                • World's first bioprocessor uses 16 human brain organoids for ‘a million times less power’ consumption than a digital chip
                                                                                                • The Age of the Drone Police Is Here
                                                                                                  • Gorgon Stare

                                                                                                    • Cutting Room Floor

                                                                                                    • Strange and Wonderful Illustrations from Vintage Science Books
                                                                                                    • The World of the Future: Future Cities (Usborne, 1979)

                                                                                                      • We Give Thanks

                                                                                                      • The D&G Show Slack Clubhouse for the discussion topics!
                                                                                                        • 33 min
                                                                                                      • Episode 259: AI Bad Breath

                                                                                                        This week Dave and Gunnar talk about the upsides and downsides of superalignment!

                                                                                                        • Apple Care
                                                                                                        • After World by Debbie Urbanski
                                                                                                        • Ex-OpenAI employee speaks out about why he was fired: 'I ruffled some feathers'
                                                                                                        • SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: The Decade Ahead by Leopold Aschenbrenner
                                                                                                          • Microsoft's new lightweight AI rivals GPT-3.5 — it's learning from children's books and fits on phones
                                                                                                          • Introducing Superalignment
                                                                                                          • Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
                                                                                                          • Butlerian Jihad
                                                                                                          • How AI Will Change Democracy
                                                                                                            • No, an AI bot isn't running for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming

                                                                                                              • Cutting Room Floor

                                                                                                              • Harold Tifft’s Portable Nuclear Bomb Shield
                                                                                                                • 59 min

                                                                                                              About Dave & Gunnar Show

                                                                                                              From the publisher's feed

                                                                                                              David Egts and Gunnar Hellekson discuss privacy, security, robots, and internet ephemera.