Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young embark on a technological odyssey, starting with Andrew’s recent acquisition of a Bamboo A1 3D printer. The excitement is palpable as Andrew shares his adventures in 3D printing everything from knives to whirligigs, showcasing the printer’s impressive capabilities. The conversation then shifts to AI, with the trio exploring Claude 3.5 and its ability to generate games and video content on the fly. From creating simple games with just a few prompts to discussing the future of 3D printing and AI in creative industries, the episode is a deep dive into how these technologies are reshaping our world.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: The Dark Tower movie

Justin Robert Young: Audio AI for generating music

Andrew Mayne: Old Doctor Who episodes

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240628183234_2024-06-28-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In this episode, Andrew Mayne and Justin Robert Young dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence, focusing on the recent announcements and developments from OpenAI and Google. They discuss the significance of OpenAI’s GPT-4.0, its capabilities, and how it was presented to the public through a live demonstration, contrasting it with Google’s approach of showing pre-recorded demos of their AI technology, Astra. The hosts explore the strategic timing of these announcements, the competitive nature of the AI industry, and the implications of these advancements for the future of technology. They also touch upon the broader landscape of AI research, including the contributions of other companies and the importance of management in driving innovation.

Picks:

Andrew: Interview with the Vampire series on AMC

Justin: OpenAI’s YouTube channel

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240603224826_riverside_justin_robert_young.mp3

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood tackle a range of topics from AI ethics and controversies surrounding celebrity voices in AI models, to the future of space exploration and the intriguing possibility of communicating with whales. Andrew shares insights from his time at OpenAI, debunking rumors about the misuse of Scarlett Johansson’s voice and discussing the advancements in AI technology. The trio also delves into the progress and challenges faced by space companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX, and the potential for humanity’s future in space. Additionally, they explore the fascinating idea of communicating with extraterrestrial life and the ethical considerations of advanced technologies.

Picks:

Brian: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Andrew: Severance (TV series)

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240527214132_2024-05-24-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a philosophical journey, starting with a tribute to the late Daniel Dennett, whose work on consciousness and thought experiments left a profound impact on Andrew. The conversation then shifts to AI, with Facebook’s new Llama 3 model stirring the pot in the open-source community, and robotics, where Boston Dynamics’ new Atlas robot demonstrates terrifying agility. The episode wraps up with the discovery of a potentially record-breaking fossilized snake, sparking a mix of awe and existential dread among the hosts.

Picks:

Andrew Mayne: Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett

Brian Brushwood: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Justin Robert Young: House of the Dragon (HBO series)

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240423014053_2024-04-19-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the fascinating frontier of AI-generated music. They kick things off with a nod to AI’s role in creating a musical version of Doom, then pivot to discussing various AI music platforms like Sun AI and Audio, comparing their capabilities and outputs. The trio marvels at the potential for AI to revolutionize everything from personalized songs about daily itineraries to educational tunes about complex subjects like Broca’s area in the brain. Throughout, they maintain a blend of awe and skepticism, pondering the implications of AI’s rapid development on creativity, education, and personal expression.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: Fallout TV series

Justin Robert Young: The Regime on HBO

Andrew Mayne: Shogun

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240415013154_2024-04-12-weird-things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence, discussing its current capabilities, future potential, and ethical considerations. From AI’s role in personal training and spam evolution to its application in coding and art generation, the hosts cover a broad spectrum. They highlight the efficiency and affordability of AI in creating content, including music and images, and ponder its impact on the creative industry. The conversation also touches on the regulatory landscape, with a particular focus on the EU’s approach to AI governance.

Picks:

Justin Robert Young: The Regime on HBO Max

Brian Brushwood: The Naked Gun

Andrew Mayne: sun.ai and cursor.sh

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240409222700_2024-04-05-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through a variety of topics, starting with a real-world disaster involving a boat crash and a collapsed bridge. They speculate on the implications of tainted fuel and the role of the National Transportation Safety Board in such incidents. The conversation then shifts to the potential for economic and infrastructural disasters, including the hypothetical use of nuclear weapons to disrupt GPS systems. The hosts also discuss the fragility of modern infrastructure and the importance of disaster preparedness. The conversation takes a turn into the realm of technology and security, with a focus on the challenges posed by AI and deepfakes in authenticating identity. They explore the idea of a secure, emergency communication system to verify callers during crises. Finally, the hosts share their picks, including a book recommendation and thoughts on the Netflix adaptation of ‘The Three-Body Problem’, noting its strengths and weaknesses.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: ‘Super Communicators’ book

Justin Robert Young: ‘The Attention Factory’ book

Andrew Mayne: ‘The Three-Body Problem’ on Netflix

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240329204315_Weird-things_mixdown-2024-03-29.mp3

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dive into a variety of topics starting with Boom’s attempt to bring back supersonic flight, despite the historical and regulatory hurdles. They also touch on the story of a toxic cat in Japan that fell into a vat of chemicals, raising concerns about its whereabouts. The conversation shifts to the rapid advancements in AI, including its use in automating mundane tasks and its potential impact on various industries. The hosts share their excitement and concerns about the future of AI, emphasizing its role as a powerful tool rather than a wish-granting entity. The episode wraps up with discussions on the economic implications of AI and the importance of understanding its capabilities.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: The Good Place

Justin Robert Young: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Andrew Mayne: Dune Part Two

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240323011940_2024-03-22-Weird-things_mixdown.mp3

The boys discuss space, technology and where American monkeys came from.

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Episode archive

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In an episode that could be mistaken for a cryptic message left by time travelers, Andrew offers a brief apology to the Weird Things audience for the recent lack of episodes. He assures listeners that while the episodes have been recorded, changes in the backend process have led to a temporary blackout. The episode ends with a promise of a return to normalcy, leaving listeners to ponder the mysteries of what these ‘backend changes’ could entail.

Picks:

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[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240302061939_weirdthings-message.mp3