Singularity Bros

One of our faves, John Danaher, returns to the program. What do we talk about? Oh, nothing all that exciting: just SEX ROBOTS! Seriously, John‘s the best. Listen to the chat, read the book (Robot Sex), follow the links, live happy life. Peace. Notes Two years ago, the Malaysian government abruptly canceled the second annual … Continue reading "Episode 114: John Danaher on Having Sex with Robots"

Will the future judge us harshly? Well, will it? Tell us, future listeners. Notes Hey, we came in at #43 on the 2017 World Press Freedom Index! U, S, A! U, S, A! Perhaps I spoke hastily when reporting those figures for vegetarianism/veganism. This 2010 study found that, worldwide, “there are one and half billion vegetarians. Only 75 … Continue reading "Episode 113: Future Monsters"

Let’s study the future with Michael Garfield. Come on, let us! Michael Garfield is the host of the Future Fossils podcast, as well as a writer, fine artist, and musician. And he’s our buddy now, yay! Travel with us to the edges of the Broosphere, won’t you? Notes Want some superhero satire? Michael recommends Alan Moore’s Top 10 and … Continue reading "Episode 111: Michael Garfield on Paleontological Futurism"

Andrew G. Ferguson stars in this delightfully chilling conversation about the future of big data and law enforcement. Also starring Scott, Tom, Zach, and featuring Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as “Beyoncé.” Andrew G. Ferguson is a professor of law at the University of the District of Columbia, an expert on such matters as predictive policing and the Fourth … Continue reading "Episode 110: Andrew G. Ferguson on Big Data and Predictive Policing"

Moral illusions and whether we ought to fall for them. Additionally: Captain Planet. Mark Out: To temporarily forget that wrestling is fake because something cool happened. I think I’ve been guilty of marking out for ethical consumerism, ethical eating, recycling, and who knows what else. What do you mark out for? Notes For some background on the … Continue reading "Episode 109: Moral Mark Out"

More weather-based wonder in the works. Welcome. We back wit dat conceptual freshness. Will we ever run out of hot newness? Don’t count on it. Hurricane Happy Hour “Scientists have spiders producing enhanced web that can hold a human” “Denmark’s Corporate Sector Just Sold Off Its Last Oil Company” “Take Elon Musk Seriously on the … Continue reading "Episode 108: Hurricane Happy Hour"

A drastically different episode from last week’s! How do we do it? Even we don’t know. Thunder Phase™ “AI uses bitcoin trail to find and help sex-trafficking victims” Want to know more about Lenore Skenazy and Free Range Kids? We recommend checking out her appearances—1 and 2—on Robot Overlordz. “Electric car emissions slashed by two thirds … Continue reading "Episode 107: Thunder Claps"

It’s the return of Lightning Round™. Get indoors and cozy for this one. Lightning Round™ “CGI and AI are going to turbocharge ‘fake news’ and make it far harder to tell what’s real” “New, reusable [nanotube] filter cleans heavy metals from water” “How farming giant seaweed can feed fish and fix the climate” “Climate change no … Continue reading "Episode 106: Lightning Crashes"

Should we engineer the extinction of mankind on utilitarian grounds? Another normal conversation. An essay prompts us to consider whether suffering is part and parcel of consciousness, and whether this means existing is worse than not. Plus, Bill and Ted references! Notes The essay that kicks this one off: “Benevolent Artificial Anti-Natalism (BAAN)” by Thomas Metzinger Looks … Continue reading "Episode 105: Space Abacus"

More screed in your feed: we tackle the notorious Google memo. This episode’s topic is the prequel to Need for Screed II: Screedo Shot Last. If you don’t know what’s up with this memo yet, you will soon. Notes Before we get into the screed weeds, we recap a bit, and reflect on the previous … Continue reading "Episode 104: Screedgate"