A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, huma...
Can ChatGPT Truly Reason? Terry Sejnowski Clears the Confusion
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Can AI tools like ChatGPT actually "think," or is it just really good at mimicking human conversation? How much of what AI spits out is a reflection of our own ideas and intentions? And where's all this tech headed in the future?
Today, I’m joined by Terry Sejnowski, a renowned computational neuroscientist and pioneer in AI and deep learning. Based at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California, San Diego, he bridges neuroscience and AI to explore how biological brains and artificial systems learn and process information.
Terry is also the co-creator of the Boltzmann Machine, a game-changing algorithm that has shaped today’s AI and is a foundation for modern neural networks. He has also written some incredible books, including The Deep Learning Revolution” and “ChatGPT and the Future of AI.
In our conversation, we discuss the current state of AI, what’s next, the ins and outs of prompt engineering, the mirror hypothesis (how AI reflects us), its impact on productivity, and the ethical challenges we must tackle.
Tune in to discover the truth about AI!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
00:36 Judging a book by its cover
07:05 The impact of AI on human capabilities
12:32 Einstein's happiest thought and can AI think?
16:51 Can AI come up with something novel?
24:20 The role of learning and neural networks in AI
32:37 The future of AI and its potential impact
46:43 The mirroring effect
50:52 Practical applications of AI
54:00 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Terry Sejnowski:
📚 ChatGPT and the Future of AI: https://a.co/d/cZnuZbs
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
—
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
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59:54
An Astronomer and a Philosopher Search for Truth in the Infinite | Jordan B. Peterson
Jordan Peterson sits down with experimental cosmologist Dr. Brian Keating. They discuss the importance of awe for the human spirit, the fundamental ethos behind all true science, the idea of the useless genius, and the necessity of sacrifice for improvement of the self and the broader community.
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1:39:25
Alien Civilizations, Exomoons, and Cool, Habitable Worlds | David Kipping [Ep. 474]
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Could life exist on moons orbiting distant planets? Are We Alone? What if the key to understanding life's origins lies in the moons of distant worlds?
Exoplanetary scientist David Kipping is here to answer these big questions. He is a professor at Columbia University, the leading mind behind exomoons, and also the host of the Cool Worlds Lab.
He shares his groundbreaking research, including the discovery of Kepler-1708 b-i, a potential exomoon candidate. He explains why moons, like Earth’s, might be the unsung heroes in stabilizing conditions for life and how the latest tools, like the James Webb Space Telescope, are changing the game for astronomers.
But that’s not all. You’ll hear about the role of panspermia (yes, life traveling between planets!), the fine-tuning of our universe, and what it takes to push the boundaries of scientific communication.
If you’ve ever pondered the question, “Are we alone?” or simply love a good cosmic mystery, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Tune in now for an eye-opening journey through the cosmos and beyond!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
01:58 David Kipping's background and motivation
05:09 The role of moons in the origin of life
10:59 Bayesian frameworks and panspermia
19:30 Exomoon detection and research strategy
32:40 JWST observations and data analysis
41:14 Balancing scientific communication and public engagement
50:48 Future missions and their impact on exomoon research
54:49 Advice for young scientists and final thoughts
57:32 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about David Kipping:
📱 Website: https://www.coolworldslab.com/
✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/david_kipping
🔔 YouTube Channel: Cool Worlds Lab
✍️ Kepler-1708 b-i Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01539-1
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
—
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:00:35
Meta’s Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun: The Path Toward Human-Level Intelligence in AI [Ep. 473]
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What are the current limitations of AI? What advancements do we need to achieve human-like intelligence? And how can we develop AI safely to align with our values?
Here today to offer us an astounding look behind the scenes of AI development is Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun! Yann is a pioneer in AI and a Turing Award winner who has been at the forefront of major breakthroughs in machine learning and neural networks. As the architect behind transformative AI technologies, Yann joins us to demystify the path toward human-level intelligence and the challenges that lie ahead. He also introduces the Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA), a potential game-changer for enabling AI to model and predict complex real-world scenarios.
Tune in for a look into the future of AI!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:11 Is AI barely as smart as a cat?
00:08:50 Joint-Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA)
00:30:25 Comparing self-supervised learning and dark matter
00:39:23 AGI and human-level intelligence
00:51:50 Preventing loss of control over powerful AI
01:02:45 Future of AI and education
01:10:56 What was Yann wrong about?
01:12:14 Outro
Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Yann LeCun:
📱 Website: https://yann.lecun.com/
✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/ylecun
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
—
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:15:25
Neil deGrasse Tyson Delivers a Harsh Reality Check on Elon Musk’s Mars Plan [Ep. 472]
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Is Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars realistic? How does cosmic insignificance shape our understanding of humanity? And why do science and astrology clash so fundamentally?
Here to dive deep into some of humanity's most profound questions is none other than Neil deGrasse Tyson! Tyson, of course, needs no introduction. He’s a renowned astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who frequently appears in the media to discuss topics ranging from the universe to the intersection of science and culture. His charismatic style and passion for education have made him one of the most recognizable figures in the scientific community.
In this in-depth interview, we explore cosmic insignificance, Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions, astrology, our obsession with politics, social media, AI, journalistic integrity, and much more.
Tune in to discover what Neil really thinks about some of the most pressing questions of our time!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:38 Cosmic insignificance therapy
00:27:39 Judging a book by its cover
00:49:04 Debunking astrology
00:55:15 Life on Mars and panspermia
01:02:55 The giant-impact hypothesis
01:09:04 Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars
01:23:45 Journalism, social media, and our obsession with politics
01:40:10 Audience questions
01:45:02 The impact of AI on education
01:51:02 Fusion ignition and its implications
01:56:25 The great filter
02:02:03 Outro
Additional resources:
➡️ VVisit Consensus.app and Enter code KEATING at checkout for
40% off Consensus Premium for 2 Years or visit this link https://bit.ly/ConsensusApp
➡️ Learn more about Neil deGrasse Tyson:
📱 Website: https://neildegrassetyson.com/
🔔 StarTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StarTalk
📚 Merlin’s Tour of the Universe Revised: https://a.co/d/3cBz3m8
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
—
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast