Podcasts about existential risk

Senator Bernie Sanders recently hosted a panel on "The Existential Threat of AI," featuring Future of Life Institute co-founder Max Tegmark and other x-riskers. Dr. Nathalie Maréchal joins Emily and Alex to unpack this latest stop on Bernie's descent into doomerism. We return to the MST3k model with a rare video artifact!Nathalie Maréchal is a writer, researcher and advocate fighting for democracy and human rights in the age of technofascism. Her latest article, "Tech Policy Is on the Front Line of Fascism vs. Democracy. Pick a Side," is available in Tech Policy Press. She is currently the managing policy director at Northeastern University's Institute for Information, the Internet, and Democracy.References:"LIVE: The Existential Threat of AI and the Need for International Cooperation"Fresh AI Hell:"The AI Pledge for Humanity" petitionRichard Dawkins force-femmes a chatbotAnthropic claims LLMs have "emotion concepts"Palantir wants us all to stop being mean to data centers"Optimizing LLM costs by inventing employees again"Luxury surveillance catCheck out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown.Follow us!EmilyBluesky: emilymbender.bsky.socialMastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBenderAlexBluesky: alexhanna.bsky.socialMastodon: dair-community.social/@alexTwitter: @alexhannaMusic by Toby Menon.Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the perils and promise of AI as outlined in the papal encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” and a forthcoming law review paper, “AI and Existential Risk.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

00:08 — Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. The post Fund Drive Special with Luke Kemp appeared first on KPFA.

Jaan Tallinn is a tech billionaire and founding engineer of Skype who leverages his wealth to mitigate existential risks from artificial general intelligence (AGI). He co-founded the Future of Life Institute and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, while making early foundational investments in frontier AI labs like DeepMind andAnthropic.Chapter Markers:00:00 Assessing Current AI Risk Levels03:28 Inside Self-Sustaining AI Scenarios09:10 The Global AI Race Dynamics42:25 Explaining the Techno-Capital Flywheel45:34 Insider Origins of AI Safety56:06 Race Politics and Public Fear01:23:12 Pop Culture, Movies, and Fame01:30:15 Big Questions for Humanity's Future–Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU. Please send any questions or suggestions to manifold1podcast@gmail.com or Steve on X @hsu_steve.

Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. The post Fund Drive Special with Luke Kemp appeared first on KPFA.

Got a question or comment? Message us here!Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than most organizations, and regulators, are prepared for. In this episode of the #SecureAFPodcast, we sit down with Chris Hood, a veteran technologist and financial industry leader, to explore how AI has evolved from early computing to today's large language models and agentic systems.We discuss real‑world AI use in highly regulated environments, the benefits and risks of agentic AI, growing concerns around AI security and alignment, and why some experts believe general, and eventually superintelligence, may be closer than many expect, even if we're not there yet.Along the way, the conversation takes a few intentional detours, as two seasoned technologists reflect on decades of computing history and how past technology shifts help frame today's AI inflection point.From practical productivity gains to long‑term implications for security, jobs, and society, this conversation goes beyond hype to ask the hard questions security leaders should already be considering.This is Part 1 of a deeper discussion on AI, risk, and the future of human‑machine collaboration.Dive in here: secureafpodcast.comSupport the showWatch full episodes at youtube.com/@aliascybersecurity.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you get your podcasts.

Adam Foroughi is the Co-Founder and CEO @ Applovin, one of the most underdiscussed but incredible businesses. Applovin has a market cap of $160BN, the company does $5.48BN in revenue and has an astonishing $10M EBITDA per head. The margins; 80%+. There is almost no other business in the world like it.  AGENDA:  00:00 – Why Winning (Not Fear) Drives the Best Founders 04:30 – When Money Stops Mattering: The Real Founder Motivation 07:15 – $83M CEO Payday: The Truth Behind the Headlines 10:45 – The Hidden Cost of Being a CEO: What No One Tells You 13:00 – Down 92%: How Do You Not Lose Your Mind? 17:00 – Layoffs: AI Revolution or COVID Hangover? Will the Layoffs Work? 24:30 – Why Most Companies Can't Build a Culture of A-Players 29:30 – What % of Applovin Code is AI? What Will it Be in 5 Years Time? 33:30 – Building on OpenAI: Opportunity or Existential Risk? 40:00 – The Dark Side of Short Sellers & Market Manipulation 50:00 – Do Great Founders Doubt Themselves? 52:00 – TikTok, Meta & The Future of Recommendation Engines 53:30 – The Path to a $1 Trillion Company: What Needs to Happen? 56:00 – Stock Buybacks: How to Do Them and When They Go Wrong? 59:00 – Is the SaaS Model Breaking? What Happens Now?  

It's the question that will come to define our lives: is our society going to collapse? But the field of collapse research is fragmented, chaotic, and often plain deranged. Who can you trust? Luke Kemp is the author of Goliath's Curse and a research affiliate at the Cambridge University Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. He's also a political radical. He told Richard Hames about how close we are to the same tipping point that brought down every other empire in history, why states are criminal gangs in disguise, and why Rome was the Isis of its day. Do Your Own Research is a new show from Novara Media about the systems that make the modern world possible. Music by Iglooghost.

We are joined by Dr. Caleb Scharf, NASA Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, to explore the profound implications of the Fermi Paradox. Why, in a galaxy of hundreds of billions of stars, do we find only silence? We move beyond the "geek wonderland" of physics and biology to examine the "Overview Effect"—the shift in perspective that occurs when we realize just how fragile our shared existence truly is.If humanity is the first species to face the conundrum of its own survival, we have a unique moral responsibility to look past the outrage of the day and safeguard the future of life on Earth.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.comHOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That's the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverloadAlso check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites.Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

Will AI obliterate all of humanity? Will it destroy all of our jobs? There are so many questions swirling around the existential threat that AI poses, and even more completely hypothetical answers. This week, Adam brings back past guests Arvind Narayanan, professor of Computer Science at Princeton, and Princeton PhD student Sayash Kapoor to give expert perspective on our current moment. Their newest essay, AI as Normal Technology, is a rational and evidence-based exploration of AI that offers an alternative vision to the idea of AI as a potential superintelligence. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconoverSEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJAbout Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.» SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1» FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum» FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/» FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum» Advertise on Factually! via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI, Existential Risk, and the Future of the Human Soul

Today on Open Book, we're diving into one of the biggest questions in human history: why do civilizations rise—and why do they collapse? Cambridge scholar Luke Kemp joins me to explain why the forces shaping our future might be the same ones that brought down every empire before us. Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. He has lectured in economics and human geography and has advised the World Health Organization, the Australian Parliament, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and many other institutions. His research has been covered by media outlets such as The New York Times, the BBC, and The New Yorker. This book was a revelation, get it now: Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse here: https://amzn.to/4lrFlDm Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. Pre-order my next book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, out on the 17th of September in the UK and the 22nd of September in the US: ⁠https://linktr.ee/anthonyscaramucci⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8:00 — Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. The post Fund Drive Special: Luke Kemp on the History of Societal Collapse appeared first on KPFA.

Are we already living inside an intelligent system? Fer Broca explores AI, simulation theory, and consciousness—revealing how emerging intelligence may be reshaping reality, identity, and human evolution faster than we realize. #consciousness #ai #simulation 00:00 Reality Questioned 03:20 Simulation Theory Explained 07:10 AI and Emergent Intelligence 12:45 Consciousness Beyond Biology 18:30 Intelligence Feedback Loops 25:10 Identity in an AI World 32:40 Existential Risk and Evolution 40:15 Post-Human Futures 47:30 What Comes Next 54:00 Final Reflection Presented by Fer Broca - https://ferbroca.com/

Using the Stone of Democracy to Slay the Goliath of Inequality Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse By: Luke Kemp Published: 2025 592 Pages Briefly, what is this book about? By most accounts, civilization, which is to say the large Hobbesian state, is a good thing. Kemp doesn't necessarily agree. In his account, states are lumbering, tyrannical, extractive Goliaths, cursed to grow bigger, more oppressive and more brittle until they are eventually brought down by a "stone" that hits in just the right place.  Civilization forms out of dominance hierarchies, and these hierarchies generally only move in one direction, towards greater inequality, greater extraction, and more self-interested decisions. This leads to ever increasing fragility and eventual collapse. Collapse might actually be a better place for the masses of people, though it's often quite bloody to get there. Though if that's how it played out in the past, Kemp doesn't think it will necessarily play out that way going forward. If (when?) civilization collapses this time, it will be far more apocalyptic.  What authorial biases should I be aware of? Kemp is associated with the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge. I was recommended this book by the sagacious Florian U. Jehn of the excellent Existential Crunch blog. Jehn knows his stuff which gives me the confidence to safely locate Kemp as an important scholar in the genre of collapse research, with an interesting, albeit populist/anti-elite take on the subject. Who should read this book? Kemp draws heavily on the ideas of James C. Scott (Seeing Like a State and Against the Grain) and writes in opposition to the ideas of Steven Pinker (in particular The Better Angels of Our Nature). If you find yourself similarly situated, you'll enjoy this book.  It's also a great book for anyone who can't get enough discussion of existential risk. And really given the stakes we should be considering as many viewpoints as possible. What does the book have to say about the future? As you might imagine, Kemp's vision of the future is pretty bleak. He is not a techno-optimist, rather he sees in technology the emergence of a new Goliath, a new arena of dominance and extraction. He has a certain amount of hope, but it all revolves around using democracy to disrupt the ratcheting up of inequality and elite power, which seems like a tall order.  Specific thoughts: Past, present, and future collapse

DOOMERS VS. ACCELERATIONISTS Colleague Gary Rivlin. The ideological battle between "accelerationists" who want rapid progress and "doomers" who fear existential risk, with Hoffman positioning himself as a "bloomer." NUMBER 141959

So much of our world today can be summed up in the cold logic of “if I don't, they will.” This is the foundation of game theory, which holds that cooperation and virtue are irrational; that all that matters is the race to make the most money, gain the most power, and play the winning hand. This way of thinking can feel inescapable, like a fundamental law of human nature. But our guest today, professor Sonja Amadae, argues that it doesn't have to be this way. That the logic of game theory is a human invention, a way of thinking that we've learned — and that we can unlearn.In this episode, Tristan and Aza explore the game theory dilemma — the idea that if I adopt game theory logic and you don't, you lose — with Dr. Sonja Amadae, a professor of Political Science at the University of Helsinki. She's also the director at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge and the author of “Prisoners of Reason: Game Theory and the Neoliberal Economy.”The history of game theory as an inhumane technology stretches back to its WWII origins. But humans also cooperate, and we can break out of the rationality trap by daring to trust each other again. It's critical that we do, because AI is the ultimate agent of game theory and once it's fully entangled we might be permanently stuck in the game theory world.RECOMMENDED MEDIA“Prisoners of Reason: Game Theory and the Neoliberal Economy” by Sonja Amadae (2015)The Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk“Theory of Games and Economic Behavior” by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944)Further reading on the importance of trust in FinlandFurther reading on Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of NeedsRAND's 2024 Report on Strategic Competition in the Age of AIFurther reading on Marshall Rosenberg and nonviolent communicationThe study on self/other overlap and AI alignment cited by AzaFurther reading on The Day After (1983) RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODESAmerica and China Are Racing to Different AI FuturesThe Crisis That United Humanity—and Why It Matters for AILaughing at Power: A Troublemaker's Guide to Changing TechThe Race to Cooperation with David Sloan Wilson Clarifications:The proposal for a federal preemption on AI was enacted by President Trump on December 11, 2025, shortly after this recording. Aza said that "The Day After" was the most watched TV event in history when it aired. It was actually the most watched TV film, the most watched TV event was the finale of MASH Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bird-flu, bombs and asteroids: are we heading for disaster in 2026? What are the biggest threats to global health security in 2026? Is it bird flu? Or the rising threat posed by nuclear weapons? Could we even be hit by an asteroid?Dr Becky Alexis-Martin, a Lecturer in Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and an expert on nuclear weapons, argues that the threat they pose will continue to rise in the new year.Paul Nuki, the Telegraph's Global Health Security Editor, warns that numerous diseases linked to conflict are likely to continue to spread in 2026 – in particular cholera and HIV.Meanwhile, the possibility of H5N1 bird flu making the jump to humans and causing a pandemic remains a primary threat, as does the continued spread of mpox around the world.Lord Martin Rees, the former Astronomer Royal and a founder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, assesses the risk of space-based threats.Producer: Sophie O'SullivanExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsStudio Operator: Meghan Searle► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorContact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear from Dr. Luke Kemp of the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, as we dive into the risk factors for societal collapse in both the past and future. When risk professionals talk about systemic risk, we usually mean markets, institutions, and interconnected exposures. But zoom out far enough, and there's a bigger question underneath it all: what makes an entire society resilient – or vulnerable – to collapse? That's why in this episode, we explore the history and future of societal collapse through a risk lens: looking at how complex systems fail, how multiple threats compound, and the early warning signs of collapse. We discuss: ·        What societal collapse actually means in practice, and why it's rarely a single event, but a buildup of stresses and cascading failures; ·        How inequality amplifies fragility, weakening trust, institutions, and the capacity to respond when shocks hit; ·        And what a real-world "collapse risk dashboard" might look like for societies. To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com Links from the discussion: Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/321192/goliaths-curse-by-kemp-luke/9780241741238   Speaker's Bio Dr. Luke Kemp, Research Affiliate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge Luke researches the end of the world. He is a Research Affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge. He has advised and led foresight studies for multiple international organisations, including the WHO and Convention on Biological Diversity. His work has been covered by media outlets such as the BBC, the New York Times, and the New Yorker. He is the author of the bestselling book Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.

Today, on Undercurrent Stories, we turn our attention to the grand sweep of human history — from the hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic to the great empires of Egypt and Rome, and onward to our interconnected, fragile world of today.At the heart of our discussion lies a question as old as civilisation itself: why do societies rise — and why do they fall?My guest is Dr Luke Kemp, a researcher at the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and author of Goliath's Curse. In it, he challenges many of the stories we tell ourselves about progress and civilisation — arguing that the very forces that built our modern world may also contain the seeds of its undoing.We'll explore the archaeological and historical evidence for collapse, the myths of Hobbesian human nature, and whether our global, technological Goliath can be restrained before it destroys itself.So join us, as we ask: what can the past teach us about surviving the future?Links:Book: Goliath's CurseQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

This week on Talk World Radio we are talking about the collapse of societies with the author of one of the best books I've read in a long time. The book is called Goliath's Curse. The author is Luke Kemp, who is also a Research Affiliate & Former Research Associate at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge.

Matthew Harvey Sanders, founder and CEO of Long Beard, introduces "Catholic AI," a rapidly growing field serving users in 165 countries. He delves into the philosophical and theological dimensions, discussing the Church's historical perspective on technology, human flourishing, and its stance on AI consciousness and transhumanism, including Pope Francis's insights. The conversation then explores Long Beard's technical innovations, such as training models from scratch for theological alignment, digitizing Vatican archives, and optimizing multilingual models. This episode offers a compelling look at how AI is being tailored to specific value systems, illustrating the orthogonality thesis and instrumental convergence in action. Sponsors: Shopify: Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive Tasklet: Tasklet is an AI agent that automates your work 24/7; just describe what you want in plain English and it gets the job done. Try it for free and use code COGREV for 50% off your first month at https://tasklet.ai Linear: Linear is the system for modern product development. Nearly every AI company you've heard of is using Linear to build products. Get 6 months of Linear Business for free at: https://linear.app/tcr PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing CHAPTERS: (00:00) About the Episode (03:16) Building Catholic AI (06:43) The Popes on AI (12:42) A Vision for Flourishing (Part 1) (17:27) Sponsors: Shopify | Tasklet (20:35) A Vision for Flourishing (Part 2) (20:36) Imagining a Post-Work Future (27:21) AI: Tool or Creature? (36:33) Intelligence vs. Sentience (Part 1) (38:10) Sponsor: Linear (39:39) Intelligence vs. Sentience (Part 2) (47:03) Simulation, Faith, and Conversion (51:32) Existential Risk & Antichrist (58:35) The Longbeard Origin Story (01:03:04) Engineering Magisterium AI (01:12:17) Open Source Model Strategy (01:18:34) Longbeard's Business Model (01:23:37) Training a Model From Scratch (01:32:16) Safety, Evals, and Trust (01:39:42) Responsible AI Development (01:48:16) Aligning to Human Flourishing (01:53:46) Outro SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://www.cognitiverevolution.ai Twitter (Podcast): https://x.com/cogrev_podcast Twitter (Nathan): https://x.com/labenz LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nathanlabenz/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@CognitiveRevolutionPodcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-cognitive-revolution-ai-builders-researchers-and/id1669813431 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yHyok3M3BjqzR0VB5MSyk

We're obsessed with apocalypses, big and small. We fantasize about what the future might look like after the fall of society and fear the coming tribulation. Rome fretted about decline until its end. Stories of the Sea Peoples terrified the monarchs of the Late Bronze Age. During the 30 Years' War, Europeans imagined Armageddon had finally begun.But a funny thing happens after the collapse: things tend to get a little better for everyone.Luke Kemp is here to hold our hands through the end of the world as we know it. Kemp is a researcher at Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and the author of the book Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.Beauty in collapseMatthew's AI testThe Doctor Doom mask“Collapse was good for most people.”Sea People's mentionedWhy a Goliath and not a Leviathan?Down with Thomas HobbesFear of a mass panic driving collapse“Emergency powers have a very funny tendency to stick around”The problem with guns, germs, and steelThe Tree of EvilOn the purpose of human sacrificeDoctor Doom is the belle of the ballAre we ending on a high note?Buy Goliath's CurseCentre for the Study of Existential RiskThe rewards of ruinSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Doom-prepping" tech billionaires have been in the headlines recently and whether it's ecological crisis or a breakdown in law and order, fear of societal collapse seems to lurk in the background of a lot of discussion in politics and wider society. But what does it mean? When has it happened in the past? Can we avoid it – or survive it – in the future? Joining presenter Shahidha Bari for Radio 4's roundtable discussion about the ideas shaping our world are: Luke Kemp from the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, the writer and commentator Peter Hitchens, classical historian Neville Morley, historian of modern politics Phil Tinline and Rhiannon Firth, sociologist at University College London.Producer: Luke Mulhall

In this conversation, Dr Andrew M. Davis joins Dr Tevin Naidu for a deep exploration of meaning, process philosophy, and the evolving story of consciousness. They discuss the modern meaning crisis, Alfred North Whitehead's process cosmology, philosophical praxis, and how value, agency, and mind might be fundamental features of an unfolding universe. From metaphysics to existential risk, and from science to spirituality - this conversation explores how philosophy can help us re-enchant our understanding of reality itself.Andrew M. Davis, PhD. is an American process philosopher, theologian, and scholar of the cosmos. He is research and academic director for the Center for Process Studies where he researches, writes, teaches, and organizes conferences on various aspects of process-relational thought. He is author, editor, and co-editor of nearly a dozen books including Mind, Value, and Cosmos: On the Relational Nature of Ultimacy (2020); Process Cosmology: New Integrations in Science and Philosophy (2022); Metaphysics of Exo-Life: Toward a Constructive Whiteheadian Cosmotheology (2023); and Whitehead's Universe: A Prismatic Introduction (forthcoming, 2026).TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) – Introduction | Meaning, Mind, and the Future of Philosophy(03:12) – What Is Philosophical Praxis? Reconnecting Thought and Action(07:30) – The Meaning Crisis and Modern Disconnection(11:24) – Process Philosophy and the Need for a Living Metaphysics(15:10) – Whitehead's Vision: The Universe as Becoming, Not Being(19:18) – Panpsychism, Panentheism, and the Mind at Large Framework(24:02) – Existential Risk and the Evolution of Consciousness(28:37) – How Reductionism Distorts Reality and Meaning(33:25) – Reclaiming Teleology: Value, Purpose, and Cosmic Direction(37:44) – Science, Spirituality, and the Death of Materialism(42:20) – Psychedelic States and the Expansion of Experience(46:48) – Axiology and the Centrality of Value in the Cosmos(51:36) – Philosophical Therapy: Healing the Worldview Divide(56:42) – The Crisis of Meaning as a Crisis of Perception(1:02:15) – Whitehead, Deleuze, and Creative Becoming(1:08:10) – Is the Universe Conscious? The Panexperiential Turn(1:14:00) – Towards a Cosmology of Value and Participation(1:19:28) – The Role of the Philosopher Today: From Critic to Creator(1:25:36) – Mind-Body, Mind-at-Large: Bridging Consciousness (and Cosmos(1:32:02) – Hope, Purpose, and the Next Evolution of Thought(1:38:27) – Closing Reflections | Re-Enchanting the World EPISODE LINKS:- Mind-at-Large Project Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPacM28YkMQCHdQl2_3OvDmHPl6jJRJcz&si=MxhDoX6bJjkEzMXK- Mind-at-Large Project: https://mindatlargeproject.com- Andrew's Website: https://andrewmdavis.info- Whitehead's Universe: www.whiteheadsuniverse.com- Andrew's YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Andrew-M-Davis- Center for Process Studies: https://ctr4process.orgCONNECT:- Website: https://mindbodysolution.org - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MindBodySolution- Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

History shows that civilizations succeed in many different ways, but they tend to fail in strikingly similar ones. Again and again, societies rise, overextend themselves, and ultimately unravel says Dr Luke Kemp. He's a research affiliate at the Center for Study of Existential Risk at Darwin College at the University of Cambridge. He argues that societal collapse has not only defined our past but will shape our future. He lays out the urgent lessons our perilous century must learn before it's too late. It's called Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.

The Climate Pod is going to be live in Chicago! Join us for our Chicago Climate Bash, the hottest comedy show on the planet! On Sunday, October 26th at 5 pm CT at The Lincoln Lodge, we're featuring an amazing lineup of great comedians and expert guests. There will be standup, panels, music, and more. This show is a live recording of The Climate Pod. Featuring Chad The Bird, Lucia Whalen, a very special guest, and more! Get your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-climate-bash-tickets-1758346845749?aff=oddtdtcreator ---- What has caused societal collapse throughout human history? Are those condition present today? This week, we talk to author Luke Kemp in a thought-provoking conversations about one of the best books of the year, Kemp's Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse. Kemp challenges conventional narratives by redefining civilization as a series of dominance hierarchies, or "Goliaths," that have historically led to societal downfall. He argues that these structures, characterized by inequality and concentrated power, have been precursors to collapse throughout history. And that's a big problem today.  In this episode, we discuss how today's unique conditions of global interconnectedness, technological complexity, and unprecedented environmental destruction make us more vulnerable than ever. He introduces the concept of "Death Star Syndrome," where our highly interconnected world, much like the fictional Death Star, appears robust but is susceptible to catastrophic failure from a single point of weakness. This vulnerability is exacerbated by modern existential threats like climate change, nuclear weapons, and AI, which are often viewed in isolation but are deeply interconnected through global systems of inequality and resource extraction. So what do we do about it?  We explore the potential of "deep democracy," collective action, elimination of existential threats, and emphasizing that empowering diverse groups with good information and resources that can lead to better decision-making and a more equitable future. Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. He has lectured in the fields of economics and human geography, and has advised the World Health Organization, the Australian Parliament, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and many other institutions. His research has been covered by media outlets such as The New York Times, the BBC, and The New Yorker. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.        

The story of how Geoffrey Hinton became “the godfather of AI” has reached mythic status in the tech world.While he was at the University of Toronto, Hinton pioneered the neural network research that would become the backbone of modern AI. (One of his students, Ilya Sutskever, went on to be one of OpenAI's most influential scientific minds.) In 2013, Hinton left the academy and went to work for Google, eventually winning both a Turing Award and a Nobel Prize.I think it's fair to say that artificial intelligence as we know it, may not exist without Geoffrey Hinton.But Hinton may be even more famous for what he did next. In 2023, he left Google and began a campaign to convince governments, corporations and citizens that his life's work – this thing he helped build – might lead to our collective extinction. And that moment may be closer than we think, because Hinton believes AI may already be conscious.But even though his warnings are getting more dire by the day, the AI industry is only getting bigger, and most governments, including Canada's, seem reluctant to get in the way.So I wanted to ask Hinton: If we keep going down this path, what will become of us?Mentioned:If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: The Case Against Superintelligent AI, by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate SoaresAgentic Misalignment: How LLMs could be insider threats, by AnthropicMachines Like Us is produced by Mitchell Stuart. Our theme song is by Chris Kelly. Video editing by Emily Graves. Our executive producer is James Milward. Special thanks to Angela Pacienza and the team at The Globe and Mail.Support for Machines Like Us is provided by CIFAR and the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI's Impact on Work Quality, Google's Legal Battles, and Global Shifts in Tech In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love covers a range of significant tech topics. The episode opens with a promotion for the new audiobook 'Elisa, A Tale of Quantum Kisses.' The main segments include a study on 'work slop,' AI-generated work that appears polished but lacks substance, Google's ongoing legal issues concerning its advertising monopoly, and India's push towards self-reliance in tech with Zoho challenging Microsoft. Additionally, there's a discussion on a new book warning about the existential risks of superintelligent AI. The episode concludes with a reminder to support the audiobook while emphasizing the importance of meaningful, non-AI-generated content. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:45 The Rise of Work Slop AI 03:15 Google's Antitrust Battle 06:00 India's Push for Self-Reliance in Tech 07:15 The Existential Risk of Super Intelligent AI 08:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wealth inequality is a primary culprit behind the ecological and environmental collapse of societies over the past 12,000 years, which have come to be dominated by a small circle of elites hoarding resources like land, research shows. Today, instead of an isolated collapse, we face a global one, says Luke Kemp, a researcher at the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. On this episode of Mongabay's Newscast, Kemp explains how wealth inequality is not just tied to, but may be the very cause of the ecological destruction we are witnessing today, and how tackling that is key to how we solve all these challenges, as he recently told The Guardian. “Imperial overexpansion, depleting the natural environment, having elite competition and popular immiseration, all [are] just simply the natural effect of inequality. All is driven by growing concentrations of power and wealth inequality,” he says. Humans are not naturally like this, Kemp explains. Rather, for the vast majority of their existence, they have coexisted in nomadic, interconnected societies, functioning in a largely egalitarian fashion. Until the discovery that grain could be harvested — and therefore also stolen and hoarded with violence — humans did not dominate one another, as we do today. As mentioned in the episode, you can read a recent opinion piece on what listeners and readers can do overcome despair in the face of existential threats such as climate change and biodiversity loss.  Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website. Image Credit: Statue of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt. Photo by Rhett Butler/Mongabay. ----- Timecodes (00:00) Why humans are egalitarian (08:06)  Why authoritarianism is so pervasive (14:12) How and why societies fall (20:58) Our global society is at risk (24:22) How we solve it (30:25) Capping wealth at 10m (37:54) Citizen juries and how they work (45:11) Could a ‘ministry for the future' work? (46:54) Lessons from the Khoisan Peoples (51:00) Democracy isn't just a ‘left-wing' idea

Collapse has historically benefited the 99%.That's the amazing conclusion of Luke Kemp, author of Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.  Luke is a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, and has spent the past five years studying the collapse of civilisations throughout history. He joins me to explain his research, detailing the difference between complex, collective civilisations and what he calls “Goliaths”, massive centralising forces by which a small group of individuals extract wealth from the rest through domination and the threat of violence. Today, he says, we live in a global Goliath.In this astounding conversation, Luke takes us from the Ancient times to the modern day, revealing the root causes of collapse and paralleling them what we're living through today. He explains the egalitarian nature of our species, and shines new light on what a future could look like free from today's global Goliath. He reminds us all that we tend to view collapse through the eyes of the 1%, those who have the most to lose, and gives startling accounts of how populations bounced back after their domineering rulers fell. For a conversation about the collapse of the modern world, this conversation is as hopeful as it is brutal.Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis. Join subscribers from 186 countries to support independent journalism. Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe

When Dr. Geoffrey Hinton left Google in 2023, it wasn’t because he’d lost faith in AI. It was because he wanted to speak freely about its dangers (and because, at 75, he says programming is “annoying”). The Nobel laureate joins Katie to unpack some of the riskiest aspects of this new technology: why government regulation lags behind innovation; why jobs are at risk and whether countries can work together to prevent an AI arms race. . But Hinton also sees a path forward: if we design AI that genuinely supports and protects humanity, coexistence might be possible. This episode wrestles with the urgent question on everyone’s mind: will AI’s breathtaking potential transform our lives or threaten our very survival?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few of the world's great scientists have given more thought to the existential threats to humanity than the irrepressible British cosmologist and astronomer Martin Rees. He's the co-founder of Cambridge University's Centre for Existential Risk as well as the author of the 2003 book Our Final Hour. So it's striking that Rees has a quite different take on the existential risk of artificial intelligence technology than many AI doomers including yesterday's guest, the 2024 Physics Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton. For Rees, bio-threats and network collapse represents the most dangerous technological threats to humanity in the near future. Unlike nuclear weapons, which require massive detectable infrastructure, Rees warns, dangerous pathogens can be engineered in small, unmonitored laboratories. Meanwhile, our civilization's complete dependence on interconnected global networks means system failures could trigger catastrophic societal breakdown within days. Apocalypse now? Perhaps. But, according to the prescient Rees, we are preparing for the wrong apocalypse. 1. AI's Real Danger Isn't Superintelligence—It's System DependencyRees is "very skeptical" about AI takeover scenarios. Instead, he worries about our over-dependence on globe-spanning networks that control electricity grids and internet infrastructure. When these fail—whether from cyberattacks or malfunctions—society could collapse within "two or three days."2. Bio-Threats Are Uniquely Undetectable and UnstoppableUnlike nuclear weapons that require massive, monitorable facilities, dangerous pathogens can be engineered in small, undetected laboratories. "Gain of function" experiments could create bioweapons far worse than COVID, and preventing this would require impossible levels of surveillance over anyone with relevant expertise.3. We're Living Through a Uniquely Dangerous EraRees believes "the prospect of a catastrophe in the next 10 or 20 years is perhaps higher than it's ever been." We're the first species in Earth's history capable of changing the entire planet—for good or ill—making this a genuinely special and precarious moment.4. Scientific Wonder Grows with Knowledge, Not Despite ItContrary to those who claim science diminishes mystery, Rees - the co-author of an upcoming book about scientific wonder - argues that "the more we understand, the more wonderful and complicated things appear." As knowledge advances, new mysteries emerge that couldn't even be conceived decades earlier.5. Humility About Human Limitations Is EssentialJust as "a monkey can't understand quantum mechanics," there may be fundamental aspects of reality beyond human comprehension. Rees warns against immediately invoking God for unexplained phenomena, advocating instead for accepting our cognitive limits while continuing to push boundaries.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

TAKEAWAYSAI has no values of its own; it can only procure values from the data it findsAI has no subjective experiencesAI does not share in the human concept of fragility; that is, the idea that humans are fallen and sinfulAI, unlike humans, is not made in the image of God

For decades, US allies have slept soundly under the protection of America's overwhelming military might. Donald Trump — with his threats to ditch NATO, seize Greenland, and abandon Taiwan — seems hell-bent on shattering that comfort.But according to Hugh White — one of the world's leading strategic thinkers, emeritus professor at the Australian National University, and author of Hard New World: Our Post-American Future — Trump isn't destroying American hegemony. He's simply revealing that it's already gone.These highlights are from episode #218 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Hugh White on why Trump is abandoning US hegemony – and that's probably good, and include:America has been all talk, no action when it comes to China and Russia (00:39)How Trump has significantly brought forward the inevitable (05:14)Westerners always underestimate what China can achieve (10:32)We live in a multipolar world; we've got to make a multipolar world work (15:47)Trump is half-right that the US was being ripped off (19:06)Europe is strong enough to take on Russia, except it lacks nuclear deterrence (22:27)A multipolar world is bad, but better than the alternative: nuclear war (28:50)Taiwan's position is essentially indefensible — and the rest of the world needs to be honest with them about that (33:24)AGI may or may not overcome existing nuclear deterrence (39:16)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

Daniel Holz studies black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology, all while also running the Existential Risk Laboratory...

Daniel Holz studies black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology, all while also running the Existential Risk Laboratory at the University of Chicago.

AI as Existential Risk or Government Tool (01:01:19 – 01:07:13) Covers contrasting perspectives on AI, including Yudkowsky's apocalyptic warnings, Kurzweil's utopian visions, and concerns that government and corporations will weaponize AI to control society. AI-Induced Psychosis and User Vulnerability (01:07:14 – 01:14:57) Explores real-world incidents of mental breakdowns linked to extended interactions with chatbots, with examples of hallucinations, delusions, and cases resulting in psychiatric commitment or death. The Rise of the 'Transgender Child' Narrative (01:36:36 – 01:47:46) Traces the origin and media promotion of transgender identity in children from psychiatric labeling in the 1960s to medical interventions and mainstream coverage starting in 2007. Critique of Parental Roles in Gender Transitioning (01:51:33 – 01:55:33) Analyzes how parental affirmation and social pressure may drive children toward transitioning. Highlights concerns of grooming, overbearing parenting, and ideological conformity pushed through media and schools. Tech Billionaires and the Loneliness Economy (02:01:11 – 02:04:56) Discusses the rise of AI chatbot companions promoted by Musk and Zuckerberg amid growing social isolation, especially post-COVID, with commentary on digital loneliness culture. Opposition to AI Data Centers and Local Government Overreach (02:04:39 – 02:11:25) Explores how data centers face public backlash due to environmental strain, government subsidies, secret land deals, and federal preemption overriding local control. Synthetic Human DNA and Government-Linked Bioengineering (02:12:52 – 02:18:55) Critiques the Synthetic Human Genome Project funded by the Wellcome Trust, warning about bioethical concerns, corporate motives, and genetic manipulation under state influence. Trump-Musk Feud and Political Fallout Over Big Beautiful Bill (02:29:59 – 02:38:44) Covers Musk's criticism of Trump's omnibus bill, the loss of fiscal credibility, and escalating personal accusations involving campaign money, subsidies, and Epstein-related smears. Foreign Lobby Influence and Israel Aid Criticized by Massey (02:56:53 – 03:01:36) Massey argues against foreign aid to Israel and questions the outsized influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. Attack ads conflate dissent with siding with enemies. AI Enforcement: Hertz Rental Scanners Issue Fines (03:16:51 – 03:20:424) Hertz's automated vehicle scanners are charging customers hundreds of dollars for minor or invisible damages. AI is criticized as an inflexible system used to extract fees without human judgment. Lab-Grown Meat and Failed Climate Tech Hype (03:20:24 – 03:23:30) Lab-grown meat is framed as another overhyped climate solution following the path of biofuels, with criticisms about its taste, cost, and reliance on manufactured optimism. Ohio COVID Official Eyes Governorship (03:24:07 – 03:25:08) Amy Acton, known for her strict COVID-era policies, is attempting a political comeback amid public distrust of health officials and changing attitudes on pandemic management. Psychological Damage from COVID Response (03:28:39 – 03:29:50) The lasting psychological trauma from pandemic-era mandates, including fear and isolation, is discussed as a societal failure with lingering effects on public behavior. DOJ Prosecutors Fired Over Jan 6 Cases (03:29:50 – 03:32:30) Multiple Justice Department prosecutors involved in January 6 cases were fired, with critics calling it a political purge and defenders noting the prosecutors' controversial actions. NYC Politician Proposes Taxing White Neighborhoods (03:32:31 – 03:33:58) Mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani supports shifting tax burdens to wealthier, whiter NYC neighborhoods, sparking backlash and accusations of racialized policymaking. Politicians Debate Loyalty to Israel (03:34:17 – 03:37:58) Candidates debate who supports Israel more strongly, with one refusing to commit to visiting Israel as mayor, highlighting how American politicians compete for pro-Israel credibility. Gaza Civilians Killed Seeking Aid (03:41:51 – 03:43:26) Over 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed trying to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, with Israeli forces accused of indiscriminate fire. The death toll has reached staggering levels. Civilian Casualties Ignored or Denied (03:44:29 – 03:45:21) Despite overwhelming death tolls, Israeli forces deny targeting civilians or claim ignorance of specific incidents, while critics cite clear evidence of indiscriminate attacks. Israeli Soldiers Admit Crowd Killings (03:53:27 – 03:55:01) Israeli soldiers reportedly confirm they are ordered to fire on crowds of aid-seekers, contradicting official narratives and reinforcing claims of systematic civilian targeting. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

AI as Existential Risk or Government Tool (01:01:19 – 01:07:13) Covers contrasting perspectives on AI, including Yudkowsky's apocalyptic warnings, Kurzweil's utopian visions, and concerns that government and corporations will weaponize AI to control society. AI-Induced Psychosis and User Vulnerability (01:07:14 – 01:14:57) Explores real-world incidents of mental breakdowns linked to extended interactions with chatbots, with examples of hallucinations, delusions, and cases resulting in psychiatric commitment or death. The Rise of the 'Transgender Child' Narrative (01:36:36 – 01:47:46) Traces the origin and media promotion of transgender identity in children from psychiatric labeling in the 1960s to medical interventions and mainstream coverage starting in 2007. Critique of Parental Roles in Gender Transitioning (01:51:33 – 01:55:33) Analyzes how parental affirmation and social pressure may drive children toward transitioning. Highlights concerns of grooming, overbearing parenting, and ideological conformity pushed through media and schools. Tech Billionaires and the Loneliness Economy (02:01:11 – 02:04:56) Discusses the rise of AI chatbot companions promoted by Musk and Zuckerberg amid growing social isolation, especially post-COVID, with commentary on digital loneliness culture. Opposition to AI Data Centers and Local Government Overreach (02:04:39 – 02:11:25) Explores how data centers face public backlash due to environmental strain, government subsidies, secret land deals, and federal preemption overriding local control. Synthetic Human DNA and Government-Linked Bioengineering (02:12:52 – 02:18:55) Critiques the Synthetic Human Genome Project funded by the Wellcome Trust, warning about bioethical concerns, corporate motives, and genetic manipulation under state influence. Trump-Musk Feud and Political Fallout Over Big Beautiful Bill (02:29:59 – 02:38:44) Covers Musk's criticism of Trump's omnibus bill, the loss of fiscal credibility, and escalating personal accusations involving campaign money, subsidies, and Epstein-related smears. Foreign Lobby Influence and Israel Aid Criticized by Massey (02:56:53 – 03:01:36) Massey argues against foreign aid to Israel and questions the outsized influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. Attack ads conflate dissent with siding with enemies. AI Enforcement: Hertz Rental Scanners Issue Fines (03:16:51 – 03:20:424) Hertz's automated vehicle scanners are charging customers hundreds of dollars for minor or invisible damages. AI is criticized as an inflexible system used to extract fees without human judgment. Lab-Grown Meat and Failed Climate Tech Hype (03:20:24 – 03:23:30) Lab-grown meat is framed as another overhyped climate solution following the path of biofuels, with criticisms about its taste, cost, and reliance on manufactured optimism. Ohio COVID Official Eyes Governorship (03:24:07 – 03:25:08) Amy Acton, known for her strict COVID-era policies, is attempting a political comeback amid public distrust of health officials and changing attitudes on pandemic management. Psychological Damage from COVID Response (03:28:39 – 03:29:50) The lasting psychological trauma from pandemic-era mandates, including fear and isolation, is discussed as a societal failure with lingering effects on public behavior. DOJ Prosecutors Fired Over Jan 6 Cases (03:29:50 – 03:32:30) Multiple Justice Department prosecutors involved in January 6 cases were fired, with critics calling it a political purge and defenders noting the prosecutors' controversial actions. NYC Politician Proposes Taxing White Neighborhoods (03:32:31 – 03:33:58) Mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani supports shifting tax burdens to wealthier, whiter NYC neighborhoods, sparking backlash and accusations of racialized policymaking. Politicians Debate Loyalty to Israel (03:34:17 – 03:37:58) Candidates debate who supports Israel more strongly, with one refusing to commit to visiting Israel as mayor, highlighting how American politicians compete for pro-Israel credibility. Gaza Civilians Killed Seeking Aid (03:41:51 – 03:43:26) Over 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed trying to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, with Israeli forces accused of indiscriminate fire. The death toll has reached staggering levels. Civilian Casualties Ignored or Denied (03:44:29 – 03:45:21) Despite overwhelming death tolls, Israeli forces deny targeting civilians or claim ignorance of specific incidents, while critics cite clear evidence of indiscriminate attacks. Israeli Soldiers Admit Crowd Killings (03:53:27 – 03:55:01) Israeli soldiers reportedly confirm they are ordered to fire on crowds of aid-seekers, contradicting official narratives and reinforcing claims of systematic civilian targeting. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

AI models today have a 50% chance of successfully completing a task that would take an expert human one hour. Seven months ago, that number was roughly 30 minutes — and seven months before that, 15 minutes.These are substantial, multi-step tasks requiring sustained focus: building web applications, conducting machine learning research, or solving complex programming challenges.Today's guest, Beth Barnes, is CEO of METR (Model Evaluation & Threat Research) — the leading organisation measuring these capabilities.These highlights are from episode #217 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Beth Barnes on the most important graph in AI right now — and the 7-month rule that governs its progress, and include:Can we see AI scheming in the chain of thought? (00:00:34)We have to test model honesty even before they're used inside AI companies (00:05:48)It's essential to thoroughly test relevant real-world tasks (00:10:13)Recursively self-improving AI might even be here in two years — which is alarming (00:16:09)Do we need external auditors doing AI safety tests, not just the companies themselves? (00:21:55)A case against safety-focused people working at frontier AI companies (00:29:30)Open-weighting models is often good, and Beth has changed her attitude about it (00:34:57)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

When you have a system where ministers almost never understand their portfolios, civil servants change jobs every few months, and MPs don't grasp parliamentary procedure even after decades in office — is the problem the people, or the structure they work in?Political journalist Ian Dunt studies the systemic reasons governments succeed and fail. And in his book How Westminster Works …and Why It Doesn't, he argues that Britain's government dysfunction and multi-decade failure to solve its key problems stems primarily from bad incentives and bad processes.These highlights are from episode #216 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Ian Dunt on why governments in Britain and elsewhere can't get anything done – and how to fix it, and include:Rob's intro (00:00:00)The UK is governed from a tiny cramped house (00:00:08)Replacing political distractions with departmental organisation (00:02:58)The profoundly dangerous development of "delegated legislation" (00:06:42)Do more independent-minded legislatures actually lead to better outcomes? (00:09:08)MPs waste much of their time helping constituents with random complaints (00:12:50)How to keep expert civil servants (00:15:44)Unlikely heroes in the House of Lords (00:18:33)Proportional representation and other alternatives to first-past-the-post (00:22:02)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

How much could our relationship with technology change by 2027? In the last few years, new artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek have transformed how we think about work, creativity, even intelligence itself. But tech experts are ringing alarm bells that powerful new AI systems that rival human intelligence are being developed faster than regulation, or even our understanding, can keep up with. Should we be worried? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer is joined by Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, to discuss AI 2027—a new report that forecasts AI's progression, where tech companies race to beat each other to develop superintelligent AI systems, and the existential risks ahead if safety rails are ignored. AI 2027 reads like science fiction, but Kokotajlo's team has direct knowledge of current research pipelines. Which is exactly why it's so concerning. How will artificial intelligence transform our world and how do we avoid the most dystopian outcomes? What happens when the line between man and machine disappears altogether? Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Daniel Kokotajlo Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

How much could our relationship with technology change by 2027? In the last few years, new artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek have transformed how we think about work, creativity, even intelligence itself. But tech experts are ringing alarm bells that powerful new AI systems that rival human intelligence are being developed faster than regulation, or even our understanding, can keep up with. Should we be worried? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer is joined by Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, to discuss AI 2027—a new report that forecasts AI's progression, where tech companies race to beat each other to develop superintelligent AI systems, and the existential risks ahead if safety rails are ignored. AI 2027 reads like science fiction, but Kokotajlo's team has direct knowledge of current research pipelines. Which is exactly why it's so concerning. How will artificial intelligence transform our world and how do we avoid the most dystopian outcomes? What happens when the line between man and machine disappears altogether? Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Daniel Kokotajlo Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

Throughout history, technological revolutions have fundamentally shifted the balance of power in society. The Industrial Revolution created conditions where democracies could dominate for the first time — as nations needed educated, informed, and empowered citizens to deploy advanced technologies and remain competitive.Unfortunately, there's every reason to think artificial general intelligence (AGI) will reverse that trend.In a new paper, Tom Davidson — senior research fellow at the Forethought Centre for AI Strategy — argues that advanced AI systems will enable unprecedented power grabs by tiny groups of people, primarily by removing the need for other human beings to participate.These highlights are from episode #215 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Tom Davidson on how AI-enabled coups could allow a tiny group to seize power, and include:"No person rules alone" — except now they might (00:00:13)The 3 threat scenarios (00:06:17)Underpinning all 3 threats: Secret AI loyalties (00:10:15)Is this common sense or far-fetched? (00:13:46)How to automate a military coup (00:17:41)If you took over the US, could you take over the whole world? (00:22:44)Secret loyalties all the way down (00:26:27)Is it important to have more than one powerful AI country? (00:29:59)What transparency actually looks like (00:33:08)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

Our subject in this episode may seem grim – it's the potential extinction of the human species, either from a natural disaster, like a supervolcano or an asteroid, or from our own human activities, such as nuclear weapons, greenhouse gas emissions, engineered biopathogens, misaligned artificial intelligence, or high energy physics experiments causing a cataclysmic rupture in space and time.These scenarios aren't pleasant to contemplate, but there's a school of thought that urges us to take them seriously – to think about the unthinkable, in the phrase coined in 1962 by pioneering futurist Herman Kahn. Over the last couple of decades, few people have been thinking about the unthinkable more carefully and systematically than our guest today, Sean ÓhÉigeartaigh. Sean is the author of a recent summary article from Cambridge University Press that we'll be discussing, “Extinction of the human species: What could cause it and how likely is it to occur?”Sean is presently based in Cambridge where he is a Programme Director at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. Previously he was founding Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, and before that, he managed research activities at the Future of Humanity Institute in Oxford.Selected follow-ups:Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh - Leverhulme Centre ProfileExtinction of the human species - by Sean ÓhÉigeartaighHerman Kahn - WikipediaMoral.me - by ConsciumClassifying global catastrophic risks - by Shahar Avin et alDefence in Depth Against Human Extinction - by Anders Sandberg et alThe Precipice - book by Toby OrdMeasuring AI Ability to Complete Long Tasks - by METRCold Takes - blog by Holden KarnofskyWhat Comes After the Paris AI Summit? - Article by SeanARC-AGI - by François CholletHenry Shevlin - Leverhulme Centre profileEleos (includes Rosie Campbell and Robert Long)NeurIPS talk by David ChalmersTrustworthy AI Systems To Monitor Other AI: Yoshua BengioThe Unilateralist's Curse - by Nick Bostrom and Anders SandbergMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, availabPromoguy Talk PillsAgency in Amsterdam dives into topics like Tech, AI, digital marketing, and more drama...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Most AI safety conversations centre on alignment: ensuring AI systems share our values and goals. But despite progress, we're unlikely to know we've solved the problem before the arrival of human-level and superhuman systems in as little as three years.So some — including Buck Shlegeris, CEO of Redwood Research — are developing a backup plan to safely deploy models we fear are actively scheming to harm us: so-called “AI control.” While this may sound mad, given the reluctance of AI companies to delay deploying anything they train, not developing such techniques is probably even crazier. These highlights are from episode #214 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Buck Shlegeris on controlling AI that wants to take over – so we can use it anyway, and include:What is AI control? (00:00:15)One way to catch AIs that are up to no good (00:07:00)What do we do once we catch a model trying to escape? (00:13:39)Team Human vs Team AI (00:18:24)If an AI escapes, is it likely to be able to beat humanity from there? (00:24:59)Is alignment still useful? (00:32:10)Could 10 safety-focused people in an AGI company do anything useful? (00:35:34)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org. Highlights put together by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/fJssGodnCQgConor and Arden sit down with Matt in his farewell episode to discuss the law, their team retreat, his lessons learned from 80k, and the fate of the show.

The 20th century saw unprecedented change: nuclear weapons, satellites, the rise and fall of communism, third-wave feminism, the internet, postmodernism, game theory, genetic engineering, the Big Bang theory, quantum mechanics, birth control, and more. Now imagine all of it compressed into just 10 years.That's the future Will MacAskill — philosopher and researcher at the Forethought Centre for AI Strategy — argues we need to prepare for in his new paper “Preparing for the intelligence explosion.” Not in the distant future, but probably in three to seven years.These highlights are from episode #213 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast: Will MacAskill on AI causing a “century in a decade” — and how we're completely unprepared, and include:Rob's intro (00:00:00)A century of history crammed into a decade (00:00:17)What does a good future with AGI even look like? (00:04:48)AI takeover might happen anyway — should we rush to load in our values? (00:09:29)Lock-in is plausible where it never was before (00:14:40)ML researchers are feverishly working to destroy their own power (00:20:07)People distrust utopianism for good reason (00:24:30)Non-technological disruption (00:29:18)The 3 intelligence explosions (00:31:10)These aren't necessarily the most important or even most entertaining parts of the interview — so if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode!And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org. Highlights put together by Simon Monsour, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

Zachary Mazlish is an economist at the University of Oxford, and he joins David on Macro Musings to explain some recent and important macroeconomic developments, specifically the inflation linkages to the 2024 presidential election and the macroeconomic implications of transformative AI. David and Zach also discuss transformative AI's impact on asset pricing, optimal monetary policy in world of high growth, the causes of the slowdown in trend productivity, and more.   Transcript for this week's  episode.   Zach's Twitter: @ZMazlish Zach's Substack Zach's website   David Beckworth's Twitter: @DavidBeckworth Follow us on Twitter: @Macro_Musings   Check out our new AI chatbot: the Macro Musebot! Join the new Macro Musings Discord server!   Join the Macro Musings mailing list! Check out our Macro Musings merch!   Related Links:   *Yes, Inflation Made the Median Voter Poorer* by Zachary Mazlish   *Transformative AI, Existential Risk, and Real Interest Rates* by Trevor Chow, Basil Halperin, and Zachary Mazlish   *Decomposing the Great Stagnation: Baumol's Cost Disease vs. “Ideas Are Getting Hard to Find”* by Basil Halperin and Zachary Mazlish   *The Unexpected Compression: Competition at Work in the Low Wage Labor Market* by David Autor, Arin Dube, and Annie McGrew   Timestamps:   (00:00:00) – Intro   (00:04:03) – Inflation Made the Median Voter Poorer: Comparing Periods of Wage Growth   (00:15:26) – Inflation Made the Median Voter Poorer: The Median Change in the Wage   (00:22:19) – Assessing the Feedback to Zachary's Article   (00:25:05) – The Significance of Transformative AI and its Double-Edged Sword   (00:27:02) – The Impact of Transformative AI on Asset Pricing and its Policy Challenges   (00:38:07) – The Broader Macroeconomic Effects of Rapid Growth   (00:41:05) – Optimal Monetary Policy in a World of High Growth   (00:43:19) – Exploring the Causes of the Productivity Slowdown   (00:49:21) – Outro