AGI: Progress & Roadblocks

AGI isn’t just a scientific marvel, it’s an ethical Rubik’s cube wrapped in existential dread. In this episode, host Emily Laird explores the high-stakes world of AGI ethics, from the terrifying alignment problem (what if AGI optimizes us out of existence?) to its potential impact on jobs, inequality, and decision-making. Can we regulate the Wild West of AI before it’s too late? And how do we ensure AGI serves humanity rather than ruling it? Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AGI than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

How long until AGI becomes a reality? Ten years? Fifty? Or is it as far-fetched as teaching your dog to do taxes? In this episode, host Emily Laird tackles the messy business of predicting AGI’s arrival. From optimistic short-term forecasts to the philosophical long-haul debates, we explore expert perspectives, historical misses, and what’s keeping timelines so murky. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AGI than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

AGI may be the rabbit we’re trying to pull out of the magician’s hat, but it’s a trick that’s far from finished. In this episode, host Emily Laird unpacks the dazzling advancements in AI, from GPT-4’s impressive mimicry to DeepMind’s Swiss Army knife of systems, Gato. But it’s not all smooth sailing—training costs, energy guzzling, and a serious lack of common sense are just a few of the hurdles. We’ll explore moonshot solutions like neuromorphic hardware and teaching AI how to teach itself. It’s a messy, fascinating ride into the science of tomorrow. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AGI than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

Is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) the holy grail of AI or just a techie’s pipe dream? In this episode, host Emily Laird breaks down AGI’s elusive potential: an AI that doesn’t just crush one task but can think, reason, and solve problems across the board—just like humans, minus the coffee. We compare narrow AI to kitchen gadgets, explore why generative AI is a stepping stone, and ask the big, spooky questions: What if AGI outsmarts us? Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AGI than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In the final episode of Generative AI 101’s November recap series, we examine AI’s profound influence on society and sustainability. From ChatGPT’s staggering 3.7 billion visits to its potential to replace search engines, to AI-powered Jesus in a Swiss confessional booth (which is Emily's favorite by far), we tackle the thrilling, weird, and thought-provoking intersections of tech and humanity. Plus, we explore AI’s growing energy demands, predictions of human-level AI by 2026, and Google’s leaked “Jarvis” assistant prototype. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in the month of November 2024 than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In part three of our four-part November 2024 recap, we turn the spotlight on AI’s missteps and controversies. From OpenAI’s legal troubles over copyright infringement to Coca-Cola’s soulless (said people on X) AI-powered Christmas ad, we explore where AI stumbles in creativity and ethics. We also unpack Google’s chatbot Gemini delivering a shockingly hostile message and discuss the U.S. government’s bold plans for an AI arms race against China. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in the month of November 2024 than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In the second episode of our November series, Generative AI 101 unpacks the breakthroughs that make you say, “Wait, AI can do that now?” Discover how Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet is revolutionizing the way we process dense PDFs, explore AI’s role in predicting space weather to safeguard satellites, and learn how AI helped The Beatles earn a Grammy nod by reviving John Lennon’s voice. Finally, learn about taking a virtual tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Microsoft’s AI is blending cultural preservation with cutting-edge tech. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in the month of November 2024 than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In the first episode of our four-part series on November’s biggest AI stories, Generative AI 101 explores game-changing partnerships and industry shake-ups. Host Emily Laird explores Disney’s bold move to integrate AI and AR into storytelling magic, Anthropic’s collaboration with AWS and Palantir to bring ethical AI to national security, and Niantic’s use of Pokémon Go data to build a groundbreaking geospatial AI model. From Hollywood to the Pentagon and beyond, this episode unpacks how AI is reshaping industries and sparking debates about innovation and ethics. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in the month of November 2024 than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In the final episode of our AI in Space series, Emily Laird takes us to the edge of the cosmos, exploring how generative AI is helping answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone in the universe? From anomaly detection and simulating celestial phenomena to scanning exoplanet atmospheres for biosignatures, AI is revolutionizing the search for alien life. nk. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in Space than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn

In the third episode of our AI in Space series, Emily Laird explores how generative AI is transforming spacecraft design and production. From rapid prototyping that slashes timelines to topology optimization that makes parts lighter and stronger, discover how NASA is using AI to build smarter, tougher space tech. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode or have questions, reach out to Emily Laird on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of generative AI. And remember, you now know more about AI in Space than you did before!   Connect with Emily Laird on LinkedIn