#218 – Hugh White on why Trump is abandoning US hegemony – and that’s probably good
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...
12 Jun 20252h 48min
#217 – Beth Barnes on the most important graph in AI right now — and the 7-month rule that governs its progress
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 mi...
2 Jun 20253h 47min
Beyond human minds: The bewildering frontier of consciousness in insects, AI, and more
What if there’s something it’s like to be a shrimp — or a chatbot?For centuries, humans have debated the nature of consciousness, often placing ourselves at the very top. But what about the minds of o...
23 Mai 20253h 34min
Don’t believe OpenAI’s “nonprofit” spin (emergency pod with Tyler Whitmer)
OpenAI’s recent announcement that its nonprofit would “retain control” of its for-profit business sounds reassuring. But this seemingly major concession, celebrated by so many, is in itself largely me...
15 Mai 20251h 12min
The case for and against AGI by 2030 (article by Benjamin Todd)
More and more people have been saying that we might have AGI (artificial general intelligence) before 2030. Is that really plausible? This article by Benjamin Todd looks into the cases for and against...
12 Mai 20251h
Emergency pod: Did OpenAI give up, or is this just a new trap? (with Rose Chan Loui)
When attorneys general intervene in corporate affairs, it usually means something has gone seriously wrong. In OpenAI’s case, it appears to have forced a dramatic reversal of the company’s plans to si...
8 Mai 20251h 2min
#216 – Ian Dunt on why governments in Britain and elsewhere can't get anything done – and how to fix it
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 —...
2 Mai 20253h 14min
Serendipity, weird bets, & cold emails that actually work: Career advice from 16 former guests
How do you navigate a career path when the future of work is uncertain? How important is mentorship versus immediate impact? Is it better to focus on your strengths or on the world’s most pressing pro...
24 Apr 20252h 18min
