In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the cutting edge of AI technology. Andrew kicks things off with a magic trick performed for an AI, showcasing the interactive capabilities of current AI models. The trio discusses the recent advancements in AI, including live video features and the implications for content creation. They also delve into the capabilities and limitations of video generation tools like So, offering tips for users to get the most out of these platforms. The conversation highlights the rapid pace of AI development and its potential to revolutionize various industries.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: Lower Decks

Justin Robert Young: OpenAI announcements on YouTube

Andrew Mayne: Not specified, but discussed disappointment with a certain sci-fi show and recommended Skeleton Crew

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In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a brief chat about the latest addition to Justin’s family and the implications of raising a child in today’s tech-saturated world. The conversation quickly shifts to Elon Musk’s recent showcase of Tesla’s advancements in robotics, including the Optimus robot and the Cyber Cab. The hosts speculate on the impact of these technologies on the future, from personal robotics to autonomous transportation networks. Additionally, they touch upon the phenomenon of sky quakes, debating their possible explanations and expressing skepticism about their origins. Throughout, the trio maintains a slightly irreverent tone, mixing in personal anecdotes and broader societal observations.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life by Rory Sutherland

Justin Robert Young: The Peripheral (TV Show)

Andrew Mayne: The 13th Warrior (Movie)

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In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the advancements in AI, marvel at SpaceX’s successful catch of the Starship’s first stage, and ponder the future of robotics, including Tesla’s Optimus. They discuss the implications of these developments and share their excitement for what this means for the future. The conversation also touches on the potential for AI and robotics to revolutionize industries and personal capabilities, with a nod to the importance of keeping up with these technologies.

Picks:

Andrew Mayne: Tribalism is Dumb by Andrew Heaton

Brian Brushwood: The Apprentice movie

Justin Robert Young: Civil War by Alex Garland

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This week, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young explore the forefront of AI technology, from OpenAI’s Dev Day revelations to Meta’s video AI marvels. They discuss the practical applications and implications of these advancements, such as customer service bots and AI-assisted video production, while also pondering the ethical and professional impacts on fields like medicine. The episode veers into a critique of current content production costs and praises for shows that manage to do more with less. Picks from the hosts include AI-related resources and entertainment that captures the spirit of innovation.

Picks:

Justin Robert Young: Agatha: Coven of Chaos on Disney+

Brian Brushwood: Only Murders in the Building

Andrew Mayne: Awillow.com/book by JF Dubeau

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In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a chat about the weather before diving into the world of augmented reality and virtual reality. They discuss the limitations of Apple’s Vision Pro and the potential of Facebook’s Project Orion, comparing the two and expressing their hopes for the future of AR. The conversation then shifts to acoustic holograms, showcasing how sound can be used to manipulate objects in space, creating what could be the future of holographic displays. The trio also touches on the advancements in AI, demonstrating how smaller, faster models can generate content and perform tasks with impressive speed and accuracy. Throughout the episode, the hosts maintain a slightly irreverent tone, mixing in their personal experiences and opinions on the tech industry.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: I’m Beginning to Get Worried About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

Justin Robert Young: Mr. McMahon on Netflix

Andrew Mayne: Alien Rom

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In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dive into a discussion that starts with Justin’s craving for a burrito and evolves into a conversation about the future of delivery services, including drones and autonomous vehicles like Waymo and Zoox. They explore the implications of AI advancements for space exploration, particularly on Mars, and the ethical considerations of colonizing planets with existing ecosystems. The trio also touches on the potential for AI in scientific research and ends with a speculative journey into a cave, humorously debating the essentials one might need, from snacks to an air horn.

Picks:

Justin Robert Young: The Wire Season 2

Brian Brushwood: The Sopranos

Andrew Mayne: The Eagle

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Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young kick off the episode with a dive into AI advancements, particularly focusing on OpenAI’s new model, Strawberry. Andrew shares a personal anecdote about attending a Matrix screening that turns into a surprise adventure, highlighting the unpredictability of life and the importance of choosing the ‘red pill’ moments. The discussion shifts to SpaceX’s latest mission, Polaris Dawn, marking significant milestones in private space exploration. The episode wraps up with the hosts sharing their latest Netflix picks, all while weaving in their unique insights and irreverent humor.

Picks:

Justin Robert Young: The Perfect Couple on Netflix

Brian Brushwood: Rebel Ridge on Netflix

Andrew Mayne: Rip on Netflix

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Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young (eventually) take us on a journey from the depths of space to the mysteries of our ancient past. They kick off with space news, discussing the return path for astronauts via SpaceX, not Boeing’s Starliner, and delve into the grounding of SpaceX launches due to a mishap. The conversation then shifts to a natural phenomenon where butterflies harness static electricity, and ancient shark attack victims, suggesting our long history with these marine predators. The aquatic ape theory is skeptically revisited, pondering human evolution’s ties to water. The episode wraps up with a dive into the MCU, specifically the Secret Invasion series, contrasting its comic book origins with its MCU portrayal, and reflecting on the MCU’s evolution and future.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: Secret Invasion (comic book)

Andrew Mayne: Foundation (novel series by Isaac Asimov)

Justin Robert Young: Being a new dad

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In Andrew’s absence, Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood tackle the recent SpaceX launch hiccup, where a ‘very rare glitch’ led to an unscheduled disassembly mid-mission, potentially jeopardizing the Starlink satellites’ deployment. The duo then shifts gears to a speculative debate on the future of human genetic modification for space travel, pondering the ethical implications and societal acceptance of such advancements. Amidst these discussions, they touch on AI’s role in music creation, sharing anecdotes and opinions on its evolving presence in the arts.

Picks:

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In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the evolving landscape of aviation technology. They discuss the myriad of companies attempting to develop next-generation aerial vehicles, including those adding excessive propellers to electric helicopters in hopes of making flying cars a reality. The trio delves into alternative aviation technologies, such as gyrocopters and other innovative designs that aim to improve safety and efficiency in air travel. Despite some companies’ unfortunate mishaps, including founders dying during testing, the hosts remain optimistic about the future of aviation, predicting the use of human-rated flying vehicles in cities by the end of the decade.

Picks:

Andrew Mayne: The Prestige

Justin Robert Young: X-Men ’97

Brian Brushwood: Sh?gun

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Andrew Mayne and Justin Robert Young dissect Apple’s approach to integrating AI into its ecosystem with a strong emphasis on privacy. They speculate on the implications of Apple’s strategy to handle AI processing on-device as much as possible, while also offering cloud processing with user permission. The trio discusses the technical hurdles, Apple’s historical stance on privacy, and how these factors influence the development of Siri and other Apple services. They ponder the future of AI in Apple products, including the potential for Siri to become smarter and more useful, and the integration of third-party AI models.

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