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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Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young embark on a technological odyssey, starting with Andrew’s recent acquisition of a Bamboo A1 3D printer. The excitement is palpable as Andrew shares his adventures in 3D printing everything from knives to whirligigs, showcasing the printer’s impressive capabilities. The conversation then shifts to AI, with the trio exploring Claude 3.5 and its ability to generate games and video content on the fly. From creating simple games with just a few prompts to discussing the future of 3D printing and AI in creative industries, the episode is a deep dive into how these technologies are reshaping our world.

Picks:

Brian Brushwood: The Dark Tower movie

Justin Robert Young: Audio AI for generating music

Andrew Mayne: Old Doctor Who episodes

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In this episode, Andrew Mayne and Justin Robert Young dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence, focusing on the recent announcements and developments from OpenAI and Google. They discuss the significance of OpenAI’s GPT-4.0, its capabilities, and how it was presented to the public through a live demonstration, contrasting it with Google’s approach of showing pre-recorded demos of their AI technology, Astra. The hosts explore the strategic timing of these announcements, the competitive nature of the AI industry, and the implications of these advancements for the future of technology. They also touch upon the broader landscape of AI research, including the contributions of other companies and the importance of management in driving innovation.

Picks:

Andrew: Interview with the Vampire series on AMC

Justin: OpenAI’s YouTube channel

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In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood tackle a range of topics from AI ethics and controversies surrounding celebrity voices in AI models, to the future of space exploration and the intriguing possibility of communicating with whales. Andrew shares insights from his time at OpenAI, debunking rumors about the misuse of Scarlett Johansson’s voice and discussing the advancements in AI technology. The trio also delves into the progress and challenges faced by space companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX, and the potential for humanity’s future in space. Additionally, they explore the fascinating idea of communicating with extraterrestrial life and the ethical considerations of advanced technologies.

Picks:

Brian: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Andrew: Severance (TV series)

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