Subliminal Learning in AI: Transmitting Behavioral Traits

Welcome back to The FAIK Files!

In this week's episode:

• Subliminal Learning: Listener "Max" brings us a fascinating (and concerning) story about AI model distillation and how "dark knowledge" can be passed along between AI systems
• AI Filmmaking vs. Fraud Crisis: We explore Dave Clark's innovative AI agent methodology for filmmaking, then pivot to Sam Altman's growing concerns about AI's potential for sophisticated fraud
• Get Ready to be Haggled by AI: Listener "Ty" alerts us to Delta Airlines' move toward AI-powered dynamic pricing that determines what YOU personally will pay for a ticket
• AI Search Ruins Everything: We dive into how Google's AI is fundamentally breaking search, the internet, and possibly your brain

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: https://sayhi.chat/FAIK

You can also join our Discord server here: https://discord.gg/cU7wepaz

***** NOTES AND REFERENCES *****

Subliminal Learning & Dark Knowledge:

• AI Model Distillation Can Pass Along 'Dark Knowledge': https://alignment.anthropic.com/2025/subliminal-learning/
• The Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.14805

AI Filmmaking & Fraud Concerns:

• Dave Clark's post and methodology: https://x.com/diesol/status/1944470227783442764
• Sam Altman is worried about AI fraud: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/22/tech/openai-sam-altman-fraud-crisis

AI Dynamic Pricing:

• Delta Airlines using AI to set prices for individual customers: https://fortune.com/2025/07/16/delta-moves-toward-eliminating-set-prices-in-favor-of-ai-that-determines-how-much-you-personally-will-pay-for-a-ticket/

AI Search Problems:

• Google's AI Is Destroying Search, the Internet, and Your Brain: https://www.404media.co/googles-ai-is-destroying-search-the-internet-and-your-brain/
• Marcus Hutchins' LinkedIn post on research publication challenges: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/malwaretech_this-is-what-its-like-publishing-research-activity-7353880053715275779-YkvM

***** THE BOILERPLATE *****

About The FAIK Files:

The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.

• Get the Book: FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions (Amazon Associates link)
• Check out the website for more info: https://thisbookisfaik.com

Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA
• Other:

Want to connect with us? Here's how:

Connect with Perry:

• Perry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter
• Perry on X: https://x.com/perrycarpenter
• Perry on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social

Connect with Mason:

• Mason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/
• Mason on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pregnantsonic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices