The Last Invention EP 2: The Signal
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Oct 2, 2025 
Andy Mills, a journalist with a knack for storytelling, teams up with economist Robin Hanson, a keen observer of AI trends. They explore the historical roots of AI, diving into Turing's early visions and how WWII sparked its development. Fascinating debates unfold over the Turing Test's implications on human-machine relationships and the cultural narratives shaped by science fiction. They unveil how real-world events like the Cold War accelerated AI research, and they ponder the shifting tides of public perception in light of recent advancements like ChatGPT.
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Turing's Canary Signal
- Alan Turing framed the Turing test as a canary in the coal mine to signal when machines approach human-level language and knowledge.
- He intended it to change how people treated machines, not just to label them as "thinking."
Two Founding Paths Of AI
- The 1956 Dartmouth summer founded AI and split researchers into symbolists and connectionists over how to model intelligence.
- That foundational split still shapes modern AI approaches and debates.
Cold War Cash Fueled Early AI
- Marvin Minsky recalled that AI labs suddenly had more money than they knew what to do with during the Cold War funding boom.
- They built early systems like ELIZA and expected thinking robots to arrive soon.
