Economist Podcasts
The Intelligence: The Economist reads
Dec 28, 2023
Oliver Morton, the Planetary Affairs Editor for The Economist, and Shashank Joshi, the Defence Editor, dive into the insights literature offers on pressing societal issues. They discuss how 'A Space Odyssey' reflects our anxieties about AI, while Shakespeare's 'Othello' serves as a cautionary tale for today's political landscape. The conversation links historical wars, like the Yom Kippur conflict, to modern strategies and highlights the fragility of democracy, drawing parallels with contemporary political figures and global struggles.
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Quick takeaways
- Exploring different aspects of artificial intelligence, science fiction books like '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' shed light on AI's potential for self-awareness and its impact on human society.
- Books such as 'The Control of Nature' and 'The Yom Kippur War' provide valuable insights into human efforts to control nature and the lessons learned from historical conflicts, emphasizing the need to adapt to our changing environment and the role of military strategies in shaping the outcomes of wars.
Deep dives
Books that explore AI in science fiction
In the podcast episode, the speaker discusses several science fiction books that delve into the topic of artificial intelligence. Some notable mentions include '2001: A Space Odyssey' by Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick, 'The Life Cycle of Software Objects' by Ted Chang, 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' by Harlan Ellison, and 'Queen of Angels' by Greg Bear. These books explore different aspects of AI, from its potential for self-awareness to its impact on human society.
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