Increments #91 - The Uses and Abuses of Statistics (with Ben Recht)
Sep 4, 2025
Ben Recht, a professor at UC Berkeley, explores the nuances of statistics and AI. He defends Bayesian approaches while humorously questioning the utility of statistics in daily life. The discussion dives into AI doom, the origins of the term 'robot,' and the contributions of Paul Meehl to science. Recht highlights the philosophical pitfalls of probabilistic reasoning in AI and debates the relevance of traditional statistical methods. Listen in for a thoughtful critique on the intersection of statistics, science, and societal perceptions of technology.
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Berkeley As A Cult Hub
- Berkeley has long been an epicenter of cult formation and fringe movements, Ben Recht says with a grin.
- He points out AI doom rationalists have a visible outpost there near other communal groups.
From Math To Philosophy Of ML
- Ben Recht moved from algorithmic foundations to historical, philosophical, and sociological questions about ML.
- He sees these perspectives as essential to understanding modern machine learning practice.
Use Morning Rituals To Blog
- Ben Recht built a morning blogging ritual to replace doom-scrolling and practice public-facing writing.
- Try a short daily writing habit to clarify ideas and maintain a low-pressure public practice.
