Making Sense with Sam Harris #319 — The Digital Multiverse
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May 15, 2023 David Auerbach, a writer and technologist with a background at Google and Microsoft, shares his insights on the digital world's challenges. They explore the trade-offs between liberty and cooperation in online spaces. Auerbach discusses the rise of 'meganets' and their impact on our perceptions. He highlights difficulties in combating misinformation and the role of AI in shaping discourse. The conversation also addresses online identity issues and the importance of breaking free from digital bubbles to foster better understanding across differing viewpoints.
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Meganets Defined
- Meganets are opaque data networks, encompassing algorithms and human users, that shape our worldview.
- Their velocity, volume, and virality make fine-grained control impossible.
Meganet Examples
- Meganets exist beyond social media, including online gaming, cryptocurrency, and government services.
- India's Aadhaar system exemplifies how centralized IDs create feedback effects across systems.
Virality and Feedback
- Virality in meganets refers to uncontrolled feedback loops where systems change before results can be analyzed.
- User interactions constantly reshape algorithms, leading to unpredictable viral amplification.
