In 'Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure', Maggie Jackson challenges the conventional view of uncertainty as a flaw and instead presents it as a crucial mindset for navigating complex crises. The book, based on extensive research and interviews, highlights how uncertainty can foster creativity, curiosity, adaptability, and resilience. Jackson examines various domains, including laboratories, political campaigns, and artificial intelligence, to illustrate the positive impact of embracing uncertainty. The book argues that uncertainty is not a hindrance but a necessary component for incisive thinking and day-to-day flourishing in an unpredictable world.
In this book, Stuart Russell explores the concept of intelligence in humans and machines, outlining the near-term benefits and potential risks of AI. He discusses the misuse of AI, from lethal autonomous weapons to viral sabotage, and proposes a novel solution by rebuilding AI on a new foundation where machines are inherently uncertain about human preferences. This approach aims to create machines that are humble, altruistic, and committed to pursuing human objectives, ensuring they remain provably deferential and beneficial to humans.
In this episode, we welcome Maggie Jackson, whose latest book, Uncertain, has become essential reading for navigating today’s complex world. Known for her groundbreaking work on attention and distraction, Maggie now turns her focus to uncertainty—not as a problem to be solved, but as a skill to be cultivated.
Note: Uncertain won an Artificiality Book Award in 2024—check out our review here: https://www.artificiality.world/artificiality-book-awards-2024/
In the interview, we explore the neuroscience of uncertainty, the cultural biases that make us crave certainty, and why our discomfort with the unknown may be holding us back. Maggie unpacks the two core types of uncertainty—what we can’t know and what we don’t yet know—and explains why understanding this distinction is crucial for thinking well in the digital age.
Our conversation also explores the implications of AI—as technology increasingly mediates our reality, how do we remain critical thinkers? How do we resist the illusion of certainty in a world of algorithmically generated answers
Maggie’s insights challenge us to reframe uncertainty—not as fear, but as an opportunity for discovery, adaptability, and even creativity. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by ambiguity or pressured to always have the “right” answer, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on why being uncertain might be one of our greatest human strengths.
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Thanks again to Jonathan Coulton for our music.
Artificiality: Minds Meeting Machines 
