Dennis Yi Tenen, an associate professor at Columbia University and author of "Literary Theory for Robots," explores the relationship between AI and creative work. He argues that AI shouldn’t be feared in the job market, as leveraging tools for creativity is nothing new. The conversation dives into the historical evolution of writing technology, from looms to modern AI, and the collaborative nature of storytelling. Tenen highlights how story templates engage audiences and suggests that AI can enhance, rather than replace, human creativity.

Dennis Yi Tenen, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, discusses the hidden history of modern machine intelligence influenced by medieval poetry and Russian folktales. They explore similarities in folk tales across cultures and the impact of high-definition televisions on perception. They challenge the misconception of technology as independent, discuss limitations of language models, and emphasize the importance of historical context in understanding technology. They also reflect on nostalgia in music and desire to produce Jesus Christ Superstar in Moldovan.