Podcasts – Weird Things

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young (eventually) take us on a journey from the depths of space to the mysteries of our ancient past. They kick off with space news, discussing the return path for astronauts via SpaceX, not Boeing’s Starliner, and delve into the grounding of SpaceX launches due to a mishap. The conversation then shifts to a natural phenomenon where butterflies harness static electricity, and ancient shark attack victims, suggesting our long history with these marine predators. The aquatic ape theory is skeptically revisited, pondering human evolution’s ties to water. The episode wraps up with a dive into the MCU, specifically the Secret Invasion series, contrasting its comic book origins with its MCU portrayal, and reflecting on the MCU’s evolution and future. Picks: Brian Brushwood: Secret Invasion (comic book) Andrew Mayne: Foundation (novel series by Isaac Asimov) Justin Robert Young: Being a new dad Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240901203735_2024-08-30-weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240901203735_2024-08-30-weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In Andrew’s absence, Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood tackle the recent SpaceX launch hiccup, where a ‘very rare glitch’ led to an unscheduled disassembly mid-mission, potentially jeopardizing the Starlink satellites’ deployment. The duo then shifts gears to a speculative debate on the future of human genetic modification for space travel, pondering the ethical implications and societal acceptance of such advancements. Amidst these discussions, they touch on AI’s role in music creation, sharing anecdotes and opinions on its evolving presence in the arts. Picks: Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240718200827_2024-07-18-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240718200827_2024-07-18-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the evolving landscape of aviation technology. They discuss the myriad of companies attempting to develop next-generation aerial vehicles, including those adding excessive propellers to electric helicopters in hopes of making flying cars a reality. The trio delves into alternative aviation technologies, such as gyrocopters and other innovative designs that aim to improve safety and efficiency in air travel. Despite some companies’ unfortunate mishaps, including founders dying during testing, the hosts remain optimistic about the future of aviation, predicting the use of human-rated flying vehicles in cities by the end of the decade. Picks: Andrew Mayne: The Prestige Justin Robert Young: X-Men ’97 Brian Brushwood: Sh?gun Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240708193145_2024-07-08-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240708193145_2024-07-08-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne and Justin Robert Young dissect Apple’s approach to integrating AI into its ecosystem with a strong emphasis on privacy. They speculate on the implications of Apple’s strategy to handle AI processing on-device as much as possible, while also offering cloud processing with user permission. The trio discusses the technical hurdles, Apple’s historical stance on privacy, and how these factors influence the development of Siri and other Apple services. They ponder the future of AI in Apple products, including the potential for Siri to become smarter and more useful, and the integration of third-party AI models. Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240614190952_WT061424.m4a [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240614190952_WT061424.m4a

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young embark on a technological odyssey, starting with Andrew’s recent acquisition of a Bamboo A1 3D printer. The excitement is palpable as Andrew shares his adventures in 3D printing everything from knives to whirligigs, showcasing the printer’s impressive capabilities. The conversation then shifts to AI, with the trio exploring Claude 3.5 and its ability to generate games and video content on the fly. From creating simple games with just a few prompts to discussing the future of 3D printing and AI in creative industries, the episode is a deep dive into how these technologies are reshaping our world. Picks: Brian Brushwood: The Dark Tower movie Justin Robert Young: Audio AI for generating music Andrew Mayne: Old Doctor Who episodes Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240628183234_2024-06-28-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240628183234_2024-06-28-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In this episode, Andrew Mayne and Justin Robert Young dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence, focusing on the recent announcements and developments from OpenAI and Google. They discuss the significance of OpenAI’s GPT-4.0, its capabilities, and how it was presented to the public through a live demonstration, contrasting it with Google’s approach of showing pre-recorded demos of their AI technology, Astra. The hosts explore the strategic timing of these announcements, the competitive nature of the AI industry, and the implications of these advancements for the future of technology. They also touch upon the broader landscape of AI research, including the contributions of other companies and the importance of management in driving innovation. Picks: Andrew: Interview with the Vampire series on AMC Justin: OpenAI’s YouTube channel Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240603224826_riverside_justin_robert_young.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240603224826_riverside_justin_robert_young.mp3

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood tackle a range of topics from AI ethics and controversies surrounding celebrity voices in AI models, to the future of space exploration and the intriguing possibility of communicating with whales. Andrew shares insights from his time at OpenAI, debunking rumors about the misuse of Scarlett Johansson’s voice and discussing the advancements in AI technology. The trio also delves into the progress and challenges faced by space companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX, and the potential for humanity’s future in space. Additionally, they explore the fascinating idea of communicating with extraterrestrial life and the ethical considerations of advanced technologies. Picks: Brian: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant Andrew: Severance (TV series) Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240527214132_2024-05-24-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240527214132_2024-05-24-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a philosophical journey, starting with a tribute to the late Daniel Dennett, whose work on consciousness and thought experiments left a profound impact on Andrew. The conversation then shifts to AI, with Facebook’s new Llama 3 model stirring the pot in the open-source community, and robotics, where Boston Dynamics’ new Atlas robot demonstrates terrifying agility. The episode wraps up with the discovery of a potentially record-breaking fossilized snake, sparking a mix of awe and existential dread among the hosts. Picks: Andrew Mayne: Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett Brian Brushwood: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Justin Robert Young: House of the Dragon (HBO series) Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240423014053_2024-04-19-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240423014053_2024-04-19-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the fascinating frontier of AI-generated music. They kick things off with a nod to AI’s role in creating a musical version of Doom, then pivot to discussing various AI music platforms like Sun AI and Audio, comparing their capabilities and outputs. The trio marvels at the potential for AI to revolutionize everything from personalized songs about daily itineraries to educational tunes about complex subjects like Broca’s area in the brain. Throughout, they maintain a blend of awe and skepticism, pondering the implications of AI’s rapid development on creativity, education, and personal expression. Picks: Brian Brushwood: Fallout TV series Justin Robert Young: The Regime on HBO Andrew Mayne: Shogun Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240415013154_2024-04-12-weird-things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240415013154_2024-04-12-weird-things_mixdown.mp3

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence, discussing its current capabilities, future potential, and ethical considerations. From AI’s role in personal training and spam evolution to its application in coding and art generation, the hosts cover a broad spectrum. They highlight the efficiency and affordability of AI in creating content, including music and images, and ponder its impact on the creative industry. The conversation also touches on the regulatory landscape, with a particular focus on the EU’s approach to AI governance. Picks: Justin Robert Young: The Regime on HBO Max Brian Brushwood: The Naked Gun Andrew Mayne: sun.ai and cursor.sh Support Weird Things on Patreon Subscribe to the Weird Things podcast on iTunes Podcasts Podcast RSS feed Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240409222700_2024-04-05-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3 [podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20240409222700_2024-04-05-Weird_things_mixdown.mp3