Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

Melissa Broudo, JD, MPH, is a passionate advocate for sex worker rights and harm reduction, shaping policies to support both sex workers and victims of trafficking. In this engaging discussion, she tackles the evolution of societal views on sex work, emphasizing empowerment over victimhood. Broudo explores various regulatory models worldwide, questioning their impact on safety and health. She also delves into the psychological complexities of sex work, addressing stigma, identity politics, and the intricate dynamics between empowerment and societal perceptions.

Ilya Sutskever, Co-founder and Chief Scientist of OpenAI, discusses the fascinating boundaries of artificial intelligence. He breaks down how GPT-3 predicts language and the implications of this on our understanding of intelligence. Sutskever addresses the challenges faced by academia in keeping pace with AI advancements and the balancing act between memorization and generalization in machine learning. He also highlights the potential risks of AI and emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations as technology evolves.

Peter Wildeford, Co-CEO of Rethink Priorities and a renowned forecaster, dives into the world of forecasting and prediction markets. He challenges traditional ideas about expertise, emphasizing reliability over credentials. The discussion touches on how non-experts often outperform respected sources in accuracy. Wildeford also highlights the importance of structured tracking for predictions, stressing the blend of human intuition and algorithms for better outcomes. Finally, he envisions a future where informed forecasting enhances decision-making across various fields.

In this engaging conversation, computer scientist and philosopher Joscha Bach discusses the intricate nature of intelligence and the distinctions between human cognition and AI, exemplified by GPT-3. He explores how the narratives we tell ourselves can influence suffering and highlights the transformative power of love through a computational lens. The fascinating notion of the universe as a computational system is unpacked, along with deep insights into consciousness, AI advancements, and the philosophical dimensions of existence.

Pablos Holman, a hacker and inventor known for his impactful TED Talks, dives into the fascinating world of food technology, discussing innovative 3D-printed meals and their potential to revolutionize personalized nutrition. He explores public perceptions of nuclear energy, emphasizing its role in a carbon-free future and the need for better regulation in tech innovation. Holman also unpacks the complexities of intellectual property rights and encourages the transformation of how we approach groundbreaking technologies, balancing safety with creativity in our rapidly evolving world.

Join Övül Sezer, a behavioral scientist and stand-up comedian from Columbia University, as she unpacks the nuances of impression management. She discusses the effects of humble-bragging versus straightforward bragging, illustrating the importance of authenticity in self-promotion. Övül explores the intriguing concept of counter-signaling, revealing how status can be communicated through casual appearances. Dive into the dynamics of gratitude in communication and how acknowledging contributions strengthens teamwork and relationships.

In this discussion, Habiba Islam, an advisor at 80,000 Hours and former barrister, explores the balance between ambition and altruism. She tackles how to set lofty career goals while calculating expected values, especially when probabilities become extreme. The conversation highlights the necessity of pragmatic backup plans and community support to navigate risks. Habiba also critiques traditional views in effective altruism, urging a deeper understanding of ethical responsibilities towards future generations, particularly in light of climate change.

Alexa Tullett, a social psychologist at the University of Alabama, dives into the intricacies of scientific integrity and belief change. She questions the reliability of traditional p-values and discusses 'importance laundering' in research. Tullett contrasts open science with inspired science, emphasizing the need for transparency. The conversation also broaches the challenges of meta-analyses and the nuances of ego depletion. Additionally, she explores innovative approaches to college admissions and the pressing role of accountability in the justice system.

Join Will MacAskill, a philosophy professor at the University of Oxford and co-founder of effective altruism initiatives, as he explores the ethical framework of long-termism. He discusses how today's actions may shape the future of humanity, weighing the importance of resource allocation and the risks of extinction. MacAskill addresses the perplexities of decision-making in altruism, highlighting the balance between short-term efforts and long-term impact. He delves into navigating uncertainty, advocating for a culture that embraces exploration while targeting meaningful global change.

Alexander Prescott-Couch, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford and writer for journals like Noûs, dives into the intriguing divide between analytic and continental philosophy. He discusses the genetic fallacy and how historical context shapes belief assessment. They explore the contrasting methods of each philosophical approach, from clarity and logic in analytics to the poetic insights of continentals. The role of intuition in ethical debates is also scrutinized, shedding light on its complexities and biases within moral reasoning.