Robert Wright's Nonzero

Robert Wright and Andrew Day discuss items from The Earthling.Read this edition of The Earthling at: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:33 Bob and Tim seek Substack synergy 2:31 What was the OpenAI drama really about? 14:49 Viewing the drama through a (cynical) psychological lens 21:19 Were reports of a safety vs speed schism greatly exaggerated? 29:53 Larry Summers joins OpenAI’s board… time to panic? 40:21 Superintelligence, Sam Altman, and the singularity 44:53 Altman’s not so veiled ignorance 49:17 Overtime preview: superintelligence skepticism, the truth about effective altruism, self-driving car speed bumps, and moreRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Timothy B. Lee (Full Stack Economics, Understanding AI). Recorded November 29, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

1:23 Biden’s vexing political calculus on Israel-Palestine 10:13 Israel-Palestine compared to Russia-Ukraine 13:56 If Israel eliminates Hamas, what happens next? 23:14 Can anything good come out of the present crisis? 29:53 The meaning of “From the river to the sea…” 37:47 Why the 2000 Camp David Summit failed 44:19 Where is Palestine's Nelson Mandela? 54:45 Assessing US media coverage of the Gaza warRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Omar Baddar (Arab American Institute, Public Citizen). Recorded November 28, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:34 Preamble: The OpenAI drama and this conversation 3:46 Where Dan falls on the AI doomer spectrum 6:42 Is safe AI possible without international cooperation? 12:38 Are we selecting AI for truth or engagement? 25:53 Using “psychology” to understand—and control—AI 31:08 The worrisome Darwinian dynamics of AI development 40:37 Life after an AI takeover 51:52 How structural incentives make AI safety harderRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Dan Hendrycks (The Center for AI Safety). Recorded October 10, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:33 Tom’s new book, Getting Russia Right 2:13 Does Putin want to take more territory before talking peace? 12:35 Putin’s "messianic" transformation 22:41 America’s failed effort to Americanize Russia 32:46 Does the US focus too much on other nations’ internal affairs? 41:10 The 2004 event that sunk US-Russia relations 49:16 Why Tom supports a diplomatic resetRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Thomas Graham (Council on Foreign Relations, Getting Russia Right). Recorded November 09, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org1:51 Susan’s new book, Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise 7:28 China’s turn to more assertive policies in 2007 15:30 The well-intentioned reform that produced big authoritarian consequences 25:20 How public opinion influences autocratic leaders 31:53 Xi Jinping’s purge of suspect officials 41:52 Does Beijing feel threatened by America? 48:20 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Susan Shirk (University of California San Diego, Overreach). Recorded October 23, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

3:07 Will Israel-Palestine cost Biden the election? 12:20 What Hamas hoped to accomplish on October 7 24:30 The surprising origins of cancel culture 32:00 Matt defends his ratioed tweet 44:41 The persistent psychological impact of the Holocaust 55:53 Is a one-state solution realistic? 1:16:50 What Ukrainians and Palestinians have in common 1:26:43 Anti-Palestine sentiment and Christian Zionism in America 1:36:09 How the current crisis could lead to war with Iran 1:45:35 Bob gives Matt podcasting adviceRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Matthew Yglesias (slowboring.com). Recorded November 14, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.orgRobert Wright and Andrew Day discuss items from The Earthling.Read this edition of the Earthling at: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/the-river-to-the-sea-rorschach-testRecorded November 10, 2023.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org3:30 Is Paul Bloom the next Tony Robbins? 10:47 Things to know about the noosphere 19:34 How Bob and Paul work 28:58 What Michael Lewis’s SBF bio reveals about SBF (and Michael Lewis) 35:46 SBF and Elon Musk: compare and contrast 38:34 Are SBF’s parents to blame? 42:28 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded November 8, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

2:49 Ron’s initial reaction to the October 7 atrocities 8:38 How Israel’s far right undermined Israel’s national security 17:40 Support for the Gaza war in Israel 26:34 The trouble with “eradicating” Hamas 32:23 How American Jews are responding to recent events 43:06 Post-October-7 prospects for solving Israel-Palestine 53:09 The rhetorical abuse of the Holocaust 57:37 The origins and meaning of “From the river to the sea…” 1:10:06 Could the Gaza war cost Biden the election? 1:17:16 Competing visions of Zionism 1:23:43 How terrorism impacts the Palestinian causeRobert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Ron Kampeas (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). Recorded November 07, 2023.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe