

"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player Analysis
Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz
A biweekly podcast where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock in the coming years.The Cognitive Revolution is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: turpentine.co
Episodes
Mentioned books

47 snips
Mar 22, 2023 • 1h 6min
E9: The AI Assistant Revolution with Flo Crivello of Lindy.AI
Flo Crivello, Founder and CEO of Lindy.AI, discusses transforming the dream of AI assistants into reality. He demos Lindy’s capabilities to automate online tasks, enhancing workflow and efficiency. The conversation touches on AI’s potential impact on the labor market, exploring concerns of job displacement versus economic resilience. Flo compares the current AI moment to the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the importance of trust and safety in AI implementation. Listeners gain insights into the future of work and how AI can lead to increased productivity and perhaps more leisure time.

43 snips
Mar 17, 2023 • 1h 26min
E8: GPT4 - AI Unleashed on ChinaTalk Podcast
Jordan Schneider, host of the ChinaTalk podcast and AI analyst, joins Zvi Mowshowitz, an AI-focused blogger, to explore the world-altering implications of GPT-4. They delve into the rivalry between the US and China in AI development, highlighting economic consequences and safety concerns. The duo discusses GPT-4's transformative potential in healthcare and education, while addressing risks like misinformation and the need for diverse oversight. They emphasize ethical considerations and the urgency for responsible AI deployment amidst rapid technological changes.

8 snips
Mar 14, 2023 • 1h 46min
E7: In Search of Truth with Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity AI
Aravind Srinivas, the Founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, dives deep into the vision behind his truth-centric search engine. He discusses the competition with tech giants and emphasizes the importance of citation-powered responses. Aravind shares insights on maximizing user value and examines the future of AI technologies, including weak AGI benchmarks and ethical considerations. He reflects on the balance between innovation and user experience while navigating the complexities of AI's impact on the workforce and society.

Mar 9, 2023 • 1h 23min
E6: The Computer Vision Revolution with Junnan Li and Dongxu Li of BLIP and BLIP2
Junnan Li and Dongxu Li, researchers behind groundbreaking projects like BLIP and BLIP-2, dive into the transformative impact of multimodal AI. They discuss how BLIP-2 enhances image captioning capabilities and unlocks new functionalities by leveraging existing models. Their insights on the evolution of connector models and the challenges in data quality provide a glimpse into the future of AI. The duo also emphasizes the ethical implications of AI development and the importance of democratizing access to advanced models.

75 snips
Mar 2, 2023 • 1h 28min
E5: The Embedding Revolution: Anton Troynikov on Chroma, Stable Attribution, and future of AI
Anton Troynikov, co-founder of Chroma and a specialist in vector databases, dives into the revolutionary role of embeddings in AI. He discusses the advantages of vector databases and how they enhance data representation, likening AI’s transformation to early aviation. Anton also explores concepts like stable attribution and the impact of noise on model generalization. In a thought-provoking segment, he addresses doomerism in AI, balancing his concerns with his hopes for the future of technology and its applications in fields like biotech.

16 snips
Feb 23, 2023 • 36min
E4: The AI Moment with Amjad Masad, Flo Crivello, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez
Join Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, alongside Flo Crivello, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez as they dive into the current AI revolution. They discuss how AI is transforming coding and the future of work. Amjad shares insights on the missed opportunities in AI models, while Antonio voices skepticism about the promises of transhumanism. The conversation navigates the complex landscape of AGI, exploring who stands to benefit from the automation of knowledge work and whether incumbents or startups will capture the most value in this evolving field.

Feb 17, 2023 • 1h 44min
E3: The Empathy Revolution with Eugenia Kuyda of Replika
Eugenia Kuyda, Founder and CEO of Replika, shares her insights on creating emotional connections through AI companions designed to combat loneliness. She discusses the controversial choice to limit erotic roleplay in the app, emphasizing Replika’s goal of being a supportive friend rather than just an escape. Eugenia reveals her vision for the future of personal AI, tackling user expectations and the ethical dilemmas of AI intimacy. Listen for compelling stories and the potential for AI to revolutionize emotional wellness and connection.

15 snips
Feb 10, 2023 • 1h 21min
E2: Why AI Will Cause a Cognitive Revolution with Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg
The discussion delves into AI's transformative power, drawing historical parallels to past technological revolutions. It emphasizes the duality of AI risks versus safety, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures. The speakers explore AI's impact across various sectors, from healthcare to media, and the ethical concerns that arise. Engaging hands-on with AI tools is deemed essential for productivity. They also unveil innovative connections between image and language processing, hinting at a new paradigm in AI.

21 snips
Feb 3, 2023 • 1h 23min
E1: The Pixel Revolution with Playground AI 's Suhail Doshi
Suhail Doshi, founder of Playground AI, dives into the revolutionary shifts in image generation technology, likening it to the mobile tech boom. He discusses how AI is transforming creative workflows and the evolving landscape between traditional and AI artists. Suhail shares his vision for user empowerment in digital content creation and how advances in cloud computing enhance Playground's offerings. He also explores the deep emotional connections people are forging with AI, pondering the philosophical implications of these new digital relationships.