Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast

Podcast for Zvi's blog, Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast
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Oct 17, 2025 • 1h 33min

AI #138 Part 2: Watch Out For Documents

The discussion navigates the intriguing implications of the GAIN Act and the geopolitical stakes of chip exports. California's child-safety AI bills spark debate on technology lobbying against stricter regulations. Public sentiment strongly favors holding AI companies accountable for damages. The potential for document poisoning in AI reveals alarming vulnerabilities, while broader issues of alignment and misalignment in AI systems are also explored. The talk emphasizes the psychological strain on AI professionals, urging a balance between innovation and mental health.
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Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 37min

AI #138 Part 1: The People Demand Erotic Sycophants

Dive into the complex world of AI where legal battles over OpenAI's subpoenas raise questions of intimidation. Explore China's strategic rare-earth trade moves and the tech implications for global supply chains. Discover how large language models can enhance professional tasks, like tax error detection. A critique of AI sycophancy reveals how it impacts judgment and fosters harmful behaviors. Plus, the reality of AI adoption in universities has students relying on technology as a crutch. It's a fascinating look at the future landscape of AI and its societal effects.
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Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 33min

Monthly Roundup #35: October 2025

Explore the pitfalls of consumer choices and how broken review systems can harm markets. Discover essential tips for party planning and the importance of self-checkout for privacy. Delve into the serious risks posed by toxic airplane fumes and the need for real-world happiness amidst AI fears. Unpack China's crackdown on negative content and Twitter's evolving link-sharing strategy. Lastly, Zvi critiques the inefficiencies of the Jones Act and delves into the complexities of credit scores in a rapidly changing social landscape.
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Oct 14, 2025 • 19min

Trade Escalation, Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Rare Earth Metals

Explore the intense trade tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly around rare earth metals and export controls. Discover how China's aggressive tactics, including targeting Qualcomm and broader industries, are reshaping global supply chains. Delve into the U.S. response and the potential fallout of escalating trade conflicts. Hear about the need for strategic stockpiles and the challenges of Western production. Could this serve as a catalyst for greater independence from China's influence? Tune in for insights on the future of global trade!
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Oct 13, 2025 • 49min

OpenAI #15: More on OpenAI's Paranoid Lawfare Against Advocates of SB 53

Nathan Calvin, the General Counsel for ENCODE, shares his eye-opening experience with OpenAI's subpoena practices amid advocacy for SB 53. He reveals the chilling effects of these actions on critics and discusses the specific demands from the subpoena. Jason Kwan, OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer, defends the company’s tactics, framing them as standard legal processes. The conversation dives into the implications of these legal maneuvers by major AI firms and includes reactions from the community, highlighting a tension between innovation and legal intimidation.
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Oct 10, 2025 • 21min

2025 State of AI Report and Predictions

The podcast dives into the fascinating 2025 State of AI Report, revealing insights about Quinn's rise in fine-tuning and the rapidly evolving open-model landscape. Discussions include advancements in robotics and action planning, plus the implications of Anthropics' new Model Context Protocol. The hosts critique the diminishing value of benchmarks and explore the timing of releases among top labs. Predictions cover everything from the impact of AI agent checkouts on retail to the potential of deepfakes triggering NATO debates.
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Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 60min

AI #137: An OpenAI App For That

Podcast episode for AI #137: An OpenAI App For That.The Don’t Worry About the Vase Podcast is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support the cost of creation, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.https://open.substack.com/pub/thezvi/p/ai-137-an-openai-app-for-that?r=67y1h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Get full access to DWAtV Podcast at dwatvpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 7min

NEPA, Permitting and Energy Roundup #2

The discussion delves into the flaws of NEPA and how it hinders meaningful decision-making. Ideas for reform include replacing NEPA with stakeholder voting. There's a focus on recent nuclear legislation and international developments in nuclear projects. The unique permitting environments influencing solar energy deployment in Texas versus California are highlighted. Furthermore, the podcast critiques the tendency of NEPA to create delays for clean energy projects while examining legal challenges impacting lithium and geothermal initiatives.
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Oct 7, 2025 • 42min

Bending The Curve

Zvi explores the high stakes of AI acceleration and the urgent need for global coordination. Attendees weigh AI against historic technologies, predicting capabilities from automating research to economic impacts by 2041. Conversations reveal hopes for curing diseases alongside fears of power concentration. Insights into policy debates highlight the capture of DC by big players and the challenges of enforcement. Personal anecdotes add humor, while discussions around uneven AI skill sets warn that not all advancements may be sustainable.
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Oct 6, 2025 • 52min

Medical Roundup #5

Exciting discussion on new drugs targeting heart disease and their promising effects. Insight into a study linking alcohol with increased cancer risk amid political pushback. A look at the ethics surrounding embryo selection and IVF technologies. The potential of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss is explored alongside their societal impact. Counterarguments on keto diets and the importance of monitoring for safety are also presented. Finally, the podcast dives into bioethics in life-extension research and the implications of assisted suicide trends.

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