
Interconnects
Audio essays about the latest developments in AI and interviews with leading scientists in the field. Breaking the hype, understanding what's under the hood, and telling stories. www.interconnects.ai
Latest episodes

Oct 2, 2024 • 10min
[Article Voiceover] AI Safety's Crux: Culture vs. Capitalism
The podcast dives into the clash between AI safety and the commercialization frenzy sweeping the industry. Discussions highlight the recent internal turmoil at OpenAI and California's SB 1047 as a test for AI regulations. It examines how the pressure to conform to big tech standards can undermine safety protocols. The tension of capitalism driving innovation while risking ethical considerations makes for a thought-provoking analysis of modern AI challenges.

14 snips
Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 9min
Interviewing Riley Goodside on the science of prompting
Riley Goodside, a staff prompt engineer at Scale AI and former data scientist, delves into the intricacies of prompt engineering. He shares how writing prompts can be likened to coding and the recent advancements spurred by ChatGPT. The discussion covers various AI models, including o1 and Reflection 70B, emphasizing the importance of evaluation methods and user control in AI interactions. Goodside also highlights the evolving community of prompt engineers and the pressing need for education in effectively utilizing AI.

Sep 27, 2024 • 14min
[Article Voiceover] Llama 3.2 Vision and Molmo: Foundations for the multimodal open-source ecosystem
Dive into the fascinating world of open-source AI with a detailed look at Llama 3.2 Vision and Molmo. Explore how multimodal models enhance capabilities by integrating visual inputs with text. Discover the architectural differences and performance comparisons among leading models. The discussion delves into current challenges, the future of generative AI, and what makes the open-source movement vital for developers. Tune in for insights that bridge technology and creativity in the evolving landscape of AI!

Sep 17, 2024 • 19min
[Article Voiceover] Reverse engineering OpenAI's o1
Dive into the future of AI with OpenAI's groundbreaking O1 reasoning system. Explore its innovative training methods and real-time inference capabilities. Delve into the challenges of scaling reinforcement learning models and the complexities of balancing human preferences with computational needs. Discover the evolution of language models and their potential to become more integrated tools in our lives. It's an exciting look at cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence!

Sep 11, 2024 • 12min
Futures of the data foundry business model
The discussion dives into the competitive dynamics of data foundries, contrasting synthetic and human-annotated data for AI training. It explores the implications of advancing reinforcement learning with human feedback. A key focus is the future of data foundries as AI dependence escalates, highlighting potential growth vectors and the associated risks. The conversation also touches on how companies like Nvidia could dominate profits in the evolving data market. Expect insights that provoke thought about the future of AI and data sourcing!

Sep 10, 2024 • 6min
A post-training approach to AI regulation with Model Specs
Discover the pivotal role of model specifications in AI regulation. The discussion delves into current regulatory trends, emphasizing transparency and responsible AI use. It highlights the importance of documenting intentions behind computational models, fostering connections among stakeholders. The hosts explore how clear specifications can mitigate risks and anticipate future developments, paving the way for ongoing dialogue in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Sep 5, 2024 • 11min
OpenAI's Strawberry, LM self-talk, inference scaling laws, and spending more on inference
Discover the fascinating advancements in AI with OpenAI's Strawberry method, designed to enhance reasoning in language models. The discussion reveals the importance of inference spending and structural changes shaping future AI products. Dive into the complexities of scaling inference, where reinforcement learning and reward models play a pivotal role. Understand why optimizing inference time is crucial and explore promising avenues for further research in this rapidly evolving field.

Sep 4, 2024 • 11min
OLMoE and the hidden simplicity in training better foundation models
Dive into the innovations behind OLMoE, a cutting-edge language model that excels among its peers. Explore the challenges of training complexity and organizational hurdles. Discover the secret sauce of compounding improvements that leads to better models. This conversation unpacks not just the tech, but the strategic thinking driving advancements in AI.

Aug 28, 2024 • 8min
On the current definitions of open-source AI and the state of the data commons
The discussion dives deep into the evolving definitions of open-source AI. It highlights the challenges faced by the data commons and the necessity for better documentation. Concerns about the implications of mandating fully released data are raised. Frustration with existing definitions is palpable, as examples are urgently needed to clarify the landscape. The dialogue emphasizes the balance between accessibility and regulation in the AI realm.

Aug 16, 2024 • 9min
Nous Hermes 3 and exploiting underspecified evaluations
The discussion kicks off with the launch of a new model, questioning what defines a 'frontier model.' Notable comparisons are drawn with LAMA 3.1 and the importance of transparent evaluation metrics emerges. The conversation elaborates on valuable lessons learned from the training process of Hermes 3. The broader implications for technology policy are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for integrity in AI evaluations.