unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

What brought about the rise of cryptocurrencies, and whats the difference between tokens and money? How are some of these modern concepts of currency much older than people may think, with older and older examples being unearthed in different parts of the world?Rachel O’Dwyer is a writer and lecturer in Digital Cultures in the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. She’s also the author of Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform. It’s all about how more and more traditional mone is being replaced by tokens, but this has been happening in societies for a long time.Greg and Rachel discuss the complex and interdisciplinary nature of tokens and their relationship to money, exploring the history, regulatory implications, and the current cultural significance of token-based economies. They also examine the role of digital tokens in various sectors, from gaming to social media, and their impact on financial activities and personal relationships. Rachel explains the rise of cryptocurrencies, the metaverse, and how these new forms of money shape modern culture and societal norms.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Show Links:Recommended Resources:Friedrich HayekKarl PolanyiJohn SearleGuest Profile:RachelODwyer.comFaculty Profile at National College of Art and Design DublinSocial Profile on InstagramSocial Profile on XHer Work:Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the PlatformEpisode Quotes:Where do we draw the regulatory line around money?05:09: What I find quite interesting with tokens is that, increasingly, as we're seeing these sort of nonbank entities emerging and issuing money-like things, the token becomes a sort of regulatory sleight of hand. It becomes a way for platforms to issue money-like things, but say, well, hey, because this isn't real money, I'm not really a bank, so I'm doing everything that banks do, but because I don't have a financial license, I'm not processing payments. I'm doing everything that an employer does, but because I'm not handling money, I'm not officially an employer; therefore, I don't have any duty or responsibilities towards these people working or making a living on my platform. So there's all that sort of regulatory uncertainty sort of happening when we're dealing with tokens as opposed to money, but also, I think, as we saw in 2022 with the collapse of so many exchanges and stablecoins as well, there's this regulatory uncertainty around, what is legitimate financial activity and what is like a scam, and where do we draw the lines around those sorts of things?Should tokens be seen as less than money?17:25: When we start thinking about tokens as being less than money, there are all sorts of strings attached—all kinds of prescriptions, all sorts of controls attached to welfare payments, refugee payments—and all kinds of ways in which we can control prescribed behaviors when we issue tokens as opposed to "fungible," I suppose, cash or money.Is scrip a double exploitation of workers?23:29: I guess scrip is kind of a catch-22 because you're potentially being exploited when whoever's employing you is getting a profit—they're earning more than it costs to pay you and to sort of buy maybe the materials that it costs to produce whatever you're making. But scrip is double exploitation because they're paying you in their own special token that you can only redeem, basically, in the company store.Programmable money ties payments to identity, unlike anonymous cash38:56: A lot of what's happening with programmable money is tying the means of payment to your identity or to particular sorts of credentials. And I think with CBDCs, we're seeing more and more proposals for money that can be programmed, as they're saying, at issuance—that when that money is issued, there are potentially various terms and conditions hard-coded into it versus your dumb cash, which is just an anonymous, dumb bearer instrument that doesn't care and doesn't know who's holding it, who's bearing it, so long as it's bared up.

William Davies, a Professor of Politics at Goldsmiths University of London, dives into the interplay of data-driven decision-making and its implications for democracy. He discusses the erosion of public trust in elites, fueled by past crises and the rise of conspiracy theories. The conversation also addresses how advancements in behavioral economics are reshaping our understanding of happiness and prosperity, highlighting the paradox of economic growth alongside increasing dissatisfaction. Ultimately, Davies advocates for genuine well-being over superficial solutions.

In this engaging discussion, Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland, a renowned fellow at Stanford’s Human Centered AI Institute and a pioneer in social physics, delves into the reshaping of social dynamics by AI. He explores the need for knowledge-sharing in organizations and how AI can bridge knowledge silos. Sandy also addresses the complex relationship between social media and community, urging for accountability among influencers. With insights on balancing curiosity and productivity, he emphasizes the critical role of human connection in an increasingly digital world.

Andrew Garrett, a linguistics professor at UC Berkeley and author of "The Unnaming of Kroeber Hall," dives into the complexities of renaming campus buildings tied to controversial figures like Alfred Kroeber. He discusses Kroeber's contributions to linguistics and anthropology and his fraught relationships with Indigenous communities. Topics include the evolution of linguistic legacies, the ethics of cultural documentation, and the movement towards greater Indigenous representation in academia. Garrett's insights shed light on how universities can address historical injustices.

In this insightful conversation, Oded Galor, a Professor of Economics at Brown University and author of "The Journey of Humanity," discusses the historical roots of global economic inequality. He explores how human capital investments during the Industrial Revolution shaped wealth distribution and examines the long-term effects of population dynamics. Galor emphasizes the significance of diversity in driving economic success and sheds light on how cultural and institutional factors intertwine to influence economic development across different societies.

Roland Allen, author of "The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper," delves into the surprising impact of notebooks on history. He discusses the evolution of writing tools from ancient papyrus to modern notebooks and their profound influence on creativity and learning. The conversation highlights how writing by hand engages the brain differently than typing. Allen also explores the significance of artists' sketchbooks and the role of travel diaries in capturing personal expression, underlining the enduring value of these humble tools in a digital age.

If meaning is made with our minds, what role does the body play in shaping meaning? How do the studies of philosophy and cognitive science intersect?  Mark Johnson is an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Oregon and one of the key thought leaders on the co-evolution of philosophy and science in the 20th century. His books like, Metaphors We Live By and Philosophy in the Flesh: the Embodied Mind & its Challenge to Western Thought explore the relationship between philosophy and cognitive science. Mark and Greg discuss the evolution of philosophical thought from metaphysical realism to embodied cognition, the impact of metaphors on human thought and understanding, and philosophy’s potential future in the world of artificial intelligence. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Show Links:Recommended Resources:George Lakoff Patricia ChurchlandGottlob FregeMaurice merleau pontyJohn DeweyBrain in a vatJames J. GibsonTime and Narrative by Paul RicoeurWilliam JamesGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of OregonProfessional WebsiteHis Work:Metaphors We Live ByPhilosophy in the Flesh: the Embodied Mind & its Challenge to Western ThoughtMoral Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for EthicsThe Meaning of the Body: Aesthetics of Human UnderstandingEmbodied Mind, Meaning, and Reason: How Our Bodies Give Rise to UnderstandingPhilosophical Perspectives on MetaphorOut of the Cave: A Natural Philosophy of Mind and KnowingEpisode Quotes:Embodiment and the human experience 15:25: The fundamental unit of experience, or of anything you do or think, is a human brain, at least partially functioning, operating a human body, at least partially functioning as it engages in an ongoing way. It's an environment which is, at once, material, interpersonal, and cultural. That's a nugget of what everything we're doing is about and trying to articulate. So, embodiment all the way through. And now that we have all these information processing models, sometimes questions get raised about, well, you know, are we going to do what to do away with the body and all of that, but you have to build up to that.All philosophy emerge in experience44:53: I think that all philosophy, all thought, all action, and all values emerge in experience, which is not reducible; its enriched experience, and that we have to, through inquiry, remake that experience to move forward in the world. On bringing rigor from science to the humanities50:05: Doing good science is so difficult, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive that it kind of fills up your world, I want to say. And they [scientists] don't see the same rigor in what they regard as the humanities. So, the best I can do with that is try to bring research out of the humanities and help it interface.On the theory of meaning26:27: My theory of meaning is built around the fact that the meaning of something is the affordances that it enacts. There's a complicated story to tell about that, but intuitively, it makes you grow into a world where you learn the meaning of things by what it affords you by way of experience.

Hilke Schellmann, a journalism professor at NYU and author of "The Algorithm," dives into the transformative yet troubling role of AI in hiring. She discusses how AI can perpetuate biases that human managers might not, raising concerns about fairness and efficacy. The conversation highlights the inaccuracies of AI in assessing candidate qualifications and the need for greater transparency in recruitment practices. Schellmann advocates for human oversight to combat the pitfalls of algorithm-driven hiring, emphasizing genuine skills over superficial correlations.

In a riveting discussion, Gary Marcus, an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at NYU and AI expert, challenges the prevailing misconceptions of artificial intelligence. He highlights the 'gullibility gap' where people overestimate AI's capabilities and stresses the urgent need for regulatory frameworks akin to those in pharmacology. Marcus critiques current AI models, advocating for a balance between deep learning and traditional programming. He also delves into the societal impacts of generative AI, including copyright dilemmas and the necessity of critical thinking in education.

Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View and author of The Exponential Age, discusses how rapid technological advancements are transforming business, politics, and society. He highlights the importance of adapting to these changes through continuous learning and strategic knowledge. Azeem breaks down the implications of general-purpose technologies like AI and renewable energy. He also addresses challenges in data ownership and the potential of AI for social good, especially in underserved regions, advocating for equitable access to technological benefits.