Show Notes for Crazy Wisdom Podcast Episode with Subutai Ahmad Introduction The episode features Subutai Ahmad, the CEO of Numenta and a pioneering figure in both neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI). The discussion navigates the complex relationship between the human brain's architecture and contemporary AI models like deep learning systems. Topics range from the historical evolution of these disciplines to the cutting-edge research that could shape their future. Historical Perspective The initial inspiration for artificial neural networks came from our rudimentary understanding of how neurons and connections work, going back to the 1940s. Donald Hebb significantly influenced the back-propagation model developed in the 1980s. Hebb's work, combined with the discoveries of Hubel and Wiesel in the '50s, laid the groundwork for understanding how neurons learn features from the visual world, including edge detectors and higher-level shapes. State of Neural Networks Today Despite advancements, today’s neural networks still rely on a simplified model of what a neuron is, and they differ fundamentally from biological systems. One glaring difference is in power consumption; a human brain uses only about 20 watts, while running a deep learning network can require power equivalent to an entire city. Learning Modes and Algorithms Deep learning systems usually operate in two modes: inference and training. In contrast, the human brain doesn't distinguish between these states, learning continuously from environmental stimuli. Algorithms, particularly back propagation, are still part of the problem. They try to minimize error, unlike the brain, which adapts and learns contextually. The Numenta Angle Founded by Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky, Numenta has been researching to understand the principles underlying brain function. Recently, they have focused on applying this understanding to AI. Their approach comprises three main pillars: Efficiency: Using 'sparsity' to mimic the brain's efficient use of connections. Neuron Model: Incorporating the complex nature of neurons for continuous learning. Cortical Columns: Employing a standardized neural circuitry model to replicate intelligence. The Road Ahead For the future, Subutai discusses the need for AI systems to be autonomous and embodied, suggesting that agency and embodiment are crucial aspects of intelligent systems. He also touches on the importance of including elements like neuromodulators and even explores the potential role of quantum physics in neural processing. Conclusion We are in a transformative era where AI is far from being fully realized. Organizations are still trying to grasp how to incorporate these technologies effectively. However, the future is promising, especially with interdisciplinary approaches like Numenta's that blend neuroscience with AI, focusing on understanding the brain's core principles to improve AI's capabilities.

Introduction: Mikkel Steen, CEO of Everest (reach out directly: mikkel@everestassistant.com), discusses the modern business environment and how his company Everest fits within it. Changing Work Environment: Remote and Asynchronous Work: Mikkel observes shifts towards more remote and asynchronous work and the need to replace traditional meetings with efficient alternatives. Tools and Models: He mentions various tools to facilitate asynchronous work, like newsletters for team updates, to provide a better, more engaging model. Opportunities and Challenges: While seeing many opportunities, Mikkel also notes the fallacy of simply replacing in-person meetings with Zoom and the challenges of coordinating different time zones. Everest's Role and Offerings: Executive Support System: Everest is creating an advanced executive support system, aiming to handle various aspects of a person's life, from scheduling to purchasing, more empathetically. Role of EA (Executive Assistant): Mikkel likens an EA to Robin for Batman. EAs are considered amplifiers, filters, reminders, and therapists that help in various professional and personal adjustments. Therapeutic Support: Everest's EA makes people feel cared for, addressing the loneliness often felt in leadership roles. Differentiation from Other Services: Unlike mere therapy, Everest's service also considers the productivity aspect and actively assists in various tasks. Technology's Impact on Everest: Automation and Human Connection: Everest integrates technology to handle routine tasks, allowing more time for human interaction and understanding. Coordination Costs: The reduction of coordination costs is a key focus, allowing Everest to be more efficient and proactive. Conscious Living and Autopilot: Understanding Autopilot: Mikkel delves into how about 99% of decisions are made unconsciously. Recognizing and observing these patterns leads to more conscious decision-making. Role of EA in Mindfulness: The support of an EA allows individuals to have more focused attention and make more conscious choices, helping them regain control over their lives. Scaling Everest: Challenges in Scaling: Mikkel shares Everest's plans to scale and the complexities involved, from recognizing patterns to delivering on promises. Coordination and Patterns: Mikkel speaks about the necessity to decrease coordination costs and recognize new patterns in scaling functions. Everest's Approach to Productivity: Proactivity: By predicting moves and intentions, Everest allows users to become more proactive. Data Utilization: Through collecting and analyzing data, Everest can engineer profiles to assist clients better. Philosophical Insights: Patterns and Predictions: Mikkel discusses pattern recognition and how humans are naturally equipped for this, which is fundamental to Everest's approach. Health and Prevention: He compares Everest's role to eating healthily and preventing problems rather than merely solving them. Mindfulness in Decision Making: The path to more conscious decision-making involves focusing on what's essential, something that Everest facilitates by acting as a shield and aid. Concluding Remarks: What's Next for Everest: Mikkel ends with a discussion about Everest's future, emphasizing scalability and the need to recognize new patterns. Connecting with Mikkel: Listeners can write directly to Mikkel to connect: mikkel@everestassistant.com This summary provides an expansive overview of Mikkel Steen's thoughts on the modern business environment, Everest's unique approach, and the integration of technology and human empathy to create a holistic executive support system. His insights on conscious living, scaling challenges, and human connection offer a thorough understanding of Everest's mission and future goals.

Show Notes: Crazy Wisdom Podcast with Ben Borowski, Notion Ambassador Introduction Guest: Ben Borowski, Notion Ambassador, and creator of the Notion Mastery Program. Notion Mastery Program Training & Development Trained over 2000 students, focusing on various elements of Notion. Three tiers of training: Familiarization with Notion and basic usage. Interaction with databases. Advanced user base, including linked databases and UX design. Aimed at helping small businesses. Notion Master's Journey A build-with-me journey featuring 3 levels of development: How to use pages, build components, and sample projects. Automation, buttons, and tracking journeys. Demo days, Notion team interactions, and maintaining long-term customer relationships. Balancing features and avoiding overwhelm in product development. Ambassador Community Focus on quality improvements and driving revenue. Addressing the severity of issues. Integrations with Notion Collaboration with Anthropic and Notion for interface creation. Generation of code and long-term goals. Knowledge Management Complexity Theory & Building Second Brain Study of complexity versus complicated systems. The concept of building a second brain. Ideation, capturing information, linking, and workspace architecture. Permaculture to business systems and organizational self-analysis. Technology & Change How technology changes what we capture and memorize. Distillation and expression of acronyms. Observation and experimentation. Issues and Solutions Dealing with templates and modification challenges. Addressing various parts of Notion and filling knowledge gaps. Permaculture & Nature Application of permaculture principles to business. Observational phases and chaos in access. Personal Dynamics & Workspace Design Analyzing & Building Designing in-person workspaces and organizing thoughts. Embedding brand and permaculture in business. Analyzing organizational thoughts and communication. Software & Analytics Analytics and web hook systems in Notion. Reacting within the system and handling public page sharing. Observing, monitoring, and privacy concerns in Notion. Notion Mastery Course & Reorganization Training resources, tips, and managing complexity. Stakeholder interviews and designing team spaces. Course as a library of exercises, ranging from beginner to expert, with workshops.

Intro Guest: Ivan Montoya, a LatAm Super Angel & VC. Follow him out on LinkedIN Focus areas: #fintech, #proptech, #logistics, #latinamerica, and #latamstartups. Notes Insights into the Startup Ecosystem In Latin America, traditional methods still have a place, and macro-level influences are impactful, but the atomic level of capitalism is most vital. Technology startups have to consider various factors like interest rates, product pricing, investor risk, and tax incentives. Relationship Between Investments and Startups The investment environment is dependent on both investors and founders, and the company's stage. A clear separation should exist between investors and the business, with distinctions between super passive investors and active investors. Investor Ownership and Investment Trends The investors' role in company ownership is crucial. There's a shift towards similarity in investing in private companies in Latin America. In 5 years, generalizations about Silicon Valley may change. Ecosystem and Capital Raising in LatAm Confidence levels in raising capital differ. 2nd and 3rd time investors are less rare in Silicon Valley, and the difference between LatAm and others is startup types and deep tech focus. Ambition Level and Global Opportunities Ambition levels differ across regions, but a focus exists on LatAm for global opportunities. Networking and the Role of Intros Startups have evolved from a clubby environment to a more open one, where introductions are not limited to referrals. Different backgrounds create diversity, leading to great companies, as in Silicon Valley. Investment Opportunities and Strategies The role of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and how it influences investment decisions. A focus on long-term prospects over quick gains. Brazilian Startups Overview of Brazilian startup landscape, which is ahead of other Latin American countries. Banks were traditionally oligopolistic; now, Central Bank drives innovation. Industry sectors include cyber security, hospitality, logistics, and social media. Latin America Trends Trends include consumer and B2B focus, and a comparison to U.S. debt/credit. Innovations in access to credit, with examples of companies like Onecarnow. Macro and Micro-Level Innovations Inertia of organizations in the U.S. compared to Latin America. Innovation in home lending and credit systems, including AI and technology in collection processes. Economy, Physics, and Psychology Economy as a mix of physics (e.g., positive cash flows, unit economics) and psychology (e.g., willingness to endure losses). Historical examples and reminiscing about market scenarios.

Introduction: Guest: Malcolm J. Collins Various professional roles including VC, PE, CEO, 5x Bestselling Author, a Wall Street Journal #1 Best Selling Author, and Educator. Check out his and Simone's podcast BasedCamp Main Topics: Elite Couples and Breeding Philosophy Malcolm and Simone referenced as an elite couple in the Telegraph. Discussion on breeding to save mankind. Interesting Thoughts and Negative Utilitarianism Query about what has been interesting in the last 3 days. Exploration of negative utilitarianism and creating negativity. Examination of pro-natalist and anti-natalist movements, including arguments and logical flaws. Demographics and Fertility Declining fertility rates in Central and South America, East Asia. Exploration of arguments related to environment, emotion, and logical flaws. Examination of governance, moral culpability, and agency. Ethics and Moral Questions Debate about the right to agency, moral cost, and value judgments. Discussion of scenarios including the Claymore argument. Debate over loss of fertility, agency discounting, and racism accusations. Fertility and Economy Insight into fertility rates and its effect on economies. Case studies include Israel, Hungary, China, and Africa. Examination of political implications including cash handouts and border control. Cultural Perspectives and Fertility Relationship between hope and fertility, reverse fertility collapse. Examination of consciousness revolution in China and Israel. Discussion of religiosity, heritability, and political alignments. Genetics, Culture, and Politics Connection between genetics, culture, and politics. Discussion of cultural implications, demographic collapse, network state, and cultural extinction. Survivability and Progressive Conception Relationship between culture and survivability. Examination of cultural values, intelligence, influence, and modernism. Insights into cultural alliances, education, and pluralism. History, Diversity, and Cultural Solutions Discussion of historical perspectives including the downfall of the Roman Empire. Exploration of diversity, progressive iterations, and parasitic groups. Proposed solutions including intentional cultural creation. Books and Final Thoughts Mention of literature including The Great Courses series. Closing thoughts on geopolitics, cultural groups, and experiments. Final Thoughts: This podcast episode dives deep into a multitude of complex subjects ranging from negative utilitarianism to modern cultural paradigms. The conversation moves through philosophies of life, morality, fertility, politics, and history, blending ideas to create a rich tapestry of thoughts. The vast array of topics seems to circle around a central theme of understanding the human condition, cultural evolution, and possible paths forward.

Crazy Wisdom Show Notes: Episode Guest: Jonah Messinger, PhD student of physics at Cambridge and writer for The Breakthrough Institute (check out his article here) Topics Covered: Fusion Developments: Recent developments in the fusion sector. The last 3-4 years have seen significant investment in plasma-based fusion technology from private startups, amounting to around 5 billion dollars.  Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR): An overview of LENR or cold fusion, a sector of nuclear physics that has been castigated for 30 years but is now undergoing a resurgence. Jonah is part of an MIT research team awarded an ARPA-E research grant in this field. Physics Fundamentals: Explanation of plasma-based fusion and how it differs from LENR. Discussion includes protons, neutrons, and electrons, the strong nuclear force, and the relationship between mass and energy.  Controversies around Cold Fusion: Delving into why cold fusion is considered heretical, including its inconsistencies with conventional theories and unexpected reaction pathways. Jonah outlines why despite its challenges, it still holds potential.  In-depth Look at Cold Fusion Experiments: Discussion on various cold fusion experiments, highlighting experiments with unambiguous results. Jonah recalls his entrance into the field after reading a Nature article in February 2022 and how it influenced his research.  Radiation and Cold Fusion: Conversation about nuclear energy outputs with chemical inputs, the theoretical framework of LENR, and how one can potentially engineer nuclear pathways. A discussion on radiation types and the relative low radiation of cold fusion also unfolds. Quantum Coherence and Fusion: Exploration of the role of quantum coherence in LENR, with reference to a quote challenging traditional assumptions about nuclear interactions.  Commercialization and Future of LENR: Discussing the potential future of LENR commercialization, using the transistor's history as an analogy. Jonah emphasizes the importance of more people and resources coming into the field for LENR's progress.  Additional References: Jonah Messinger's article on The Breakthrough Institute: https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/fusion-runs-hot-and-cold Jonah Messinger's Twitter: People Mentioned: Fleischman and Ponns, prominent researchers in the field of cold fusion.

Crazy Wisdom Show Notes Guest: Rick Nucci Key Themes: The importance and business problems solved by Knowledge Management (KM). The role of AI in transforming Knowledge Management. Startup challenges, employee engagement, and leadership advice in times of rapid change. Summary: In this episode, we're joined by Rick Nucci, CEO of Guru, to delve into the field of Knowledge Management and how it's being transformed by AI. Rick shares his entrepreneurial journey and the critical business problems that Guru is designed to solve. We dive deep into the metrics around employee efficiency, the importance of transparency, and the role of AI in knowledge management. Rick also shares valuable insights for startup founders and CEOs on keeping teams engaged and aligned amidst rapid changes. Key Discussion Points: Knowledge Management (KM) is critical for improving business efficiency and customer experience. It aids in quickly disseminating necessary information to employees and aligning communication to customers. The value of metrics in evaluating the success of KM and getting buy-in from the company. The importance of understanding the pains of both employees and subject matter experts to avoid burnout and enhance efficiency. Knowledge Management helps in scaling businesses without compromising on learning and customer relationships. Change within organizations is inevitable and often difficult, but it offers valuable inflection points. Timely, transparent, and even messy communication can aid in managing this change. The pandemic has increased the importance of asynchronous communication, thus boosting the need for KM. The transformation of KM by AI is promising. Large Language Models (LLMs) can play a vital role in making information retrieval efficient, but it's crucial to establish trust in AI and ensure accuracy. A "Single Source of Truth" is impractical to achieve by storing all knowledge in one place. Instead, it's about providing employees with a unified place of access to accurate, cross-functional knowledge. Notable Quotes: "It's not about having all knowledge in one place, it's about giving employees one place they go to know what they need to do their job." "Lean into change. People value timeliness and transparency much more than they do polish." "Knowledge is power, but it's the transparency and sharing of knowledge that has exponential value." Resources: Guru's website: Getguru.com Call to Action: Explore more about the transformation of Knowledge Management with AI at Getguru.com and find out how their solutions can aid your business efficiency and customer experience. Post Podcast Reflection: Rick Nucci offers a fresh perspective on the field of Knowledge Management and the intersection of AI. His insights on business efficiency, leadership, and managing change are particularly valuable in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Be sure to tune in for this engaging conversation!

Introduction In this exciting episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, we are joined by Tim Wood Powell, an innovator, catalyst, author, and speaker whose motto is "Let's make our Knowledge work!" Tim is the founder of the Knowledge Agency and author of the book The Value of Knowledge. This episode is packed with insightful discussions around the realm of knowledge, its role and value in business, and the challenging aspects of measuring intangibles. Notes Understanding Knowledge The discussion kicks off by probing the question, 'What is knowledge?' An intangible asset with no weight, its definition and measure become particularly complex in a business setting. Tim explores his insights from his experience in the music business and recounts a copyright dispute over a song. The Benefits and Challenges of Knowledge Tim shares his views on how knowledge benefits us by bringing in perspectives from psychology and philosophy. But in the business world, where there's a constant pursuit to measure the immeasurable, knowledge can be a conundrum. The current accounting systems are designed to measure tangible assets, but they fall short when it comes to intangibles. This poses challenges, especially in today's knowledge-driven work environment. Tangible to Intangible: The Journey With real-world examples, Tim illustrates how we've moved from tangible to intangible assets and discusses their role in creating business value. From IP sales of bankrupt companies to branding strategies for products like tobacco, Tim provides insightful commentary on the value and paradox of intangibles. Knowledge and Business Performance Tim delves into how companies must create their own metrics to assess intangibles despite existing accounting systems. He speaks about the role of knowledge in buffering business risks, managing uncertainty, and aiding decision-making processes. He discusses the importance of decision-making in a world that is increasingly algorithmic. The Role and Value of Knowledge Management (KM) Tim narrates the ups and downs of knowledge management through various business cycles. He explains the concept of 'time value of knowledge' and how the value of an asset is always changing. The conversation then moves towards understanding the value dynamics in a business and the role of KM in managing these dynamics. What do KM Workers do? The discussion then shifts towards understanding the role of KM workers and the challenges they face. He talks about the shift from information search to knowledge resources management and the difficulties faced due to lack of standardization and resources. He also gives insights into how KM can help organizations deal with uncertainty and manage complexity. Technologies for Sharing Information Tim discusses the benefits and challenges of technologies used for sharing information. He talks about issues related to governance, the importance of standardization, and the role of network and relationships in implementing technologies. Findability on Enterprise Search Towards the end, Tim shares his experiences as a client and how the needs of users have evolved due to Google. He stresses the importance of knowing what resources are available and what are needed, and how generative AI might help in the future. Websites/Books Mentioned Tim Wood Powell's Website The Value of Knowledge High Tech Marketing Machine Knowledge Value Chain Team of Teams book People Mentioned Fritz Maclow Professor Sid Winter Don't forget to check out Tim's book and his work at the Knowledge Agency to delve deeper into the fascinating world of knowledge management and business strategy!

Episode Introduction: Welcome to another insightful episode of Crazy Wisdom, where we delve into fascinating discussions around philosophy, technology, and everything in between. Today, we are delighted to host Saman Farid, a visionary who is working on an ambitious project of supplying the world with a robot workforce through his company, Formic. In this episode, we navigate through a range of topics from the evolution of societies to robotics, AI, industrial revolutions, and the changing face of human labor. Show Notes: Formic's Foundation: Formic, named after the Latin word for ants, is a reflection of Saman's philosophy of collective efficiency and productivity. Influence of Literature: Saman drew parallels between Formic's mission and elements from Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" which is where the name Formic is drawn from Human Progress & AI: The conversation delves into the history of human progress and the implications of AI, drawing from phases like the Paleolithic era, agricultural and industrial revolutions, to the current digital age. Labor Shifts: Saman touches on the shift from manpower-heavy jobs to more digital and AI-related roles. He addresses the fear surrounding job loss and the need to fill undesired roles through robotics. Revitalizing Manufacturing: Discusses the potential resurgence of manufacturing through advanced technology like GPT and robotics. Challenges of Robotics Adoption: Saman shares insights on the low adoption rate of robotics in factories and the hurdles that prevent companies from leveraging this technology. Role of Robotics: Details the functionalities of the robots being built at Formic, including tasks such as palletizing, inspection, and machine welding. Redefining Labor & Purpose: The conversation explores the moral and societal implications of automating repetitive jobs and how it might impact individuals' sense of purpose and identity. Individual and Collective Purpose: Saman discusses the dichotomy between individual and collective purposes, arguing for a balance of individuality and unity. Motivations behind Formic: The journey and vision behind Formic, from the excitement of building something new to the satisfaction of seeing the products in use. Humanity and Tool Use: The conversation examines the idea of humans as tool users and the role of technology in shaping human identity and experience. Fears and Hopes for the Future: The dialogue closes with Saman's thoughts on future shifts in societal perspectives, changes in labor dynamics, and the role of engineers in creating utopian futures. Media Mentioned: Bloomberg Article: "The US is building factories, but who will work there?" Book: "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Company Website: Formic Saman's Twitter

Introduction Welcome to this deep dive into the world of Large Language Models (LLMs) and vector databases for the Crazy Wisdom Podcast. Our guest today is Eden Marco (follow him on Twitter), a Customer Engineer at Google Cloud and a best-selling Udemy instructor with a passion for General Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). In this episode, we unpack the complexities and intricacies of LLMs, explore the role of vector databases, and discuss the future of autonomous agents and machine learning. Key Discussion Points Vector Databases & Similarity Search: Vectors play a critical role in similarity searches, a common use case in vector databases. These databases are pivotal in developing LLMs and help in getting the right context to prompts. They are also used to truncate long pieces of text into paragraphs for vector outputs. Understanding LLMs and Context: How does an LLM answer questions about things it hasn't been trained on? The answer lies in in-context learning. We delve into the main problems LLMs face in understanding context and the role of vector stores in this process. LLMs and Long Term Memory: We discuss the concept of coreference resolution in LLMs, the issue of growing queries due to token limitations, and techniques to handle these challenges. Eden explains the human-like behavior of LLMs and how autonomous agents interact with other agents using memory as context. Prompt Engineering & Autnomous Agents: What is sophisticated prompt engineering? It's the art of getting the LLM to do what you want. We explore autonomous agents with Langchain, the process of augmenting prompts, and the growing importance of prompt engineering. Human Simulation & Machine Learning: Despite advancements, a real human simulation remains distant. We touch upon the statistical nature of machines and humans and discuss whether machine learning could be considered a parasite in the digital ecosystem. Twitter API & Coding: We discuss the implications and challenges of using Twitter's API for scraping tweets, and how coding can be used to overcome limitations and navigate permissions. Chroma - A Vector Database: An introduction to Chroma, a vector database that facilitates in-context learning and filtering. Eden sheds light on the competitive vector database market, the benefits of using managed servers, and the potential of combining vector databases with relational ones for enhanced utility. Long Term Memory and Scaling Databases: We discuss the potential of using vector databases for long term memories, the importance of cataloging memories, and the ease of scaling databases with cloud services. People to Follow: Hari Sanchez, co-founder, and creator of the Langchain framework, is a must-follow for anyone interested in long-term memory and LLMs. The Gap in Machine Learning: We wrap up the discussion with insights into how the gap between machine learning programmers, data scientists, and PhDs has been bridged, and the potential future of open-source models in the face of state-of-the-art LLMs. Websites & Resources Mentioned Chain of Thought Paper: A resource that describes how LLMs think. Eden Marco's Udemy Class: A comprehensive course by Eden Marco on GenAI. Langchain by Hari Sanchez: A groundbreaking framework for autonomous agents. Eden Marco's Twitter Profile: Stay updated with Eden's latest insights and work.