Thinking On Paper

What do Caesar, Stalin, and ChatGPT have in common? Power. In this episode of Thinking on Paper, Mark and Jeremy rip open Chapter 5 of Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus to trace the dark arc of information control—from ancient empires to today’s algorithmic warfare.Forget the talking points. This is about the real fight: democracy vs. totalitarianism in an age where AI systems write the rules, rewrite the facts, and never sleep.You’ll hear:Why ancient hunter-gatherers might understand democracy better than you.How Nero’s propaganda machine isn’t so different from your TikTok feed.Why pamphlets once toppled kings—and why AI memes might do the same.Whether book clubs are the last real firewall against algorithmic dictatorship.The past isn’t prologue—it’s ammunition. If you want to understand where this is heading, you’ve got to know how we got here.Subscribe. Listen. And maybe, survive.-- TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Disruptors and book lovers(00:34) Chapter 5 summary(01:14) Jeremy's first impressions(01:53) The difference between democracy and totalitarianism(03:58) Flipping democracy(05:01) Populism(09:34) A brief history of democracy(12:23) Scale and Ancient Rome(14:56) What is meaningful discourse?(16:10) Do people like being governed?(18:43) The rise of the pamphlet(20:30) The spectrum of democracy(24:27) Totalitarianism(25:54) Don't be Stalin's general(30:00) Will AI be democratic or a dictator?(30:58) Book clubs as self-correcting mechanisms(33:24) Will AI remove the human from the loop?--Read more books: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz#AIethics #emergingtechnology #nexus #AI

Could quantum computing revolutionize our fight against climate change, accelerate breakthroughs in medicine, and unlock new sources of energy? In this show we sit down with Kathrin Spendier, Technical Prize Director at XPRIZE, to learn how the $5 million Quantum XPRIZE is pushing quantum technology into the real world. Discover how quantum algorithms could transform sustainability, drug development, and material scienceHere’s what you’ll discover:- How Google Quantum is backing this three-year global competition involving 300 teams from 46 countries.-Why quantum algorithms could transform sustainability, drug development, and material science.-The surprising link between quantum computing and natural processes like photosynthesis.-How constraints and competition fuel the innovation needed to solve humanity's greatest challenges.Kathrin breaks down what makes quantum computing so powerful yet so difficult to develop and what it could achieve in the near future.Please enjoy the show.--XPrize: https://www.xprize.org/homeBooks Mentioned:Dance of the Photons, by Anton ZeilingerThe Dancing Wu Li Masters, by Gary ZukavSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, by Richard P. Feynman--Timestamps(00:00) - Welcome Disruptors and Curious Minds(02:10) - Meet Kathrin Spendier: XPRIZE Technical Prize Director(04:42) - Quantum vs. Classical Computing: What’s the Difference?(07:26) - What Is XPRIZE and How Does It Drive Innovation?(14:50) - The Challenges Tackled by the Quantum XPRIZE(17:20) - Quantum Algorithms(27:14) - Who’s Competing in the Quantum XPRIZE?(29:18) - The $5 Million XPRIZE Purse: Why That Amount?(32:17) - Hot Buttons: Rapid-Fire Quantum Insights(33:44) - Are We Living in a Simulation? (33:58) - Top Quantum News and Industry Updates(36:00) - Scaling Quantum Computing(38:12) - Google’s Willow Chip and the Importance of Error Correction(47:16) - Carry-Over Question: How Can Technology Serve Social Good?(49:42) - Mark & Jeremy Reflect: Backstage Thoughts on Quantum and XPRIZE--Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJi7aP5B69A&ab_channel=ThinkingOnPaper

Have you ever considered how religious texts have shaped belief systems, power structures, and the way we perceive truth? In Chapter 4 of Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus, we dive into the hidden mechanics of control through information systems. Here’s what you’ll discover in this week’s Book Club: How religions use superhuman narratives to create legitimacy and power. Why books were revolutionary tools for controlling knowledge. The collective delusions behind witch hunts and their modern parallels. How the scientific method’s acceptance of human error redefined truth. From the Oracle of Delphi to medieval witch trials, history shows that information has long been wielded as a weapon of control. Now, as we enter the AI age, the stakes are higher than ever. What do these lessons from the past mean for the future of narrative influence in a world shaped by algorithms? Whether you’re a history buff, a critical thinker, or curious about the forces shaping human behavior, this discussion will challenge your understanding of truth, power, and storytelling in the information age. Hit play, subscribe, and share—this conversation will change how you view the narratives shaping our world. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Book Lovers (00:32) Shakespeare (01:53) The most important function of religion (02:19) Upsetting the catholic church (03:22) Fear, security and mechanisms of control (04:28) The Big Lebowski (05:11) God, religion and self-correcting errors (06:26) The Oracle Of Delphi (08:10) The Russian Doll / Telephone Game (09:04) Bible building by committee (11:31) The Ship Of Theseus (13:47) The role of women in church (15:52) Idiot Human (17:00) Heinrich Kramer and the birth of witch hunting (19:39) Satanic Conspiracy (23:44) Science and the discovery of ignorance (25:55) Parenting Lessons from science (31:24) To understand AI, do you have to understand religion? (35:00) Self-learning V self-correcting (39:04) Will AI ever have EGO? -- Learn more: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBij_kyIEc&ab_channel=ThinkingOnPaper

What will entertainment look like in just three years? Virtual reality and AI are on the brink of transforming how we create, consume, and connect through media—and the future is closer than you think. In this episode of Thinking on Paper, Jeremy and Mark sit down with Anthony Batt and Neville Spiteri, co-founders of Wevr and pioneers in immersive technology. With decades of experience in VFX, gaming, VR, and even the early days of Craigslist, they reveal how cutting-edge innovations are reshaping entertainment and human interaction. Here’s what you’ll learn: How AI could fundamentally alter human perception and communication. The technical breakthroughs required to create truly immersive digital experiences. Why "presence" in virtual environments is critical for deeper engagement. How VR and AI could revolutionize learning, creativity, and connection. Wevr is at the forefront of creating transformative collective experiences, unlocking new levels of empathy, creativity, and presence through immersive design. Whether you’re a technologist, a creative professional, or simply curious about the future of entertainment, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how VR and AI could unlock new dimensions of human potential. Hit play, subscribe, and join the discussion—this is the future you don’t want to miss. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:24) Craigslist (01:58) VFX Gaming & Unreal Game Engine (06:00) 3 Years In AI (09:32) What Will You Be Doing With AI In 3 Years? (13:47) Wevr: 10 Year In Emerging Technology (14:17) The True Immersive Experience (16:12) Collapsing Virtual Space (18:01) When You Are Not You (20:00) Shared Immersive Experience (20:33) Presence: The Missing Ingredient Of Virtual Worlds (24:27) Swimming With Whales In VR (28:47) If We Live 300 Years, Will You Be Bored? (31:30) The Cinematic Virtual Experience (37:13) Storytelling Machines (40:29) Virtual Brand World Building (45:35) Curiosity (48:02) Can I Be In Reservoir Dogs? (50:11) Harry Potter: VR Modes -- Learn more:www.thinkingonpaper.xyz Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkingonpaper/videos

Welcome to the Thinking On Paper Book Club! This week we're reading Chapter 3 of Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harari and asking how stories shape societies and how documents transform them into systems of power and control. If you’ve ever wondered how storytelling, bureaucracy, and information networks influence the world, this discussion is for you. We start with the shift from narratives to lists, exploring how bureaucracies emerged to organize intersubjective realities. I then ask Jeremy to discuss the evolution of human collaboration, from oral traditions to written records, and how documentation has both enabled and limited societal progress. Are we hardwired for storytelling or bureaucracy? Is our dependence on documentation diminishing critical thinking? Topics range from Shakespeare’s timeless works to the complexities of modern AI and misinformation. With references to Alan Watts, Kafka, and even the biology of DNA, this is a rich discussion about the systems we create—and the power they wield over our lives. Are we shaping bureaucracy, or is it shaping us? Please enjoy the show -- Timestamps (00:00) Book Lovers (00:39) William Shakespeare (02:46) Nations Are Intersubjective Realities (04:31) Dreams, Songs And Fantasies (05:53) Writing As The Catalyst For Bureaucracy (07:34) Stories Are Intersubjective Realities (09:39) Computer Says No (11:21) Alan Watts And A Conversation With Myself (14:34) Are Humans Organised? (19:30) Movies About Bureaucracy (21:31) Emergent Systems (24:44) Non Human Information Gets To Jeremy (30:10) Disinformation Debunking -- Read more: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz -- #nexus #yuvalnoahharari #bookclub #ai

Welcome to the Thinking On Paper Book Club. We're reading Chapter 2 of Yuval Noah Harari's Nexus, and it's all about how stories influence societies, build trust, and create shared realities. You'll learn how storytelling help humans organize, shape religions, nations, and corporations and our collective reality. From Stalin and Jesus to Coca-Cola and Bitcoin, Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson show you why these are nothing but stories and shared reality. You'll also learn how narratives drive trust among strangers and how you can use it to unify large groups. Guest Mustafa Quadri joins the conversation, adding fresh perspectives on the importance of stories in connecting people. We ask: - Are nations and corporations just shared myths? - Why do certain narratives become universally accepted? - How do stories influence behaviour and decision-making? 📘 Grab your copy of Nexus and share your thoughts in the comments. Please like, subscribe, and share. And enjoy the show. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Disruptors and Curious Minds (01:55) Books And Your Thinking Space (02:25) Dust Jacket Vote (02:51) A Religious Disclaimer (03:34) Mustafa On Why We Need Books (07:53) Can We Get Yuval On The Show? (09:21) Sapiens, Nexus And The Power Of Story (12:00) The Last Supper (13:02) Stories Extend Biological Bonds (16:04) Lawyers, Guns & Money (18:41) Inter-subjective realities (22:13) Plato, The Nobile Lie and The 10 Commandments (28:23) Starting A Nation (34:25) Kung Fu Brotherhood (42:00) Good Stories (45:00) Do You Think Unhappiness Make You Susceptible To Story (50:26) Different Believers -- Watch Chapter 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BhXeNQkbkY&ab_channel=WhereEmergingTechnologiesMeetHumanity -- Learn more at Thinking on Paper

It's Book Club, Live! Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson are reading Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus, trying to understand and get their heads around information networks, power, truth, reality and AI in real time. What is humanity's relationship with information? What even is information? When is a pigeon really a dove? From ancient myths to AI, they explore how our networks of cooperation shape societies—for better or worse, according to Yuval and his book Nexus. The book club is live and unscripted. Mark and Jeremy won't necessarily agree with Harari's provocative ideas - and certainly can't articulate like the Yuval - but it will be entertaining, insightful and leave you with a few questions of your own. And if you feel like taking it further, chapter 2 will be live next Friday. Bring your book. Join the show. Please enjoy the show -- Timestamps TIMESTAMPS (00:00) - Welcome: Disruptors and Curious Minds, CEOs, Founders, and Book Lovers (00:50) - Revisiting Previous Books in the Thinking On Paper Book Club (01:08) - Exploring the Brief History of Information Networks (01:33) - Debate: Dust Jackets on Books - Yes or No? (02:40) - Insights from the Nexus Prologue (03:08) - Is Yuval Noah Harari’s Perspective Too Dramatic? (04:54) - The Naïve View of Information Explained (05:58) - The Growing Spectre of Artificial Intelligence (06:48) - Understanding Delusional Networks in Human History (10:03) - Exploring the Relationship Between Truth, Wisdom, and Power (13:52) - Yuval Noah Harari's Definition: What Is Information? (16:58) - The Story of Cher Ami: Information as the Transfer of a Story (17:36) - Most Information Does Not Represent Anything – What Does That Mean? (19:49) - Misinformation, Disinformation, and the Dove of Peace (21:37) - Why Truth Is Not the Same as Reality (28:00) - Music as a Medium of Information and Communication (29:26) - AI-Generated Art and the Importance of Micro Decisions (31:07) - Music, Silence, and the Information You Don't Say (34:57) - Information in the Context of Quantum Mechanics --

The AI revolution is here, but how do we ensure it’s safe and reliable? Meet Leonard Tang, the 23-year-old founder and CEO of Haize Labs, who’s tackling one of AI’s biggest challenges: building trust in the systems that are shaping our future. In this episode of Thinking on Paper, Leonard explains how Haize Labs is creating a "robustness and safety layer" for AI models like ChatGPT and Claude, exposing vulnerabilities and ensuring they behave predictably in real-world scenarios. Here’s what you’ll learn: How Haize Labs works with OpenAI, Anthropic, and others to test and strengthen AI systems. The hidden failure modes and risks that could jeopardize AI’s reliability. Why AI-specific codes of conduct are critical for industries like healthcare, finance, and education. Leonard’s vision for AI as a tool to merge cultures and align with human needs. Key Quotes from the Show: "We rigorously test AI to uncover vulnerabilities before deployment." "AI is a technology of language, and it will empower us to merge cultures." "Legacy industries underestimate AI, while Silicon Valley overhypes it." If you’re curious about how AI can be made safer, more mature, and tightly aligned with its use cases, this episode is a must-listen. Hit play, subscribe, and join us as we explore the critical intersection of safety, innovation, and the future of AI. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) - Disruptors and Curious Minds (01:07) - Our Sponsor: Conviction (01:50) - Introducing Leonard Tang: AI CEO and Founder (03:37) - The Importance of AI Safety: What’s at Stake in AI Development? (06:21) - Using Mathematics and Modeling to Understand Human Behaviour in AI (08:12) - Why Are Technologists So Often Musicians? (11:06) - Language, Culture, and AI (17:05) - Common Misconceptions About AI: What People Get Wrong (19:20) - The Dartmouth Conference: Birth of AI and Its Lasting Impact (19:55) - Claude and ChatGPT Pre-training: What Do The Models Go Through? (25:20) - An Alan Watts AI Model for Enhanced Understanding (28:33) - Claude vs ChatGPT: Comparing AI Models and Performance (31:44) - AI Jailbreak Detection (33:25) - How Dreamlike Images Enhance AI Safety and Trustworthiness (38:20) - Top-Down vs Bottom-Up AI Development: Approaches to Building Safer AI (42:55) - Protecting Artists, Intellectual Property, and Art in the Age of AI (48:20) - Developing an AI Code of Conduct for Ethical AI Usage (49:45) - A Message for Veteran AI Stars (52:35) - Restructuring Education for Critical Thinking in the Age of AI (54:16) - Book Club Live -- Quotes from the show: "We need to rigorously test AI models to discover all their vulnerabilities, failure modes, and gotchas before they get deployed in production." "AI is a technology of language, and inevitably, it will empower us to merge cultures." "We’re trying to get AI to be a little more mature, a little more sophisticated, and just more reliable." "What we’re interested in is enforcing an AI code of conduct for specific applications, making AI systems tightly aligned with the needs of their use cases." "People in legacy industries are underestimating AI’s potential, while Silicon Valley is often overhyping it." -- 🔗 More: Visit Haize Labs: ⁠⁠⁠https://haizelabs.com/⁠⁠⁠ Visit Thinking On Paper: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingonpaper.xyz/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Toonstar founders John Attanasio and Louisa Huang are challenging Hollywood's animation giants with AI technology that cuts production time by 80% and costs by 90%. Their innovative platform, which produced hits like Steven And Parker and "The Gimmicks" with Mila Kunis, combines AI efficiency with human creativity while using blockchain to let fans shape storylines and characters. Join your Thinking On Paper Technology hosts Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson as they explore how Toonstar is reinventing animation for the social media age, testing concepts on TikTok and YouTube to create more engaging content. Please Enjoy the show. -- Timestamps TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Disruptors And Curious Minds (00:54) Why Beavis & Butthead Changed Animation For Mark (02:18) AI Animation Technology Explained (02:45) Disney & Warner Bros Executives on AI (04:21) Future of Animated TV Shows (05:03) Traditional Animation Process Explained (08:52) Creating Animated Characters in 2024 (10:49) Can AI Write Stories? (12:47) AI Animation Tools and Software (14:15) Toonstar Animation Technology (17:46) Animation Production Costs Today (19:26) Mila Kunis Web3 Animation Project The Gimmicks (23:00) Beyond Hollywood: How to Fund Animation Projects (24:35) Musicly (27:12) Steven & Parker: Making Viral Animated Content -- -- Other AI Episodes AI, Crypto And Gaming Collide Watch On YouTube. ⁠⁠Will Quantum computers cure cancer⁠⁠ ⁠ -- For show notes and past guests, visit: ⁠⁠Thinking on Paper⁠⁠ -- Follow Thinking On Paper: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠