
General Intellect Unit
Podcast of the Cybernetic Marxists. Examining the intersection of Technology, (Left) Politics, and Philosophy
Latest episodes

Apr 1, 2024 • 1h 4min
111 - Exit Code 0
In which the show ends, and Kyle & June reflect on the project.
Thank you all.
Links:
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
generalintellectunit@gmail.com
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Mar 8, 2024 • 2h 8min
110 - Aesthetics of Democratic Economic Planning
In which Kyle interviews Eric Meier on his recent exhibition "Art, Design, Aesthetics of Democratic Economic Planning".
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
A tour of the exhibition, on Youtube
"About my exhibition 'Art, Design, Aesthetics of Democratic Economic Planning'"
Eric on Twitter
Eric on Instagram
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Feb 9, 2024 • 1h 26min
109 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 6
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to continue our discussion of "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum. In this episode we cover the third an fourth chapters of the book.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Turing's O-Machines
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Jan 25, 2024 • 59min
108 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 5
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to continue our discussion of "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum. In this episode we cover the second chapter of the book.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Weizenbaum's Nightmares, on The Guardian
Inside the Very Human Origin of the Term “Artificial Intelligence”
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Dec 21, 2023 • 1h 23min
107 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 4
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to continue our discussion of "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum. In this episode we cover the first chapter of the book.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Weizenbaum's Nightmares, on The Guardian
Inside the Very Human Origin of the Term “Artificial Intelligence”
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Dec 6, 2023 • 1h 16min
106 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 3
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to continue our discussion of "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum. In this episode we cover the prefaces, introduction, and chapter one.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Weizenbaum's Nightmares, on The Guardian
Inside the Very Human Origin of the Term “Artificial Intelligence”
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Nov 22, 2023 • 1h 24min
105 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 2
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to continue our discussion of "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Weizenbaum's Nightmares, on The Guardian
Inside the Very Human Origin of the Term “Artificial Intelligence”
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Nov 9, 2023 • 1h 16min
104 - Computer Power and Human Reason, Part 1
In which we are joined by Ezri of Swampside Chats, to begin a series on "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to Calculation" by Joseph Weizenbaum.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976) by Joseph Weizenbaum displays the author's ambivalence towards computer technology and lays out the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.
Weizenbaum makes the crucial distinction between deciding and choosing. Deciding is a computational activity, something that can ultimately be programmed. It is the capacity to choose that ultimately makes one a human being. Choice, however, is the product of judgment, not calculation. Comprehensive human judgment is able to include non-mathematical factors such as emotions. Judgment can compare apples and oranges, and can do so without quantifying each fruit type and then reductively quantifying each to factors necessary for mathematical comparison.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Computer Power and Human Reason on Wikipedia
Weizenbaum's Nightmares, on The Guardian
Inside the Very Human Origin of the Term “Artificial Intelligence”
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Sep 28, 2023 • 1h 58min
103 - Entangled Life, Part 3
In which we finish our reading of "Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake.
The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them.
They can change our minds, heal our bodies and even help us avoid environmental disaster; they are metabolic masters, earth-makers and key players in most of nature's processes. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake takes us on a mind-altering journey into their spectacular world, and reveals how these extraordinary organisms transform our understanding of our planet and life itself.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Entangled Life, by Merlin Sheldrake
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network

Sep 7, 2023 • 1h 59min
102 - Entangled Life, Part 2
In which we continue our reading of "Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake.
The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them.
They can change our minds, heal our bodies and even help us avoid environmental disaster; they are metabolic masters, earth-makers and key players in most of nature's processes. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake takes us on a mind-altering journey into their spectacular world, and reveals how these extraordinary organisms transform our understanding of our planet and life itself.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Entangled Life, by Merlin Sheldrake
General Intellect Unit on iTunes
http://generalintellectunit.net
Support the show on Patreon
https://twitter.com/giunitpod
General Intellect Unit on Facebook
General Intellect Unit on archive.org
Emancipation Network