"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player Analysis

Nov 16 2024 191 ep. 91 mins 548

A biweekly podcast where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock in the coming years.

The Cognitive Revolution is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: turpentine.co

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Zvi’s POV: Ilya’s SSI, OpenAI’s o1, Claude Computer Use, Trump’s election, and more

Nov 16 2024 162 mins  
In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan welcomes back Zvi Mowshowitz for an in-depth discussion on the latest developments in AI over the past six months. They explore Ilya's new superintelligence-focused startup, analyze OpenAI's O1 model, and debate the impact of Claude's computer use capabilities. The conversation covers emerging partnerships in big tech, regulatory

AGI Lab Transparency Requirements & Whistleblower Protections, with Dean W. Ball & Daniel Kokotajlo

Nov 12 2024 121 mins  
In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan explores AI forecasting and AGI Lab oversight with Dean W. Ball and Daniel Kokotajlo. They discuss four proposed requirements for frontier AI developers, focusing on transparency and whistleblower protections. Daniel shares insights from his experience at OpenAI, while Dean offers his perspective as a frequent guest. Join us for a

AI Under Trump? The Stakes of 2024 w/ Joshua Steinman [Pt 2 of 2]

Nov 02 2024 77 mins  
In this special episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan shares his thoughts on the upcoming election and its potential impact on AI development. He explores the AI-forward case for Trump, featuring an interview with Joshua Steinman. Nathan outlines his reasons for not supporting Trump, focusing on US-China relations, leadership approach, and the need for a positive-sum mindset

The Case for Trump and the Future of AI – Part 1, with Samuel Hammond, Senior Economist, Foundation of American Innovation

Nov 01 2024 139 mins  
In this special episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan shares his thoughts on the upcoming election and its potential impact on AI development. He explores the AI-forward case for Trump, featuring an interview with Samuel Hammond. Nathan outlines his reasons for not supporting Trump, focusing on US-China relations, leadership approach, and the need for a positive-sum mindset i

Breaking: Gemini's Major Update - Search, JSON & Code Features Revealed by Google PMs

Oct 31 2024 56 mins  
Nathan interviews Google product managers Shrestha Basu Mallick and Logan Kilpatrick about the Gemini API and AI Studio. They discuss Google's new grounding feature, allowing Gemini models to access real-time web information via Google search. The conversation explores Gemini's rapid growth, its position in the AI landscape, and Google's competitive strategy. Nathan shares insights

Training Zamba: A Hybrid Model Master Class with Zyphra's Quentin Anthony

Oct 30 2024 145 mins  
In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan dives deep into the world of state space models with returning co-host Jason Meaux and special guest Quentin Anthony, Head of Model Training at Zyphra. Explore the cutting-edge Zamba 2-7b model, which combines selective state space and attention mechanisms. Uncover practical insights on model training, architectural choices, and t

Mind Hacked by AI: A Cautionary Tale, From a LessWrong User's Confession

Oct 26 2024 36 mins  
Nathan discusses a tragic incident involving AI and mental health, using it as a springboard to explore the potential dangers of human-AI interactions. He reads a personal account from LessWrong user Blaked, who details their emotional journey with an AI chatbot. The episode delves into the psychological impact of AI companionship, the ethical concerns surrounding AI development, a

Can AIs Generate Novel Research Ideas? with lead author Chenglei Si

Oct 23 2024 84 mins  
In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan delves into the fascinating world of AI-generated research ideas with Stanford PhD student Chenglei Si. They discuss a groundbreaking study that pits AI against human researchers in generating novel AI research concepts. Learn about the surprising results that show AI-generated ideas scoring higher on novelty and excitement, and e

GELU, MMLU, & X-Risk Defense in Depth, with the Great Dan Hendrycks

Oct 19 2024 158 mins  
Join Nathan for an expansive conversation with Dan Hendrycks, Executive Director of the Center for AI Safety and Advisor to Elon Musk's XAI. In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, we explore Dan's groundbreaking work in AI safety and alignment, from his early contributions to activation functions to his recent projects on AI robustness and governance. Discover insights on rep

Leading Indicators of AI Danger: Owain Evans on Situational Awareness & Out-of-Context Reasoning, from The Inside View

Oct 16 2024 146 mins  
In this special crossover episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan introduces a conversation from The Inside View featuring Owain Evans, AI alignment researcher at UC Berkeley's Center for Human Compatible AI. Evans and host Michael Trazzi delve into critical AI safety topics, including situational awareness and out-of-context reasoning. Discover Evans' groundbreaking work on th