Superintelligent

• If the AI maker says it’s dumb, it’s probably dumb

  Hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini talk about how people might adapt to a world of AI content. Will people lower their standards and just not care? Or will the trend trigger a backlash and demand for the real world and content created by people?This Superintelligent episode tackles the whole media ecosystem, what’s wrong with it and how it can be saved for the benefit of all.LinksHere Comes the AI-Content Backlash!https://machinesociety.ai/p/the-ai-content-backlash-has-begun-b02How Distributed Computing Makes This Stunning New Immersive Art Exhibition Possiblehttps://www.pcmag.com/articles/artechouse-submerge-exhibition-distributed-computingHow Terry Gross Readshttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/YyUNspQJQXFollow UsMike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)Email: [email protected] Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts01:25 The Backlash Against AI Content04:35 The Comic Book Industry’s Stance on AI07:12 Demand for Realism in Film09:48 The Concept of Higher Taste13:58 The Decline of Quality in Content17:10 Libraries and AI-Generated Content20:15 The Role of Disclosure in AI Content22:41 The Future of AI Content and Quality27:45 The Impact of AI on Human Thought31:08 Dreaming and Visualization through AI31:37 The Influence of AI on Creativity34:11 The Changing Landscape of Reading and Content Consumption38:30 The Evolution of Storytelling in Modern Media42:18 The Need for Authenticity in Content49:46 Navigating Technology and WellbeingKeywordsAI content, backlash, human creativity, comics, music, higher taste, media quality, censorship, libraries, thought, reality, content consumption, technology#AIcontent #backlash #humancreativity #comics #music #highertaste #mediaquality #censorship #libraries #thought #reality #contentconsumption #technology This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com

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• Jensen Huang: The Gustavo Fring of Tech

  Don’t look now, but here comes another thrilling episode of Superintelligent!! The AI-generated elephant in the room remains Sora 2 and its fake TikTok anti-social social network. OpenAI launched their latest video generation tool alongside an AI-generated social media feed, and Sam Altman admitted the entire endeavor exists to monetize their business. It’s a profit deal!Mike brings attention to what you might call the “substitution economy,” where tech companies position AI and robotic alternatives as superior to genuine human relationships, real pets, and authentic experiences. Whether it’s OpenAI’s faux TikTok, character AI for romantic relationships, or AI-generated video feeds replacing actual human creativity, the pattern is unmistakable and troubling.Meanwhile, brain-computer interfaces are advancing faster than expected, though not in ways promised by science fiction. Emily attended a panel on brain implants in New York City, where she encountered everyone from the supervillain-looking surgeon who performs Neuralink operations to the Meta engineer behind their unfashionable neural wristband technology. The disconnect between public promises and private reality became clear when industry leaders publicly rejected mass commercialization while privately investing in that future.Even Apple is jumping on the brain-computer interface gravy train. Apple’s quiet but significant contribution comes from Bluetooth standards that allow brain implants to communicate with consumer devices just like any other peripheral. Sending iMessages through thought alone — telepathy, basically — becomes possible.Mike’s and Emily’s discussion of the AI bubble revealed how different this moment feels from the dot-com crash. NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang is as much an outlier as NVIDIA itself. He presents as an immigrant success story while demonstrating the ruthless business instincts necessary to dominate the AI chip market. His ability to position NVIDIA as essential to every technological future, from chatbots to humanoid robots to digital twin simulations.LinksAI Is Testing America’s Power Grid—And Uprooting Rural Familieshttps://www.pcmag.com/articles/ai-is-testing-americas-power-grid-and-uprooting-rural-familiesAn Unwelcome Megatrend: AI that Replaces Family, Friends — and Petshttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4067326/an-unwelcome-megatrend-ai-that-replaces-family-friends-and-pets.htmlVibe Coding Is Everywhere. Here’s How It Works and 5 Tips for Getting Startedhttps://www.pcmag.com/explainers/vibe-coding-is-everywhere-how-it-works-tips-for-getting-startedWhoop Adds Bloodwork Uploads Amid Spat With FDA Over How ‘Medical’ Its Wearable Ishttps://www.pcmag.com/news/whoop-adds-bloodwork-uploads-amid-spat-with-fda-over-how-medical-its-wearableSam Altman Admits Sora 2 ‘Slop’ Feed Is a Money Grab to Fund GPUshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/sam-altman-admits-sora-2-slop-feed-is-a-money-grab-to-fund-gpusEcho, Kindle, Ring, and More: All the New Products Amazon Announced at Its Fall Hardware Eventhttps://www.pcmag.com/news/everything-amazon-announced-2025-fall-devices-event-scribe-ring-echo-fireEvaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor Market: Current State of Affairshttps://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/evaluating-impact-ai-labor-market-current-state-affairsFollow UsMike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)Email: mailto:[email protected] Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)Chapters00:00 Introduction and Overview of Tech News00:40 OpenAI’s Sora 2 and AI Video Generation01:57 Amazon’s New Device Launches03:27 The Trend of AI Replacing Human Connections05:33 Meta’s AI Developments and the Vibes Platform06:51 Brain Implants and Neuralink’s Competition09:40 The Ethics of Brain-Computer Interfaces14:13 OpenAI’s Future and Sam Altman’s Influence25:46 The AI Bubble: Reality vs. Projections27:41 Lessons from the Dot Com Bubble30:36 The Impact of AI on the Job Market33:45 Investment Trends and Economic Implications37:12 The Role of Perception in Stock Valuations42:30 Nvidia and the Future of Robotics48:28 Jensen Huang: The Duality of LeadershipKeywordsOpenAI, Sora 2, AI video generation, Amazon hardware, brain implants, Neuralink, AI bubble, Nvidia, robotics, tech news This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com

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• Zuckerberg’s new birth control glasses

  In this episode of Superintelligent, we dove headlong into the spectacle of the Meta Connect event, where Mark Zuckerberg and team set out to convince us that the future is wearable, voice-activated, wrist-twitching and dorky. Yes, we’re talking about the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses and their neural band companion—the gadget duo supposedly destined to replace keyboards and smartphones. The demo was a train wreck. The AI hallucinated. Mark couldn’t answer a phone call. But it’s also true that a bad demo doesn’t mean it’s a bad product. Meta’s glasses raise big questions about social acceptability, privacy, and whether the market will truly take off like the Silicon Valley giants hope it will. Also: Can Apple’s design sophistication rescue wearable tech from utter dweebdom? We pitted optimism against skepticism, debating everything from the speed of miniaturization to necessity of face computers.LinksMeta Explains Multiple Live AI Demo Fails at Connect: 'We DDoS'd Ourselves' - PC MagThe Meta Ray-Ban Display Demo - YouTubeThe Meta Ray-Ban Cooking Demo - X/TwitterFollow UsMike Elgan - About | Machine Society NewsletterEmily Forlini - Website | PC Mag ArticlesEmail: [email protected] PodcastChapters00:00 Meta's New Smart Glasses and Neural Band Introduction02:47 The AI Demo Fiasco: A Live Presentation Gone Wrong05:36 The Challenges of Live Demos and AI Technology08:10 Zuckerberg's Neural Band Demo: A Series of Missteps11:18 Innovations in Gesture Control and User Interaction13:55 The Future of Smart Glasses: Meta vs. Apple17:01 Ethical Concerns and the Reputation of Meta19:58 Personal Perspectives on Smart Glasses and Fashion24:58 The Evolution of Technology and Consumer Acceptance28:09 The Future of AI Glasses and Fashion30:45 Cultural Implications of AI Glasses33:55 The Psychological Impact of Technology38:10 The Monetization of Augmented Reality44:02 The Future of VR and AR in Society50:08 The Apple Ecosystem and Personal Preferences52:37 The Social Dynamics of Smart Glasses56:23 The Future of Smart Glasses and Market Trends59:19 The Role of AI in Smart Glasses01:06:01 Closing Thoughts on Technology and SocietyKeywordsMeta, smart glasses, AI, augmented reality, technology, privacy, Zuckerberg, Meta Connect, neural band, fashion, user experience This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com

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• Social Media Delusion and the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

  This episode of Superintelligent urgently explores the impact of social platforms on our daily lives. We opened against the backdrop of a tragedy — the assassination of political influencer Charlie Kirk.What is the role of social media in creating political division, personal crisis, and violence?The illusion is intimacy — and that global events are personally relevant. The reality is that on social media, we’re being exploited for the benefit of others.In an age of social media radicalization, the most radical thing you can do is reclaim your digital agency. Block, mute, unfollow. Build an online world filled with brilliant, constructive, inspiring people.Social media is filled with trolls, toxic abusers, haters, and users. But you can opt out. We’ll tell you how.Mikehttps://elgan.com/aboutEmilyhttps://emilyforlini.comMike’s newsletter, Machine Societyhttps://machinesociety.aiEmily’s articles on PC Maghttps://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forliniSuperintelligenthttps://www.superintelligentpodcast.comEmail [email protected]:00 The Impact of Social Media on Society08:28 Understanding Political Discourse and Division14:26 Navigating Personal Connections in the Digital Age20:45 Strategies for Healthy Social Media Usage22:11 Using Social Media with Intention24:27 Exploring Alternative Social Media Platforms30:38 The Importance of Real-Life Connections37:07 Navigating the Crisis of Information OverloadKeywordssocial media, political discourse, division, delusions, boundaries, detox, real-life connections, social media tips, mental health, online culture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com

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• Zuck’s hot mic mea culpa exposes $600 billion BS

  This week on Superintelligent, we tackled the spectacular rise of “Blame AI!” culture, where everyone from politicians to pop stars can now attribute any inconvenient fact, viral video, or even White House trash-bag scandal to AI-generated fakery. We explored how ordinary cultural events—like a K-pop musical hit or a Will Smith Instagram—that seem “too perfect” now get hit with AI accusations, often as a kind of backhanded compliment. In other political tech news, we relived the viral White House AI leaders meeting, where Mark Zuckerberg was caught on a hot mic admitting the $600 billion investment pledge he announced moments before was something he pulled out of his ass. But what do real data center dollars buy? Mostly cutting-edge GPUs and towering racks that require astonishing amounts of electricity and water but provide precious few jobs. We dove into the hidden costs of this data center expansion, from land seizures under eminent domain to communities whose power and water supplies are literally drying up thanks to our insatiable demand for digital services and AI processing. Yet we refuse to succumb to pessimism. We debated hopeful futures, from solarpunk and hopepunk to vertical farming and urban innovation, wondering aloud why we haven’t seen megacities of skyscrapers in Silicon Valley or data centers that go up instead of out. Can we reimagine tech infrastructure so that energy, housing, and food production work in harmony, not in competition, with nature? Links* AI and the End of Proof - Computerworld* Zuckerberg Caught in Revealing Hot Mic Moment During White House Dinner - PC Magazine* Reddit Discussion: Meta's Zuckerberg Hot Mic Moment* KPop Demon Hunters Singer Responds to AI Music Claims - Yahoo Entertainment* Solarpunk: The Future We Should Strive For - Earth.org* What is Vertical Farming? Complete Guide - Eden Green TechnologyContact UsMikehttps://elgan.com/aboutEmilyhttps://emilyforlini.comSuperintelligenthttps://www.superintelligentpodcast.comEmail [email protected]:00 The Intersection of Technology and Politics02:44 AI as a Scapegoat08:47 The Role of AI in Misinformation14:46 The Evolution of Media and AI19:48 The Liars Dividend and Political Manipulation25:42 The White House AI Meeting and Corporate Pledges33:15 The Impact of Data Centers on Employment34:06 The Economic Landscape and Job Creation36:02 Energy Demands and Environmental Concerns37:57 Local Communities and Data Center Development40:17 The Future of Energy and AI41:43 Legislation and Local Power Dynamics44:35 California's Energy Innovations and Challenges48:37 Water Usage and Agricultural Implications50:22 Vertical Solutions for Data Centers56:05 Envisioning a Sustainable Future01:01:21 The Future of Communities and TechnologyKeywordsAI, technology, politics, media, public perception, data centers, environmental concerns, urban development, future communities, investment This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com

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