AI and Jobs Primer | Stay Human, Chapter 8 | The Irrational Decision by Benjamin Recht | Conversations on Software Brain and with Larry Irving
First, thank you to those who sent condolences this week after the death of Dave's dad at age
Recent Publications (Page 14)
Helen's Books of the Week
As meta-researchers, we consume ideas and research from a variety of sources. Books, in particular, are an important source. And Helen reads a lot of them. Each week she profiles one book in our newsletter—and this is the the full list.
Mirrors, Windows, Rooms, and Life as Information
This week we are leaning into multiple metaphors: AI as a mirror, UX design as a window or room, and life as information. Plus: read about Michael Levin's upcoming presentation at the Imagining Summit, Helen's Book of the Week, and our upcoming events.
The Design Illusion of LLMs
It’s easy to fall prey to the design illusion that because LLMs look sleek, they must be well-designed. But aesthetics alone do not equal design. As Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.”
What AI and Biology Reveal About the Future of Autonomous Systems
It’s curious that these two papers, tackling such similar ideas, came out at the same time. Is this coincidence, or does it tell us something about where the study of life and intelligence is heading?
Shannon Vallor: The AI Mirror
A conversation with Shannon Vallor, professor of ethics and technology at the University of Edinburgh, and the author of The AI Mirror.
Five Weeks Until the Imagining Summit
Our invite-only gathering in Bend Oregon is quickly approaching and there are only a few spots still available.
Expertise, Skills, and the Effect of AI
In this issue, we dig into the question of how AI affects expertise and skills: how AI affects mastering a complex field like coding, preserving human expertise in the age of AI, and a conversation with Matt Beane about his book, The Skill Code.
Preserving Human Expertise in the Age of AI
AI's impact on skill development: Balancing productivity gains with long-term expertise. Explore how AI changes apprenticeships, challenges traditional learning, and affects industries. Learn strategies to integrate AI while preserving crucial human skills and mentorship.
Matt Beane: The Skill Code
A conversation with UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor Matt Beane about his book "The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines."
The Last Gasp of the Attention Economy
The fever pitch of AI expectations has far exceeded the realities of today's generative AI products.
Emily M. Bender: AI, Linguistics, Parrots, and More!
A conversation with Emily M. Bender, professor of computational linguistics at the University of Washington.
The $1 Trillion Question
The $1 Trillion Question, Mortality in the Age of Generative Ghosts, Your Mind and AI, How to Design AI Tutors for Learning, The Imagining Summit Preview: Adam Cutler, and Helen's Book of the Week.