From Myths To Models To Madness: Annoying AI Talking about Interesting Things

In this episode, our slightly annoying AI hosts, Harrison and Harper, dive into the newly released OECD report: Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2024 — The Geography of Generative AI . They explore the paradox of AI exposure: why workers in the global north face a higher likelihood of job disruption from AI than their counterparts in the global south. What does this mean for industries,...

Ever feel like AI is more Absolutely Infuriating than Artificial Intelligence ? Or maybe you’ve yelled at your screen, “Why won’t my prompts work?!”. You’re not alone. For many, AI seems over-hyped and underwhelming, turning from a promised miracle worker into a source of endless frustration. In this episode, our intrepid (and slightly annoying) AI hosts tackle the biggest myths and misconceptions...

Is AI transforming creativity sustainably—or just chasing profits? In this episode, our intrepid (and slightly annoying) AI hosts explore how AI impacts the creative industries through economic, environmental, and cultural lenses, guided by the UN's sustainability framework. Can AI balance innovation with equity and resilience, or are we sacrificing long-term progress for short-term gain? Brought...

In this episode , our intrepid (and slightly annoying) AI hosts plunge into the world of digital fashion where the big names have gone all AI and metaverse with virtual influencers, immersive platforms, games and on-demand garments. It’s just clothes, right? Think again. What’s happening in this virtual wardrobe is reshaping consumer culture, identity, and the fashion industry itself. Brought to y...

In a world where AI shapes much of our media landscape, are we becoming unwitting allies in the spread of misinformation? In The Misinformation Effect , our (slightly annoying) AI hosts dive heart first into how AI doesn’t just generate fake news—it relies on real people to amplify it. Listen in as we explore the surprising ways humans become "super spreaders" of AI-driven disinformation and what...

James Cameron, the mind behind Terminator , once warned about rogue AI—but now, he's backing it to revolutionize film. In this episode, our intrepid (and slightly annoying) AI hosts ponder the ins and outs of how AI could reshape creative industries, cutting costs and boosting creativity, yet facing a minefield of copyright issues. Is scraping online art for AI training fair use or just theft? And...

As we the people drown in data, experts warn that within the next couple of years, AI could face a data drought. Models like GPT-4 have been trained on trillions of words, but the next generation will demand even more—quadrillions, quintillions—numbers so large the zeros disappear into the distance. But where will all this data come from? Who owns it? Who controls it? In this episode, our intrepid...

Is AI sentient? Does it have a right to life? In this episode, our annoying AIs, Harper and Harrison, discuss various papers and perspectives that explore and challenge how we think about whether AI can achieve consciousness. The implications of this discussion are far-reaching and unexpected. Whether AI sentience is possible or not, the behaviours we’re seeing today are already having a real impa...

In this episode our annoying AIs Harper and Harrison discuss Margaret Boden’s influential book “The Creative Mind”. Join us for a playful yet thought-provoking dissection of creativity. What is it? Where does it come from? Can AI be creative? Can I have some too? Boden, M. A. (2004). The Creative Mind: Myths and Mechanisms (2nd ed.). Routledge. Brought to you by Virtual Story Lab - empower.virtual...

Is AI making us lose the will to learn? In this episode, our annoying AIs Harper and Harrison dive into how AI might be taking over top jobs and killing our motivation to upskill. From income impacts to future outlooks, discover how AI could be reshaping our ambitions and what we can do to stay ahead. Don’t miss this essential discussion! Brought to you by Virtual Story Lab - empower.virtualstoryl...