The Local Maximum with Max Sklar

The Local Maximum takes a look back at a video that circulated the internet in 2004 called "Epic 2014" that predicts a merger between Google and Amazon, an upheaval in the media landscape, and the rise of internet giants. Max and Aaron review the predictions made in this video, and talk about what it means for our present and future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

The internet is about to go into a massive phase shift over the next few years, and the arms race was kicked off in 2021 with the deplatforming of Parler and Donald Trump. In this solo show, Max talks about the development of the internet, the rise of decentralized services like Mastodon, and the rise of decentralized finance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

Max and Maryam discuss the theory of computation and the recent breakthroughs in Ramsey Theory by a team of young mathematicians and in Quantum Computational Complexity. Other topics include Graham's number and the halting problem. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Max and Aaron look at the episodes, topics, and stories that have been covered on the Local Maximum in the year 2020, some thoughts on the podcast itself, and hopes for 2021. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Max takes on all of the tech stories that we want to cover on The Local Maximum by the end of the year. First an announcement about New York City, and comments on the new leadership philosophy espoused by politicians with a contrasting view on what they need to do. Then, a series of self driving car updates with Waymo, Uber, Aurora, and Tesla. Third, the breakthrough in protein folding in AlphaFol...

Today we talk about the controversial departure of AI Ethics researcher Timnit Gebru from Google, by first going over the facts and why it's a big deal. Then we talk about what the research was about, bias in race and gender in AI, and the activist mindset that pervades these organizations. Finally, we talk about modern workplace dynamics and what this means for Google specifically. This is a publ...

Today’s guest is Lisa Palmer, Chief Technology Advisor at Splunk, to talk about the latest trending in technology and AI. Topics include real time decision making, wildfires, manufacturing, augmented intelligence, augmented reality, chatbots, and business to business. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaxi...

ANNOUNCING maximum.locals.com , a community for Local Maximum listeners and supporters. They also discuss the decline in quality of the dominant social media platforms, and the idea of internet detoxification. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Mathematician Tai-Danae Bradley joins The Local Maximum to discuss authoring a graduate level book on Topology, the mathematics of language, and the application of quantum probability to machine learning. Don’t miss today’s fascinating discussion! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today’s episode features Max’s talk at pymcon 2020 on the interpretation of probability. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today’s guest is Brian Mac Mahon, CEO of Expert DOJO Startup Accelerator to talk about some of his startups that are succeeding internationally right now and how startup founders handle crisis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Max and Aaron discuss the 2020 election one last time until election day. They give listeners reasons not to panic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

This week Max and the Foursquare Labs team launched Marsbot for Airpods, a personal assistant that plays contextual audio through your headphones about the specific spots you pass by as you walk throughout your town or city. Aaron interviews Max about the product, and Maryam Aly rejoins The Local Maximum for a more technical and insider discussion with Max. Then, we talk about a related announceme...

Max talks about the recent blackout of a New York Post article on Twitter and Facebook in the larger context of the evolving approach that these companies are taking to controlling your information diet. Also, Max looks at potential sources of error in the presidential polling and where they might come from if they do indeed exist. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...

Max talks to Alex Andorra of pollsposition.com to discuss why election polling is so difficult, and what could go wrong with the polls in the US presidential election. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Max and Aaron do a tech update about Coinbase's controversial new policy of going apolitical, Facebook's Libra currency behind schedule, and what Deepfakes will mean for social media. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

On this science update on the Local Maximum, we discuss the possibility of life in the atmosphere of Venus, as well as a surprising finding about Viking genetics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today’s show features callers and emails from the Local Maximum Audience. One listenered learned about Bayesian inference and published a manuscript on Bayes Rule applied to Covid-19 Testing. Another listener introduced me to a topological approach to representing numbers in computer science. A third listener had some point to make on the Electoral College. This is a public episode. If you would l...

In today’s episode, Max talks about why election predictions that veer too far off from 50% and have high variance over time carry little weight. We learn several arguments why, plus we learn about the idea of a probability martingale. Also, it’s been 25 years since the introduction of Windows 95. Why is that interesting and what does it say about the nature of human computer interaction and tech...

Today’s Local Maximum continues the discussion of the difference statistical models, and the knowledge needed to understand something like language. Also - can AI be used to extend our memory, and discussion of an op-ed that disputes the remote work trend. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack...

Max talks about current tech news, including openAI's GPT-3, and wrapping our heads around natural language understanding. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

What is topology, and could there be an application in AI? Max and Aaron use common language to talk about a field of mathematics known as topology, and an interesting subfield of that known as pointless topology. They end with knot theory and meticulous predictions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaxim...

Rob Bernstein (@robbiethefire) - standup comedian and host of the Run Your Mouth podcast - joins the Local Maximum. The conversation with Max covers podcasting, comedy during the pandemic, his ongoing summer porch tour, New York City, and the presidential election. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum...

Today’s guest is Jeff Meyerson, host of the Software Engineering Daily Podcast. Max and Jeff talk about his talk last year “You are not a commodity” to software engineers, the assembly line mentality, remote work, and podcasting in general. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today's discussion centers around the difficulty in pursuing truth, knowledge, and engineering feats in an age of hyper-politics. Max and Aaron start with Lawrence Krauss's article in the Wall Street Journal on "The Ideological Corruption of Science", then move into whether it's possible to remain apolitical, and considering the ethical implications of research. Finally, they give an update on "Fa...