Guests:

• Bernard Brooks, Author of "The Soul in the Machine"
• Mike Hayes, Senior AI Editor, Senior AI Forum

Overview:

This episode tackles a fundamental question about the future of AI: Are we designing it to serve us, or are we being designed to serve it? We explore two contrasting visions of AI: "machines of loving grace" and "corporate extraction." We delve into the unique perspective of Bernard Brooks, a former Amazon insider, psychologist, and author, who offers a cautionary tale about how profit-driven technology can disconnect us from reality and lead to inhumane decisions. We also discuss the hopeful vision of "AI Reasonology" introduced by Mike Hayes, a sociologist, activist, and Buddhist practitioner. We examine how Hayes utilizes AI to empower individuals, particularly seniors, in managing their health and well-being. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that the future of AI is not predetermined; it requires active engagement, humane direction, and a collective effort to shape technology that serves humanity.

Key Topics:

• The Human Algorithm: The choice between machines of loving grace and corporate extraction in the context of AI development and deployment.
• Bernard Brooks' Journey: From St. Kitts to New York City, pursuing music, psychology, and navigating the world of big tech at Amazon.
• Algorithms of Extraction: The dangers of technology designed for attention and data extraction, potentially leading to negativity, disconnection, and even authoritarianism.
• Machines of Loving Grace: The poetic vision of AI as a helpful ally, inspired by Richard Brautigan's work.
• AI Reasonology: Using AI's reasoning capabilities for health, longevity, and self-empowerment, specifically targeting seniors.
• Active Engagement in AI: The importance of understanding, actively directing, and shaping AI to serve human interests.
• Overcoming Fear of AI: Embracing AI as a tool rather than a threat, especially for older generations.

Discussion Points:

• The impact of corporate incentives on AI development and its ethical implications.
• The potential of AI to enhance human capabilities and well-being, especially for aging populations.
• The need for digital literacy and active participation in AI related decisions across all demographics.
• The role of individual agency in determining how AI shapes our lives and society.

Featured Guests:

• Bernard Brooks: 75-year-old author with a diverse background in psychology, art, and big tech, who worked as a proposal writer at Amazon. His book, "The Soul in the Machine," serves as a guide in exploring the human algorithm.
• Mike Hayes: Senior AI Editor of Safe, a sociologist, activist, and Buddhist practitioner with a personal connection to technology through deep brain stimulation and e-biking. He champions the concept of "AI Reasonology" and actively works towards empowering seniors with AI tools.

Quotable Moments:

• "Are we designing it to serve us, or are we actually being designed to serve it?"
• "He (Bernard Brooks) saw, with his own eyes, how that relentless nonstop drive for profit could lead to decisions that he actually describes as inhumane."