When OpenAI launched its conversational chatbot this past November, author Ian Leslie was struck by the humanness of the computer’s dialogue. Then he realized that he had it exactly backward: In an age that favors the formulaic and generic to the ambiguous, complex, and unexpected, it’s no wonder that computers can sound eerily lifelike. Leslie […] The post Ian Leslie on Being Human in the Age of AI appeared first on Econlib.

Having completed several degrees in environmental science, Hannah Ritchie nearly left the field out of helplessness and frustration, worried she would never make a real difference. Today, she’s a passionate advocate for changing climate messaging, replacing what she believes are paralyzing–and often false–claims with empowering arguments that people can embrace. Listen as the head of […] The post Hannah Ritchie on Eating Local appeared first on Econlib.

Economic historian Judge Glock talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about zoning and the housing market. Glock argues the impact on zoning on housing affordability is small and that we should learn to love property taxes as long as they’re administered properly. The conversation includes a discussion of the environmental impact of urban sprawl–Glock argues sprawl […] The post Judge Glock on Zoning and Local Government appeared first on Econlib.

Economist and author Arnold Kling talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the recent drama in the tech world–Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the collapse of FTX, and the appearance of ChatGPT. Underlying topics discussed include the potential for price discrimination to make social media profitable, whether you could tell Jeff Bezos from Sam Bankman-Fried […] The post Arnold Kling on Twitter, FTX, and ChatGPT appeared first on Econlib.

In our highly polarized times, everyone seems obsessed with the truth: what is it, who has it, and which side’s got it all wrong. What we don’t seem to care about, says journalist Monica Guzman, is the truth behind perspectives other than our own. Listen as Guzman and host Russ Roberts discuss Guzman’s book I […] The post Monica Guzman on Curiosity and Conversation in Contentious Times appeared first on Econlib.

How does the mind work? What makes us sad? What makes us laugh? Despite advances in neuroscience, the answers to these questions remain elusive. Neuroscientist Patrick House talks about these mysteries and about his book Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. House’s insights illuminate not just what we know and don’t […] The post Patrick House on Consciousness appeared first on Econlib.

Annie Duke is angry that quitting gets such a bad rap. Instead of our relentless focus on grit and “going for it,” the former professional poker player, decision strategist, and author of Quit wants us to recognize the costs associated with sticking to a losing outcome. Listen as she explains to EconTalk host Russ Roberts how […] The post Annie Duke on the Power of Quitting appeared first on Econlib.

When the 20-year-old overachiever Johnathan Bi‘s first startup crashed and burned, he headed to a Zen retreat in the Catskills to “debug himself.” He discovered René Girard and his mimetic theory–the idea that imitation is a key and often unconscious driver of human behavior. Listen as entrepreneur and philosopher Bi shares with EconTalk host Russ Roberts […] The post Johnathan Bi on Mimesis and René Girard appeared first on Econlib.

Suppose all of humanity was infected by a virus that left us all infertile–no one will come along after us. How would you react to such a world? Agnes Callard of the University of Chicago says she would be filled with despair. But why does this seem worse than our own inevitable deaths? Callard speaks […] The post Agnes Callard on Meaning, the Human Quest, and the Aims of Education appeared first on Econlib.

When everyone is carrying a camera in their pocket, what raises the act of taking pictures to the level of fine art photography? Jessica Todd Harper, the award-winning portrait photographer, says that it’s equal parts mindset and technique–and lots of setting the stage to seize that perfect light. Listen as Harper speaks with EconTalk host […] The post Jessica Todd Harper on Beauty, Family, and Photography appeared first on Econlib.