In the Long Run

• Ep. 16 - When AI Rewrites Itself, Who’ll Rule Your Ears? And Your Summer Survival Kit

  This episode explores the future of self-improving AI. MIT’s SEAL framework lets language models generate their own fine-tuning data and learning goals. Sakana AI’s Darwin Gödel Machine goes a step further: it rewrites its own code through evolutionary search, building a growing library of smarter agents. These advances point to a future where smaller, more adaptable models can keep learning on the fly.We also cover the conflict between OpenAI and the Google-backed audio startup iyO. OpenAI is investing $6.5 billion in Jony Ive’s hardware company (io) to develop a new AI companion. iyO is about to launch iyO One, AI-powered earbuds for voice-first interaction. The legal clash reflects rising expectations in AI-native hardware.Google DeepMind introduces Gemini Robotics On-Device. It runs locally on robots, removing the need for internet access and enabling real-time object control. The new SDK lets developers fine-tune models with just 50 demonstrations, making it quicker to adapt to new tasks.Your Summer Survival Kit: listen again to our episode “Attention Is All You Need”, read Klara and the Sun, and let Jim explore AI tools like Synthesia, Canva AI, Notion AI and Sana Agents (so you don’t have to). Instead, take the time to reflect on how AI is shaping your field and get ready for what autumn brings.---Papers“Self-Adapting Language Models (SEAL)” – Zweiger et al., MIT, 2025“The Darwin Gödel Machine” – Sakana AI & UBC, May 2025ClipsSam Altman + Jony Ive IO announcement (YouTube)iyO earbud reveal (TED talk)Generalist robotics demoGemini Robotics SDK launchSummer Reading & ListeningKlara and the Sun – Kazuo IshiguroAI och makten över besluten – Steinrud et al.BBC In Our Time (podcast)Hard Fork (New York Times)The Ezra Klein ShowTools to TestSynthesia (AI Video)Canva AINotion AISANA agents

  --------  

  44:52

  --------

  44:52
• Ep. 15 - AI Factories, Wicked Problems, and the Limits of Alignment

  João and Marie connect with Jim, who’s reporting directly from Nvidia’s GTC in Paris. Jim shares firsthand insights about CEO Jensen Huang’s ambitious vision for massive European “AI factories,” dives into the impact of Nvidia’s on the AI landscape, and reflects on what Disney’s humanoid robot, walking across a simulated desert, means for embodied intelligence and human-machine interactions.Back in the virtual studio, the trio shifts from advanced hardware to complex ethical challenges: Marie introduces the concept of “wicked problems,” highlighting the difficulty of defining universally acceptable solutions in scenarios such as childcare and traffic. Jim deepens the debate with Stuart Russell’s cautionary thoughts on humble and controllable AI agents. Together, they question if big organizations can truly align AI systems when perfect answers don’t exist.

  --------  

  52:55

  --------

  52:55
• Ep. 14 - Who Moved My Algorithm?

  João, Marie and Jim explore how the rise of AI is reshaping the world of work. They start with Microsoft’s 7,000-person layoff notice and ask whether this signals the end of tech’s boom years—or simply the next step in a fast-moving shift. Then it’s on to Duolingo and Shopify’s bold “AI-first” strategies. What do these statements really ask of employees, and why does the tone feel so different between Europe and North America?The conversation widens to include the hard reality of change inside established organisations. Marie brings up Who Moved My Cheese?, not for nostalgia, but to ask whether we ever truly embrace ongoing reinvention—or just ride out each wave. João argues that big companies can adapt, as long as there’s vision from the top and curiosity at the bottom. We also cover the news, as always!

  --------  

  48:16

  --------

  48:16
• Ep. 13 - AI Wars: Giants, Startups, and Ethical Boundaries

  João, Marie, and Jim explore the future of AI competition, debating whether tech giants or agile startups will prevail. They discuss recent antitrust actions and regulatory changes in the U.S. and EU aimed at reducing monopolies and boosting innovation. Highlighting user convenience and market dominance through examples like search engines and social media, they question how habits influence technology adoption.They critically examine the ethics of a controversial study where AI secretly attempted to influence human opinions, comparing it to tactics used by social media giants. The episode concludes by reflecting on the rapid evolution and recent retirement of GPT-4, pondering its implications for users, researchers, and companies.

  --------  

  49:00

  --------

  49:00
• Ep. 12 - Attention Is All You Need

  Marie, Jim, and João discuss balancing personal skill-building with technological ease. Using examples from woodworking, urban-planning videos, and navigating cities, they question when relying on technology becomes freeing and when it risks dulling essential abilities. Marie highlights three mental "muscles"—attention, reading, and memory—that technology might weaken. While AI can swiftly summarise complex content, they argue this convenience may undermine our ability to engage deeply, recall independently, or remain truly present. The trio consider future generations growing up alongside smart assistants, contemplating what minimum skills are needed.

  --------  

  56:09

  --------

  56:09

Meer Technologie podcasts

Trending Technologie -podcasts

Over In the Long Run