Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan 720 - Daniele Bolelli
Apr 27, 2026
Daniele Bolelli, author, historian, professor and podcaster, chats candidly about history, ethics, and personal life. Conversations range from World War I family stories and Roman repression to AI risks, corruption, and moral responsibility. He teases a new Caravaggio novel and reflects on honesty, parenting, and living by a code.
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Limit Engagement-Only Algorithms
- Regulate algorithms to avoid engagement-at-all-costs incentives that drive social harm.
- Daniele suggests simple legal limits on algorithmic objectives to prevent polarizing, hateful engagement loops.
Today Feels Both Familiar And Unprecedented
- Both continuity and novelty exist: history repeats patterns, yet AI presents an unprecedented existential risk.
- Daniele sees today as 'both' — familiar structural repeats and a novel threat of humanity obsolescence.
You Must Minimize Harm Within Corrupt Systems
- Daniele draws a moral line: being born into a corrupt system doesn't absolve choices to actively worsen it.
- He counsels minimizing harm when you must participate and avoid actions that clearly increase suffering.