Astral Codex Ten Podcast Links For December 2025
Jan 6, 2026
Dive into a wide array of intriguing topics, from the quirky legal identities of medieval animals to the hot debates surrounding AI consciousness and OpenAI board drama. Explore how asylum costs skew foreign aid statistics and the implications of AI on capitalism. Discover public opinions on pressing issues like taxing the rich and housing, alongside fascinating insights on embryo-selection scrutiny and the political landscape post-COVID. The conversation also touches on tech skepticism and potential UBI trials in Malawi — a lively blend of culture, politics, and ethics!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Preemption Is The Next AI Policy Fight
- Big tech pushes federal preemption to block state AI laws, risking weak national standards if compromises fail.
- Scott notes bipartisan coalitions can block extreme pre-emption but warn of executive actions to pressure states.
AI Became A Major Political Issue Fast
- Public concern about AI rose rapidly and now rivals or exceeds issues like abortion and climate in perceived importance.
- Scott admits his prior prediction underestimated the speed of AI's political salience.
Clergy Demographics Are Changing Fast
- Majority of American rabbinical students are now women and many identify as LGBTQ, reshaping clergy demographics.
- Scott connects this to the therapist role dominating modern clergy and notes gender parallels with therapists overall.
