Thinking On Paper

Welcome to the Thinking On Paper Book Club! This week we're reading Chapter 3 of Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harari and asking how stories shape societies and how documents transform them into systems of power and control. If you’ve ever wondered how storytelling, bureaucracy, and information networks influence the world, this discussion is for you. We start with the shift from narratives to lists, exploring how bureaucracies emerged to organize intersubjective realities. I then ask Jeremy to discuss the evolution of human collaboration, from oral traditions to written records, and how documentation has both enabled and limited societal progress. Are we hardwired for storytelling or bureaucracy? Is our dependence on documentation diminishing critical thinking? Topics range from Shakespeare’s timeless works to the complexities of modern AI and misinformation. With references to Alan Watts, Kafka, and even the biology of DNA, this is a rich discussion about the systems we create—and the power they wield over our lives. Are we shaping bureaucracy, or is it shaping us? Please enjoy the show -- Timestamps (00:00) Book Lovers (00:39) William Shakespeare (02:46) Nations Are Intersubjective Realities (04:31) Dreams, Songs And Fantasies (05:53) Writing As The Catalyst For Bureaucracy (07:34) Stories Are Intersubjective Realities (09:39) Computer Says No (11:21) Alan Watts And A Conversation With Myself (14:34) Are Humans Organised? (19:30) Movies About Bureaucracy (21:31) Emergent Systems (24:44) Non Human Information Gets To Jeremy (30:10) Disinformation Debunking -- Read more: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz -- #nexus #yuvalnoahharari #bookclub #ai

Welcome to the Thinking On Paper Book Club. We're reading Chapter 2 of Yuval Noah Harari's Nexus, and it's all about how stories influence societies, build trust, and create shared realities. You'll learn how storytelling help humans organize, shape religions, nations, and corporations and our collective reality. From Stalin and Jesus to Coca-Cola and Bitcoin, Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson show you why these are nothing but stories and shared reality. You'll also learn how narratives drive trust among strangers and how you can use it to unify large groups. Guest Mustafa Quadri joins the conversation, adding fresh perspectives on the importance of stories in connecting people. We ask: - Are nations and corporations just shared myths? - Why do certain narratives become universally accepted? - How do stories influence behaviour and decision-making? 📘 Grab your copy of Nexus and share your thoughts in the comments. Please like, subscribe, and share. And enjoy the show. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Disruptors and Curious Minds (01:55) Books And Your Thinking Space (02:25) Dust Jacket Vote (02:51) A Religious Disclaimer (03:34) Mustafa On Why We Need Books (07:53) Can We Get Yuval On The Show? (09:21) Sapiens, Nexus And The Power Of Story (12:00) The Last Supper (13:02) Stories Extend Biological Bonds (16:04) Lawyers, Guns & Money (18:41) Inter-subjective realities (22:13) Plato, The Nobile Lie and The 10 Commandments (28:23) Starting A Nation (34:25) Kung Fu Brotherhood (42:00) Good Stories (45:00) Do You Think Unhappiness Make You Susceptible To Story (50:26) Different Believers -- Watch Chapter 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BhXeNQkbkY&ab_channel=WhereEmergingTechnologiesMeetHumanity -- Learn more at Thinking on Paper

It's Book Club, Live! Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson are reading Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus, trying to understand and get their heads around information networks, power, truth, reality and AI in real time. What is humanity's relationship with information? What even is information? When is a pigeon really a dove? From ancient myths to AI, they explore how our networks of cooperation shape societies—for better or worse, according to Yuval and his book Nexus. The book club is live and unscripted. Mark and Jeremy won't necessarily agree with Harari's provocative ideas - and certainly can't articulate like the Yuval - but it will be entertaining, insightful and leave you with a few questions of your own. And if you feel like taking it further, chapter 2 will be live next Friday. Bring your book. Join the show. Please enjoy the show -- Timestamps TIMESTAMPS (00:00) - Welcome: Disruptors and Curious Minds, CEOs, Founders, and Book Lovers (00:50) - Revisiting Previous Books in the Thinking On Paper Book Club (01:08) - Exploring the Brief History of Information Networks (01:33) - Debate: Dust Jackets on Books - Yes or No? (02:40) - Insights from the Nexus Prologue (03:08) - Is Yuval Noah Harari’s Perspective Too Dramatic? (04:54) - The Naïve View of Information Explained (05:58) - The Growing Spectre of Artificial Intelligence (06:48) - Understanding Delusional Networks in Human History (10:03) - Exploring the Relationship Between Truth, Wisdom, and Power (13:52) - Yuval Noah Harari's Definition: What Is Information? (16:58) - The Story of Cher Ami: Information as the Transfer of a Story (17:36) - Most Information Does Not Represent Anything – What Does That Mean? (19:49) - Misinformation, Disinformation, and the Dove of Peace (21:37) - Why Truth Is Not the Same as Reality (28:00) - Music as a Medium of Information and Communication (29:26) - AI-Generated Art and the Importance of Micro Decisions (31:07) - Music, Silence, and the Information You Don't Say (34:57) - Information in the Context of Quantum Mechanics --

The AI revolution is here, but how do we ensure it’s safe and reliable? Meet Leonard Tang, the 23-year-old founder and CEO of Haize Labs, who’s tackling one of AI’s biggest challenges: building trust in the systems that are shaping our future. In this episode of Thinking on Paper, Leonard explains how Haize Labs is creating a "robustness and safety layer" for AI models like ChatGPT and Claude, exposing vulnerabilities and ensuring they behave predictably in real-world scenarios. Here’s what you’ll learn: How Haize Labs works with OpenAI, Anthropic, and others to test and strengthen AI systems. The hidden failure modes and risks that could jeopardize AI’s reliability. Why AI-specific codes of conduct are critical for industries like healthcare, finance, and education. Leonard’s vision for AI as a tool to merge cultures and align with human needs. Key Quotes from the Show: "We rigorously test AI to uncover vulnerabilities before deployment." "AI is a technology of language, and it will empower us to merge cultures." "Legacy industries underestimate AI, while Silicon Valley overhypes it." If you’re curious about how AI can be made safer, more mature, and tightly aligned with its use cases, this episode is a must-listen. Hit play, subscribe, and join us as we explore the critical intersection of safety, innovation, and the future of AI. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) - Disruptors and Curious Minds (01:07) - Our Sponsor: Conviction (01:50) - Introducing Leonard Tang: AI CEO and Founder (03:37) - The Importance of AI Safety: What’s at Stake in AI Development? (06:21) - Using Mathematics and Modeling to Understand Human Behaviour in AI (08:12) - Why Are Technologists So Often Musicians? (11:06) - Language, Culture, and AI (17:05) - Common Misconceptions About AI: What People Get Wrong (19:20) - The Dartmouth Conference: Birth of AI and Its Lasting Impact (19:55) - Claude and ChatGPT Pre-training: What Do The Models Go Through? (25:20) - An Alan Watts AI Model for Enhanced Understanding (28:33) - Claude vs ChatGPT: Comparing AI Models and Performance (31:44) - AI Jailbreak Detection (33:25) - How Dreamlike Images Enhance AI Safety and Trustworthiness (38:20) - Top-Down vs Bottom-Up AI Development: Approaches to Building Safer AI (42:55) - Protecting Artists, Intellectual Property, and Art in the Age of AI (48:20) - Developing an AI Code of Conduct for Ethical AI Usage (49:45) - A Message for Veteran AI Stars (52:35) - Restructuring Education for Critical Thinking in the Age of AI (54:16) - Book Club Live -- Quotes from the show: "We need to rigorously test AI models to discover all their vulnerabilities, failure modes, and gotchas before they get deployed in production." "AI is a technology of language, and inevitably, it will empower us to merge cultures." "We’re trying to get AI to be a little more mature, a little more sophisticated, and just more reliable." "What we’re interested in is enforcing an AI code of conduct for specific applications, making AI systems tightly aligned with the needs of their use cases." "People in legacy industries are underestimating AI’s potential, while Silicon Valley is often overhyping it." -- 🔗 More: Visit Haize Labs: ⁠⁠⁠https://haizelabs.com/⁠⁠⁠ Visit Thinking On Paper: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingonpaper.xyz/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Toonstar founders John Attanasio and Louisa Huang are challenging Hollywood's animation giants with AI technology that cuts production time by 80% and costs by 90%. Their innovative platform, which produced hits like Steven And Parker and "The Gimmicks" with Mila Kunis, combines AI efficiency with human creativity while using blockchain to let fans shape storylines and characters. Join your Thinking On Paper Technology hosts Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson as they explore how Toonstar is reinventing animation for the social media age, testing concepts on TikTok and YouTube to create more engaging content. Please Enjoy the show. -- Timestamps TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Disruptors And Curious Minds (00:54) Why Beavis & Butthead Changed Animation For Mark (02:18) AI Animation Technology Explained (02:45) Disney & Warner Bros Executives on AI (04:21) Future of Animated TV Shows (05:03) Traditional Animation Process Explained (08:52) Creating Animated Characters in 2024 (10:49) Can AI Write Stories? (12:47) AI Animation Tools and Software (14:15) Toonstar Animation Technology (17:46) Animation Production Costs Today (19:26) Mila Kunis Web3 Animation Project The Gimmicks (23:00) Beyond Hollywood: How to Fund Animation Projects (24:35) Musicly (27:12) Steven & Parker: Making Viral Animated Content -- -- Other AI Episodes AI, Crypto And Gaming Collide Watch On YouTube. ⁠⁠Will Quantum computers cure cancer⁠⁠ ⁠ -- For show notes and past guests, visit: ⁠⁠Thinking on Paper⁠⁠ -- Follow Thinking On Paper: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠