The Local Maximum with Max Sklar

Returning after a Hiatus* Today is just going to be a hangout with me and Aaron if you’re into that.. And later, we’ll return to more specific topics* Give a little personal history & history of the showFull Move to NYCTeaching* Less timeHopscotch Labs* Working on that* Beebot - coming SOON!!* Internship ProgramHope for The Local MaximumReading Habits and Strategies (for the busy)* Is it still worth reading books in the AI era?* What do I do if I get stuck on a book?* How do I know I’m stuck?* Can you read 2 books at once?* How do I deal with these enormous tomes in my bookshelf* What about textbooks?* Local Maximum examples* AJ Jacobs - easy to read! I didn’t think I’d be interested in the topic* Jeffrey Tucker - fun to read!* Sweet spot: 100-200 pages with SHORT CHAPTERS* Books with 50-page chapters - WHY* Topics: Current affairs vs History, philosophy, self-help, fiction?* Examples* Revisiting The Singularity is Nearer (Ep. 323 - The Technological Singularity Part I & Ep. 324 - The Technological Singularity Part II)* Tracking toolshttps://app.thestorygraph.com/* (pause feature and journal feature)* Take notes during or after; don’t wait!Upcoming Topics for The Local Maximum* Pull up the sheet* Will we have a schedule? I plan on doing this differently Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Author, entrepreneur, and AI professor Graham Morehead joins the Local Maximum to talk about Artificial Thought and human potential working with AI in his book, “The Shape of Thought”https://grahammorehead.com/ Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

The Local Maximum returns from a hiatus with today’s interview of James Barnes, founder of Autobiographer, and AI-based app developed at Betaworks that helps you tell your own story. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is Eric Daimler, co-founder and CEO of Conexus (conexus.com). Max talks to Eric about the enormous shift in focus in the industry since his last appearance in 2022, and gets his perspective on the promise and pitfalls of the latest generation of AI. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron go deeper into the ideas of the singularity and the law of accelerating returns as articulated in Ray Kurzweil’s Singularity is nearer. They talk about Nanotechnology, Longevity Escape Velocity, and Computronium. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Ray Kurzweil’s new book, The Singularity is Nearer, and talk about the prospect for a technological singularity by 2045 and AGI by the end of this decade. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

On Freund, co-founder and CEO of Wilco, talks to Max to explore the future of software development in a post-AI world. Learn about the evolving roles of developers, the significance of real-world problem-solving, and the continuous journey of upskilling and reskilling. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to Codium.ai Founder Itamar Friedman about the rise of LLMs, the evolution of AI as practiced, and the philosophical ideas that will help us get the most out of it.https://codium.ai/ Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Max's new initiatives in startups and academia, his concerns about the current direction of Foursquare, and the structure and evolution of computer science courses. Max talks about his role next semester as the data structures course instructor at NYU, and all that might entail. They shared their personal experiences in being students at Yale and MIT. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to Tiffany Grossman, a blogger, marketing specialist, and co-host of the 'Spill the T' podcast. Tiffany shares her journey into the podcasting world. We delve into the importance of networking, the challenges of starting a podcast, and choosing topics that resonate personally while providing value to listeners. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s interview is with Fused.io cofounder Isaac Brodsky. We talk about geo-spatial visualization, dealing with large amounts of data, computer science, and career. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s discussion is on Cellular Automata by looking at Conway’s Game of Life, William Poundstone’s “The Recursive Universe” and Stephen Wolframs “A New Kind of Science”. We run into concepts like artificial life, Von Neumann probes, and more! Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max reflects back on his podcast and radio show as he turns forty, and discusses the non-stop news events of this month of a seemingly epoch-defining nature, from the earthquake to the eclipse, to the Bitcoin halving. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Fresh off of his trip to the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation for the Yale Alumni Service Corps, Max talks to Aaron about his trip. They then get into some of the ideas of Cal Newport and Digital Minimalism, as well as a recent warning from Jonathan’s Haidt’s research on children and mobile technology. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks about the intensifying AI trends in 2024, including video creation and context windows, as well as Google's misstep with their image generation in Gemini. Will we be replaced by AI? Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Michael Callahan, host of "Where We Go Next" (wherewegonext.com) comes onto the Local Maximum to share what he's learned about hosting open conversations about Identity and Ideas. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max appears on the podcast Where We Go Next with Michael Callahan to talk about technology’s effects on the health of society.https://wherewegonext.com/episodes/max-sklar Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron welcome 2024 by talking about the most interesting episodes of 2023, and possible areas for exploration in the New Year. Their conversation runs the gamut from copyright to crypto to digital habits and to international politics. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron finished their discussion on "The Fourth Turning is Here" and talk about what may be in store for the rest of the Fourth Turning Crisis and what the next several decades might look like as a result. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max just finished reading the 450-page book "The Fourth Turning is Here" by Neil Howe, so he has a new discussion with Aaron about Generational Theory and its relationship to cultural trends. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max's talks about the constitution and shifts in the language with Christopher Nesbitt of citizensacademy.us. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

In today's December news update, Max talks about industry events like the layoffs at Spotify and the recent turmoil with OpenAI's management. He also talks about the NYU/Meta collaboration on household robot technology called DobbE. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Today's guest is Ilana Yurkiewicz, author of Fragmented: A Doctor's Quest to Piece Together American Health Care. The conversation starts with our health data, but goes into practical advice for patients and doctors. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max covers the dramatic conflict between the board of directors of OpenAI, and former CEO Sam Altman who they voted to remove over the weekend. Is this about AI Alignment? Personality clashes? Or oddball Corporate governance?localmaxradio.com/304 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to Alexander Hool, author of Pharaoh: Biblical History, Egypt, and the Missing Millennium about alternative theories on the chronology of ancient Egypt as it relates to the Exodus and other biblical narratives. Max also talks about his further dives into ancient Egypt and what he's learned. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron talk about this year's retreat at Sturbridge Village, MA. They go over the best and worst of their predictions from previous retreats, and what predictions they make for the future. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron continue their conversation last week, this time covering the reaction to world events in Universities and cultural institutions; as well as the contradictions around calls for free speech. Max also reviews the movie "Dumb Money" which covers the Game Stop short squeeze and is an early narrative builder on the handling of the Covid pandemic. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron react to the terror attack in Israel earlier this month, and discuss both its geopolitical significance and dealing with the shock and grief. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to investor, founder, and podcaster Sam Kamani about Web 3.0, Crypto, AI, and Podcasting. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss recent works at Local Maximum Labs, including feedback on the new Great Compromise constitution, and the programming language for newmap.ai Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to Stephan Kinsella, a libertarian intellectual property lawyer who ardently challenges the very foundations of IP. Kinsella delves deep into the core arguments underpinning intellectual property and the inherent fallacies. They also discuss the impact of generative AI on the copyright landscape. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Todays guest is Adam Kovacevich of Chamber of Progress who brings us the latest in the suits that federal government agencies are bringing against Google and Amazon. Who is behind this, what is being alleged, why now, and what might be the consequences?localmaxradio.com/296 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron talk about Max's newly-released research paper, Toward a New Great Compromise, which includes a refresh of the US Constitutional structure. Max shares what he learned about the founders of the country and why some of our institutions have been failing as of late.localmaxradio.com/295 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max describes "state chain" technology, which he believes could solve some of the problems associated with the previous crypto collapse. He also gives an update on the court cases around copyright infringement and whether you can copyright an AI-generated work that are currently make their way through the American judicial system. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron have a little fun in a late night record, and examine Twitter rants about the rise of late night snark comedy, and scrum. They talk about the nature of corporate fads, and end on going down a rabbit hole of continued fractions. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron do an August news update with discussion about the closure of Prosecraft, a small site dedicated to literary analysis which was shut down due to copyright and ownership concerns. Will these types of internet mobs and legal actions bring a chilling effect on innovation?Probability Distribution of the Week: Max's First Idea on Rational Distributions Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max discusses the legal troubles of the Internet Archive as it get pummeled by publishers and copyright lawyers. A new paper on Bertrand's Paradox claims to resolve it. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks about how Strauss-Howe generational theory and the turnings interact with technology as he reviews the book "The First Turning: A Vision of America and a World at Peace" by Carol Engler.Distribution of the Week: The Wishart Distribution Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max interviews Melissa Luvisi from tab32 as they dissect the intersection of dentistry and technology. They explore the software deficits plaguing the medical field, how dentistry is lagging, and how it can take a quantum leap forward. Luvisi shares her insights on harnessing health data, addressing security and privacy issues, and the promising future of dental tech.localmaxradio.com/289 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss the arguments put forth by Eliezer Yudkowsky and some AI researchers about "existential threats" posed by the technology. They end with some predictions on the subject. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Today's guest is Peter C. Earle, economist at AIER. The topic is ESG: Environment, Social, and Governance regulations, and the theory behind it that says corporations should be run for the benefit of interests outside the shareholders. They explore the rise of ESG criteria in a low interest rate environment, and ask whether ESG on its way out. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks about a bet that two academics made 25 years ago about the nature of consciousness that has recently been settled. He also talk about the idea of a "reverse Turing Test".We also get an update on the latest display tech, with reviews on foldable phones and color e-ink making a comeback. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron complete their discussion on Max's constitutional proposals, now focusing on the representative-ness of the house and electoral college as a counterbalance to the senate and executive council. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron continue their discussion on Max's constitutional proposals, this time focusing on the function of the senate and the possibility of an executive council. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max woke up one day and decided to do a rewrite of the US constitution with a long amendment. Aaron discusses this with him over drinks outdoors in the dead of night. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to author and software engineer David Auerbach about his new book Meganets: How Digital Forces Beyond Our Control Commandeer Our Daily Lives and Inner Realities. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Apple's announcement of the Vision Pro at WWDC, and what it means for mixed reality, the metaverse, and emerging technology.Probability Distribution of the Week: Student's T-Distribution Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max responds to a recent account of high school debate judges and how the process of truth seeking is under attack.Probability Distribution of the Week: Cauchy Distribution Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Neil Gorsuch's statement in a supreme court decision that emergency measures during Covid may have been the greatest peacetime intrusion on American civil liberties in history.Probability Distribution of the Week: Von Mises-Fisher Distribution and Circular Distributions in General Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe