Guest Thinkers — February 16, 2011

Article in The Washington Diplomat

Scott McLeod

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

I was a little stunned to see that I was the lead-in for this article in The Washington Diplomat:

Thinking technology

I think I came across a little harsher than I am in real life, but that’s okay. Happy reading!

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

The letters "AI" appear with a glitch effect in multicolored pixels against a black background.

The Present

AI skeptic Gary Marcus on AI’s moral and technical shortcomings

The cognitive scientist argues the current AI environment is failing us as consumers and a society. But it’s not too late to change course.

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The Future

How Neuralink’s chief competitor is tapping into the brain without surgery

“Neurotech is not just about the brain,” says Synchron CTO Riki Banerjee, explaining how their tech can help with paralysis, brain diseases, and beyond.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Do gravitons need to exist?

Electromagnetism, both nuclear forces, and even the Higgs force are mediated by known bosons. What about gravity? Does it require gravitons?

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The Past

How humanity discovered we’re all made of “star stuff”

Carl Sagan was far from the first to declare we are the children of ancient stars.

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Neuropsych

Why we ghost

The psychology of people who cut off all communication—and how that affects their partners.

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