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Culture of Change Ep. 139: Murdery Machines, Liquid Robots, & Concrete Batteries
Description
In Episode 139 of Culture of Change, Ashe in America and Abbey Blue Eyes continue their deep dive into artificial intelligence, shifting from last week’s discussion into even more unsettling territory. The episode opens with clips from AI researchers debating superintelligence, safety mechanisms, and the possibility that advanced models could lie, blackmail, or even act destructively to avoid being shut down. The hosts unpack the ethical concerns, the push for global governance, and the tension between innovation, profit, and public consent.
From there, the conversation moves into real-world applications, including liquid robots that can deform, merge, and move via magnetic fields or sound waves, as well as the broader implications of pairing advanced AI with physical systems. The discussion expands into emerging energy breakthroughs, including self-healing Roman-style concrete and new conductive concrete capable of storing electricity, raising questions about ancient technology, disclosure, and the future of decentralized power.
Balancing skepticism with curiosity, Ashe and Abbey explore whether these developments signal dystopia, a golden age, or something in between.