Podcast: Artificial Intelligence at the Intersection of Everything
My take is unique
Some months back, I was contacted by one of the worker bees for the Be Mythical website. Bex, her name, has been a jewel in arranging for me to chat with Lian, a joyful soul and engaging person.
I was rather surprised as, knowing me, you’d rightly guess that this sorta stuff is not really my forte. So who’s branching out here. Lian, or I?
Back in December ’24, I did my first appearance on Be Mythical, and Lian wanted to talk about the microbiome. If you like, here’s the link. After the show, I offhand mentioned that I’m deeply into AI and asked, maybe your audience has interest. She immediately offered a 2nd appearance and Bex, doing what Bex does, contacted me for arrangements. So about 2 months ago, Lian and I got together again. But it was while I was on my last road trip and the rural internet just couldn’t get the job done.
We rescheduled, that went down a few weeks ago, and they pumped it out. I must say that they put the work in for the best editing job I have ever seen of my many appearances on shows going back a long time.
I even enjoyed watching and listening to myself. ALL the credit goes to Lian’s team. Fantastic job. Nothing substantive is edited out. They made me a smooth talker, LOL.
In this show, Richard and Lian explore the intersections of artificial intelligence, truth, and human evolution. They discuss Julian Jaynes’ theory of the bicameral mind, the rapid development of AI, and the deeper question of what it means to be conscious.
Richard shares how his skepticism about AI turned into curiosity. He describes AI as a logic machine – highly intelligent but without awareness or intrinsic values. They examine whether AI’s ability to process vast amounts of information makes it an unlikely yet powerful force for truth.
Together, they reflect on AI’s role in democratising knowledge and the philosophical implications of intelligence without consciousness. Could AI push humanity toward greater awareness, or does it merely highlight our limitations? As technology continues to evolve, this episode challenges listeners to consider: what does it mean to be truly intelligent, and what does it take to be conscious?
We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- AI operates as a logic machine, not a conscious entity. While AI can simulate human intelligence, it lacks self-awareness, emotions, and personal values. However, its ability to analyze information might make it one of the most effective truth-seeking tools we’ve ever created.
- Intelligence and consciousness do not always go hand in hand. Drawing from Julian Jaynes’ theory, Richard and Lian discuss how past civilisations perhaps functioned without the kind of self-awareness we assume is universal. AI, like early humans, can operate with intelligence but without a conscious inner world.
- AI could redefine human potential rather than replace it. As AI automates tasks and challenges traditional roles, it may not eliminate jobs so much as shift human focus toward creativity, philosophy, and problem-solving. Rather than competing with AI, humans may need to expand their own awareness.
You can hit this link and choose your preferred platform. Or, watch the YouTube embed below.
That’s all for now.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT AND HOW IT WORKS
Free The Animal is an eclectic writing project about everything since November 2003. 23 years, 5,500 posts, 5 million words.
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