Episode · Stuff They Don't Want You To Know · 2025-09-12
Books mentioned on Governments and AI, Chapter Two: Everything Is Precedent
As human civilization hurtles headlong toward technology it still does not fully understand, your favorite world governments are in a new arms race to control large language models, generative AI, and the terrifying golden goose -- a fully sentient, artificially created, non-organic mind.
Ben Bowlin recommended There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury, and discussed Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Blood Meridian
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy is a harrowing and visceral historical novel that depicts the extreme violence and bleak reality of the American West through the harrowing journey of a runaway teenager known as the kid.
Discussed“You know, Judge Holden from Blood Meridian nailed it. Horrible guy, but very smart. He was right.”
Where to get it
-
There Will Come Soft Rains
There Will Come Soft Rains is a classic science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury depicting a fully automated, technological house that continues to function mechanically long after a nuclear catastrophe has wiped out its human inhabitants.
Recommended“It it makes us think of that beautiful short story by Ray Bradberry, The Will Come Soft Rains. Uh please do check it out if you have a second.”
Where to get it
