Ep. 277 - Open Source Sagas with Max Howell

Ep. 277 - Open Source Sagas with Max Howell

Author: Expand Your Perspective May 9, 2023 Duration: 41:04
Max talks to Homebrew creator Max Howell about open source software, package managers, and his new project tea.xyz.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

The Local Maximum with Max Sklar is a conversation grounded in curiosity, hosted by Max Sklar. This podcast operates on the idea that our understanding of the world, particularly in fast-moving fields like artificial intelligence and technology, is often limited by our immediate surroundings and assumptions. Each episode is an attempt to push past those boundaries, to find a higher point of view from which to see the landscape of progress and its intricate effects on society. You'll hear thoughtful dialogues with researchers, builders, and thinkers who are shaping our digital and physical realities. The discussions are technical enough to be substantive yet remain accessible, focusing on the human stories and ethical questions woven into the code and the algorithms. It’s a space for nuanced exploration, where ideas are examined from multiple angles without the pressure of immediate hot takes. The aim is to provide listeners with a deeper, more contextual framework for understanding the tools and systems that are redefining our lives. For those who want to look beyond the headlines and engage with the substantive debates at the intersection of technology and human experience, this podcast offers a consistent and thoughtful destination. Further exploration and show notes for each conversation are available through the associated website and Substack page.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Local Maximum with Max Sklar
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 288 - Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Humanity? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
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. This is a public episode. If…
Ep. 287 - The Rise and Fall of ESG with Peter Earle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
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 th…
Ep. 286 - Consciousness Bets, Reverse Turing Tests, and Display Tech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:41
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 disp…
Ep. 285 - Max Changes the Constitution, Part III [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:08
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. This is a pub…
Ep. 284 - Max Changes the Constitution, Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
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. This is a public episode. If you would like to disc…
Ep. 283 - Max Changes the Constitution, Part I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:00
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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discus…
Ep. 282 - Meganets with David Auerbach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:09
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. This is a public episode. If you would like to d…
Ep. 281 - The Mixed Reality Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
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 This is a p…
Ep. 280 - How to Attack Truth Seeking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
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 This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Ep. 279 - Covid and Civil Liberties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:44
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 Distributi…