Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Okay, so you've been wrestling with a big decision.
[00:00:02] Speaker B: Ah, yeah.
[00:00:03] Speaker A: And you sent over this really interesting conversation between Bradley Charbono, you know, the author, the math magician guy.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Right.
[00:00:12] Speaker A: And Fiona Passantino, the AI expert.
[00:00:15] Speaker B: Yeah, kind of the both.
[00:00:16] Speaker A: They have, like, totally different ways of making decisions.
[00:00:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:00:19] Speaker A: But their insights might be super helpful for you. Right now. We're going to dive into intuition.
[00:00:25] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:00:26] Speaker A: Logic, even a bit of AI.
[00:00:29] Speaker B: Interesting.
[00:00:30] Speaker A: All to help you figure out this tricky choice.
[00:00:33] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:00:34] Speaker A: Their perspectives are fascinating, especially how they highlight this back and forth between our gut feelings and logic. Yeah, it's like Fiona uses this analogy about hearing a rustle in the bushes.
[00:00:44] Speaker B: Oh, yeah? What was it?
[00:00:46] Speaker A: Basically, your gut screams, tiger run.
[00:00:49] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:00:49] Speaker A: Right before your brain even has a chance to figure out what's going on. Pure instinct. Like, total survival mode.
[00:00:55] Speaker B: That makes sense.
[00:00:56] Speaker A: And that instinct is all thanks to the amygdala.
This is part of your brain.
[00:01:02] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:01:03] Speaker A: That handles emotions. And that fight or flight response.
[00:01:06] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: Super fast. Way faster than the prefrontal cortex, which is all about logic and planning.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: So that's why sometimes we feel that icky feeling about a job offer. Or maybe we feel pulled towards something our friends think is crazy.
[00:01:22] Speaker A: Is that our main goal of talking?
[00:01:23] Speaker B: It could be, yeah. Like an internal alarm system telling you to look into things further.
[00:01:29] Speaker A: So that's where things get tricky, right? Yeah, because then our logical brain kicks in, starts analyzing, weighing pros and cons. Creates this tug of war with our gut feeling.
[00:01:39] Speaker B: Exactly. You know those times when you just know something is right or wrong, but.
[00:01:42] Speaker A: But you can't explain why?
[00:01:44] Speaker B: Yes. Then you start overthinking it and boom.
[00:01:46] Speaker A: Indecision.
[00:01:47] Speaker B: Indecision, exactly.
[00:01:49] Speaker A: Fiona says modern life makes it even worse.
[00:01:52] Speaker B: How so?
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Information overload. Pressure to be data driven.
Sometimes we just end up ignoring that inner voice completely.
[00:02:01] Speaker B: Yeah, I can see that.
[00:02:03] Speaker A: But Bradley argues that we can actually train ourselves to hear it better.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: Really?
[00:02:07] Speaker A: Through meditation.
[00:02:08] Speaker B: Meditation?
[00:02:09] Speaker A: He says it helps him quiet his mind and tap into a deeper awareness.
[00:02:13] Speaker B: Ah, that's interesting.
[00:02:15] Speaker A: And Fiona backs him up on this.
[00:02:16] Speaker B: He does.
[00:02:17] Speaker A: She explains that meditation helps us access all this information that's usually hidden by our thoughts.
[00:02:22] Speaker B: Like what kind of information?
[00:02:24] Speaker A: It's like tuning into a radio frequency that was always there, but buried under static.
[00:02:29] Speaker B: So by meditating, we can actually get better at making gut decisions.
[00:02:34] Speaker A: It's more like recognizing the value of your intuition.
[00:02:37] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:02:38] Speaker A: Fiona says we often dismiss it as irrational.
[00:02:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: Or too emotional. But actually, it's drawing on a ton of experiences in subconscious processing.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: So Bradley uses meditation to tap into that.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: Exactly. And it's led to some of his most creative work. Even his decision to move to Italy.
[00:02:55] Speaker B: Wait, he moved to Italy based on a gut feeling?
[00:02:57] Speaker A: Seems pretty impulsive. Right?
[00:02:59] Speaker B: That's a big decision.
[00:03:00] Speaker A: But he says his most fulfilling decisions have come from trusting that inner pole.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Like a compass.
[00:03:05] Speaker A: Yeah, Pointing him in the right direction.
[00:03:07] Speaker B: I see. So how do we balance logic and intuition?
[00:03:10] Speaker A: Especially in a world obsessed with data.
[00:03:12] Speaker B: Right.
[00:03:13] Speaker A: Well, that's where Fiona's work with AI comes in.
[00:03:16] Speaker B: Okay, I'm listening.
[00:03:16] Speaker A: AI is all about analyzing data to predict outcomes. It's almost like figuring out the next word in a sentence. How so? Based on every text it's ever read.
[00:03:27] Speaker B: Interesting.
[00:03:28] Speaker A: Like if you asked AI to predict the next word after. Let's go eat.
[00:03:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:33] Speaker A: It might say cream cheese or jam.
[00:03:36] Speaker B: Oh, I get it.
[00:03:37] Speaker A: Based on language patterns, Cool. But humans aren't just algorithms, right? We have emotions, memories, values.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: Things I can't really grasp.
[00:03:45] Speaker A: Exactly. And that's one of Fiona's big takeaways.
[00:03:48] Speaker B: What is it?
[00:03:49] Speaker A: AI is amazing for certain decisions.
[00:03:51] Speaker B: Like what?
[00:03:51] Speaker A: Market trends, financial planning. But when it comes to creative choices, the stuff that defines us, that's where intuition shines.
[00:03:59] Speaker B: So don't ask AI what kind of pizza to order.
[00:04:02] Speaker A: Maybe not, but trust it to help you budget your next vacation.
[00:04:05] Speaker B: Okay, so AI for data driven stuff.
[00:04:08] Speaker A: And intuition for the big life defining choices.
[00:04:11] Speaker B: This is starting to feel like a superpower. Using AI to handle the logistics and.
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Trusting our gut for those big decisions, it's pretty powerful. Now the big question is.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:04:21] Speaker A: How is AI evolving?
[00:04:23] Speaker B: In what way?
[00:04:24] Speaker A: What if one day it could actually incorporate intuition into his decision making? Whoa.
[00:04:31] Speaker B: Is that even possible?
[00:04:32] Speaker A: Can AI learn to feel?
[00:04:34] Speaker B: That's crazy.
[00:04:35] Speaker A: Well, Fiona explains that AI systems already use something called weights. Weights to prioritize certain factors in their calculations.
[00:04:42] Speaker B: Oh, okay.
[00:04:43] Speaker A: And these weights are constantly adjusted as the AI learns.
[00:04:47] Speaker B: Kind of like our brains.
[00:04:48] Speaker A: Exactly. Like how our brains prioritize different information based on experience.
[00:04:53] Speaker B: So those weights are kind of shaping the AI's gut feeling.
[00:04:57] Speaker A: Mind blowing, right?
[00:04:58] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:04:58] Speaker A: Fiona's research even looks at advanced AI architectures.
[00:05:01] Speaker B: What are those?
[00:05:02] Speaker A: They're designed to mimic the human brain.
[00:05:04] Speaker B: Really?
[00:05:05] Speaker A: Imagine AI with specialized regions like our visual cortex or language centers, each contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the world.
[00:05:13] Speaker B: So AI is getting closer to how.
[00:05:15] Speaker A: Our brains work, but is it getting closer to actually feeling something?
[00:05:19] Speaker B: Is that science fiction or reality?
[00:05:22] Speaker A: That is the million dollar question.
[00:05:24] Speaker B: I think it's more about recognizing patterns and making judgments that Consider a wider range of factors.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Like how our intuition works.
[00:05:32] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:05:32] Speaker A: So it's not about AI Feeling, but about recognizing patterns and making judgments, taking.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: Into account more factors like our intuition.
[00:05:41] Speaker A: Okay, so imagine AI analyzing not just raw data, but also emotional cues, unspoken context.
[00:05:48] Speaker B: The things humans just pick up on instinctively.
[00:05:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:51] Speaker B: That's the kind of AI Fiona is working on.
[00:05:54] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:05:54] Speaker B: AI that could change. Healthcare, education, even art.
[00:05:58] Speaker A: Hold on. AI Creating art?
[00:06:01] Speaker B: It might sound crazy.
[00:06:02] Speaker A: You're telling me a machine can paint a masterpiece?
[00:06:05] Speaker B: Well, AI systems are already composing music.
[00:06:07] Speaker A: Really?
[00:06:07] Speaker B: And creating visual art that looks just like human creations.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Okay, but wouldn't it just be copying.
[00:06:14] Speaker B: While they analyze huge amounts of data?
[00:06:17] Speaker A: Like what?
[00:06:17] Speaker B: Musical compositions, brushstrokes. And create something new based on those patterns.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: Hmm. So it's impressive. Yeah, but where's the originality? Right.
[00:06:26] Speaker B: That's what Fiona is working on.
[00:06:27] Speaker A: What is it?
[00:06:28] Speaker B: Giving AI A sense of agency.
[00:06:30] Speaker A: Agency?
[00:06:31] Speaker B: The ability to make choices.
[00:06:33] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:06:34] Speaker B: And explore creative paths beyond just copying.
[00:06:37] Speaker A: So, AI that can surprise us?
[00:06:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Create something truly unique.
[00:06:41] Speaker A: So instead of copying Van Gogh, it could create something totally new.
[00:06:45] Speaker B: Exactly. Reflecting a different understanding of color, light, emotion.
[00:06:50] Speaker A: That is mind blowing.
[00:06:51] Speaker B: It is. And it wouldn't be trying to evoke human emotions. It would be expressing something from its own way of processing the world.
[00:07:00] Speaker A: Wow. Let's bring this back to you.
[00:07:01] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:07:02] Speaker A: And that big decision you're facing.
[00:07:04] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:07:04] Speaker A: How can these insights about intuition and AI help you?
[00:07:07] Speaker B: Well, remember Bradley's point about meditation?
[00:07:09] Speaker A: Yeah. Like tuning into a radio frequency that.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: Was always there, but buried under static.
[00:07:14] Speaker A: Right. Our intuition.
[00:07:15] Speaker B: Exactly. And Fiona talked about how we dismiss our intuition as irrational when it's actually drawing on tons of experiences and subconscious processes.
[00:07:25] Speaker A: So how do we tap into that?
[00:07:26] Speaker B: Start by paying attention to those gut feelings.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: Those little nudges we ignore.
[00:07:31] Speaker B: Notice how your body feels when you consider different options.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: Like physically.
[00:07:36] Speaker B: Do you feel excited? Or is there a tightness in your chest?
[00:07:40] Speaker A: Hmm. Valuable signals.
[00:07:42] Speaker B: Right. It's like our bodies are giving us.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: Feedback, guiding us toward the right choices.
[00:07:47] Speaker B: And don't be afraid to try meditation.
[00:07:49] Speaker A: Or journaling to quiet the mind.
[00:07:52] Speaker B: Yeah. Create space for intuitive insights.
[00:07:54] Speaker A: Like Bradley getting his best ideas during quiet reflection.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:07:58] Speaker A: So it's not about demanding an answer.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: No.
[00:08:00] Speaker A: It's about creating the right conditions for.
[00:08:02] Speaker B: Those insights to come naturally.
[00:08:04] Speaker A: Like creating fertile ground for seeds to sprout.
[00:08:06] Speaker B: Precisely. And remember, intuition isn't always a big aha moment.
[00:08:11] Speaker A: Okay?
[00:08:11] Speaker B: Sometimes it's a whisper, A feeling of unease.
[00:08:14] Speaker A: A gentle nudge.
[00:08:15] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:08:15] Speaker A: So we need to be open to those cues.
[00:08:17] Speaker B: The Whispers of guidance.
[00:08:19] Speaker A: But what about the logical side?
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Right.
[00:08:21] Speaker A: How do we use data and analysis?
[00:08:23] Speaker B: Fiona's work with AI offers a perspective. Remember how she talked about using AI.
[00:08:28] Speaker A: For data driven decisions like market trends, financial analysis?
[00:08:32] Speaker B: Apply that to your decision making.
[00:08:34] Speaker A: So if I'm choosing between two job offers.
[00:08:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: I could use AI to compare salaries, benefits, growth potential.
[00:08:41] Speaker B: Exactly. Like a data driven second opinion, AI.
[00:08:44] Speaker A: Can gather and analyze information, providing a more objective view.
[00:08:48] Speaker B: It clarifies the logical aspects, leaving me.
[00:08:51] Speaker A: To focus on how each auction feels.
[00:08:55] Speaker B: How it fits with your values.
[00:08:57] Speaker A: So it's not letting AI decide for you?
[00:08:59] Speaker B: No, it's about using it as a.
[00:09:01] Speaker A: Tool to inform my intuition.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: Exactly. A partnership between logic and gut feeling. Finding that sweet spot between the head and the heart.
[00:09:09] Speaker A: What about when our intuition is wrong?
[00:09:11] Speaker B: That's a great point.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: What happens when that gut feeling leads us astray?
[00:09:15] Speaker B: Both Bradley and Fiona acknowledge that intuition isn't perfect. It's based on our experiences and biases.
[00:09:21] Speaker A: So it can be wrong sometimes.
[00:09:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:23] Speaker A: So how do we know when to trust it?
[00:09:25] Speaker B: Fiona suggests thinking of intuition as a muscle that gets stronger with practice. The more you pay attention to your gut, the more you'll recognize the difference between a true insight.
[00:09:37] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:09:37] Speaker B: And a reaction based on fear or insecurity.
[00:09:40] Speaker A: So it takes time to develop a discerning intuition, like any skill. But even with practice. Yeah, it's just one piece of the puzzle.
[00:09:48] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:09:49] Speaker A: Not a replacement for logic or critical.
[00:09:51] Speaker B: Thinking or getting outside perspective.
[00:09:53] Speaker A: So it's about balance. Yeah, that integration combining the best of.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: Both worlds, intuition and our rational minds.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: But what about AI developing intuition?
[00:10:03] Speaker B: Right.
[00:10:03] Speaker A: If it can process information in a nuanced way, could it also make mistakes?
[00:10:09] Speaker B: That's a crucial question. It gets to the heart of the ethical considerations with AI development. As AI gets more sophisticated, we need.
[00:10:18] Speaker A: Safeguards to make sure it's used responsibly and ethically. So we don't want AI making biased.
[00:10:23] Speaker B: Decisions or prioritizing efficiency over human well being.
[00:10:27] Speaker A: Exactly. It's not just about preventing harm.
[00:10:29] Speaker B: It's about recognizing that AI is a.
[00:10:32] Speaker A: Tool that could be used for good or bad.
[00:10:34] Speaker B: We need to guide its development to benefit humanity. Exactly.
[00:10:38] Speaker A: This is a huge responsibility. It is shaping the future of technology.
[00:10:41] Speaker B: And its impact on society. It's exciting too. We're at the forefront of a revolution.
[00:10:47] Speaker A: That can change everything.
[00:10:48] Speaker B: How we live, work, interact with the world.
[00:10:50] Speaker A: And by understanding intuition, logic and AI.
[00:10:55] Speaker B: We can navigate this new world with.
[00:10:57] Speaker A: More awareness in intention. Oh, okay. So we've talked about intuition, the potential.
[00:11:02] Speaker B: Of AI and finding balance.
[00:11:03] Speaker A: But what if AI keeps evolving? Will it surpass human intelligence?
[00:11:07] Speaker B: Will our gut feelings become obsolete?
[00:11:10] Speaker A: It's kind of scary to think about. Will we become obsolete?
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Well, Fiona mentioned this article about this woman who let AI make all her decisions for a month.
[00:11:21] Speaker A: The one where AI picked out her clothes and stuff?
[00:11:23] Speaker B: Exactly. Even her meals and social events.
[00:11:26] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:11:26] Speaker B: And she realized that while AI was.
[00:11:29] Speaker A: Really efficient, it just lacked that spontaneity.
[00:11:32] Speaker B: That surprise stuff that makes life interesting.
[00:11:35] Speaker A: Right. It was all optimized, but no fun. Kind of like it missed that human touch.
[00:11:39] Speaker B: So AI could plan the perfect schedule.
[00:11:42] Speaker A: And the healthiest meals, but it wouldn't.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: Know how to throw a surprise party.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: Or suggest a random road trip.
[00:11:47] Speaker B: Exactly. And that's what makes us human.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: We're not just about efficiency.
[00:11:51] Speaker B: Right?
[00:11:52] Speaker A: We have emotions, curiosity, a desire for connection.
[00:11:56] Speaker B: Those are the things AI can't replicate.
[00:11:59] Speaker A: @ least not yet.
[00:12:00] Speaker B: So maybe our intuition, our empathy, our creativity.
[00:12:03] Speaker A: Those are what will set us apart.
[00:12:05] Speaker B: Even as AI gets smarter.
[00:12:07] Speaker A: Fiona believes the future of AI isn't about replacing humans.
[00:12:11] Speaker B: Okay?
[00:12:11] Speaker A: It's about creating tools that help us.
[00:12:14] Speaker B: To reach our full potential.
[00:12:15] Speaker A: Exactly. So?
[00:12:16] Speaker B: So we shouldn't be afraid of AI.
[00:12:17] Speaker A: We should see it as a collaborator.
[00:12:18] Speaker B: A partner to help us solve problems, explore new things, even understand ourselves better.
[00:12:23] Speaker A: Imagine AI analyzing tons of data to.
[00:12:26] Speaker B: Find solutions we'd never see.
[00:12:28] Speaker A: And we provide the creativity and ethics to make sure those solutions are used for good.
[00:12:33] Speaker B: That's a powerful partnership.
[00:12:35] Speaker A: It's an inspiring vision of the future.
Technology and humanity working together to create something amazing. Let's bring this back to you and your big decision.
[00:12:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:44] Speaker A: After all this, what feels different now?
[00:12:47] Speaker B: Remember, you have this amazing internal guidance system.
[00:12:50] Speaker A: My intuition.
[00:12:52] Speaker B: Exactly. Don't dismiss those gut feelings, but don't.
[00:12:55] Speaker A: Forget about logic and data.
[00:12:56] Speaker B: Use AI as a tool to help.
[00:12:58] Speaker A: You not to decide for me.
[00:13:00] Speaker B: You got it.
[00:13:01] Speaker A: It's like having a whole team of advisors.
[00:13:03] Speaker B: Your head, your heart, and technology.
[00:13:05] Speaker A: And by using all of them, you.
[00:13:06] Speaker B: Can make choices that feel right and are truly fulfilling. Trust yourself, stay curious.
[00:13:12] Speaker A: And remember, even in a world of algorithms, your human perspective is what matters.
