In the first half, scientist and author Samuel Arbesman discussed the evolving landscape of computing and artificial intelligence (AI) and their impact on society. Describing his new book, The Magic of Code, as an effort to "rekindle that sense of wonder and understanding" about computing, he sees the technology not just as engineering but as a "humanistic liberal art" connected to language, philosophy, and biology. Responding to concerns like those from AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton about massive unemployment, he offered a more nuanced perspective: "There's potential for... a partnership with these kinds of things, as opposed to just simply a replacement."
Arbesman attributed the growth of computing and AI to a blend of long-standing human aspirations and innovation-- "almost like ideas around sorcery and magic, but now made real with code and computing," where the possibilities and powers explode. He envisions AI as a computational tool that can enhance human thought rather than displace it. AI tools are now changing what coding means, he added, as machines can write code themselves, marking yet another shift in the field.
Discussing the interplay between physical and digital experiences, he acknowledged the continued relevance of tangible media alongside digital advancements, suggesting a balanced approach. Looking ahead, he said, "It's much less about prediction and more about saying, okay, how can we use these tools to make us the best humans," thoughtfully integrating technology to enhance human potential rather than passively accepting change.
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In the latter half, Leela Hutchison, a gemologist and the first American woman to enter Mexico's giant crystal caves, shared her two-decade exploration of the Chihuahuan Desert's geological and paranormal mysteries. Inside the cave, enormous selenite crystals-- some 40 feet tall and six to eight feet wide-- have grown over 500,000 to 900,000 years under extreme heat and humidity. She highlighted NASA scientist Dr. Penelope Boston's discovery inside these caves of previously unknown extremophiles, microbes never before seen on Earth. While NASA later changed the terminology from "alien microbes" to "ancient microbes," Hutchison maintains the significance of the find, suggesting it supports theories of extraterrestrial seeding of life via meteorites.
The caves' environment is perilous, with temperatures around 136 degrees Fahrenheit and 100% humidity, making exploration life-threatening. Despite the danger, she led expeditions to photograph and document the crystalline formations, which she describes as "the seventh geological wonder of the world." Beyond geology, she connected the region's intense UFO activity and crash retrievals-- including Roswell and the Aztec crash-- to the desert's unique properties. She proposed that the crystals might emit a "vibration of 245 hertz," a frequency used by the military, potentially acting as "beeping signals" linked to extraterrestrial phenomena.
She discussed the 1974 "Mexican Roswell" incident near Coyame (inside the Chihuahuan desert), where a small plane collided with a UFO. Reportedly, a Mexican military convoy sent to retrieve the crash debris was found dead, possibly due to an alien virus, according to declassified MJ-12 papers and the "Deneb" report, Hutchison detailed. She also touched on the mystery surrounding the Starchild Skull, which was found in Copper Canyon, near the location of the giant crystals.
News segment guests: Howard Bloom, Mish Shedlock