Down the Wormhole
Episodes

Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Elevating the Discourse with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad (Professor/Researcher)
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Episode 77
In part 11 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad. He is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at University of Washington and the Principal Data Science Researcher at KenSci. He is also an advisor on AI to the ministry of Science and Technology of Maldives, and has published over 50 research papers on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His research centers on fairness and equity concerning the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis

Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Artificial Intelligence Part 2 (Who Wants To Live Forever?)
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Episode 76
If you had the power to augment your body so that you could live forever, would you do it? If life-saving technology exists, are we morally obliged to use it? Have we outsmarted natural selection, and do we now have the duty to take homo sapien evolution into our own hands? Living well, dying responsibly, and the wonderfully provocative world of transhumanism on this week's episode of Down the Wormhole.
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis

Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
Elevating the Discourse with Seth Villegas (PhD Student)
Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
Episode 75
In part 10 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Seth Villegas. He is a PhD student in constructive theology at Boston University. He focuses primarily on how technology affects religious and religious-like ideas. His current research examines transhumanist and other secular communities, asking questions about the future of religious life. We talk about the incoming technological utopia/dystopia, the search for meaning, and the nature of the human soul.
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis

Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Artificial Intelligence Part 1 (More Machine Than Man)
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Episode 74
In our new miniseries, we are talking about artificial intelligence, machine ethics, transhumanism, and what it means to be a human. In our first episode, we're talking about cyborgs and why you already are one. Will technology make us less human and will we even realize that it's happening? Does AI deserve rights? Should we create machines that can feel pain and suffering? How can playing God with machines help us to become better humans today?
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis
Show Notes
Ship of Theseus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus
21 grams - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21_grams_experiment
The pineal gland as the seat of the soul - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pineal-gland/
Adam’s Conversation about Cyborbs during Sinai and Synapses - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/multimedia-archive/superheroes-and-everyday-cyborgs/
Loebner Prize - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loebner_Prize
https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2020/05/predictive-text-systems-change-what-we-write
The Animatrix - https://www.amazon.com/Animatrix-Complete-First-Season/dp/B004G7W9IY
Cylon Psychology - https://www.battlestarwiki.org/Humanoid_Cylon#Physiology_and_Psychology
Siri's Position On Abortion? A Glitch, Not Conspiracy, Apple Says - https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/02/143067993/siris-anti-abortion-tendencies-a-result-of-technology-not-apple-conspiracy
The Algorithmic Justice League - https://www.ajl.org/

Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Elevating the Discourse with Matthew Groves (science and faith educator)
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Episode 73
In part 9 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Matthew Groves. He was once described on NPR as a "one man science-religion reconciliation committee". With a background in Physics and a Master of Divinity, he comfortably navigates both worlds and makes it look easy. We talk about strategic bridge building, climate advocacy, and doing this work in multiple spaces.
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis