episode 018 - Leverage Research
In this episode, we talk about Leverage Research Institute and a crazy new article about the tech think-tank/cult: "Inside Story of Leverage 1.0" by Lydia Laurenson. Leverage is a rationalist think tank that stumbled into demon summoning and conducting wizarding wars. It's a wild story! This leads to convos about tech culture, AI and tech arrogance, harry potter, sex bots, and all sorts of things. We also talk Reacher, Boats, Yoga, Friendship, and more!
Show Notes
Official coffee provider of the show: Customs Coffee
Zach read Jack Reacher: Bad Luck and Trouble and it's now available, as of 14:00 6/10, at the Central Library.
If interested in yoga, a great class happens Tuesday, 10am, at the Newtown Community Centre
Oak Express, the Oil/Chemical Tanker that parked at Miramar harbor
Main article we discuss is The Inside Story of Leverage Research, by Lydia Laurenson. Definitely recommend giving it a read!
Zoe Curzi's personal experiences with Leverage
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
"Montreal Experiments", mindwarping done as part of MKUltra
How to start a Cult, video guide
"Speak, Memory: when her best friend died, she rebuilt him using artififial intelligence"
The memorial to a dead friend pivots to a sex bot
"What happens when your AI girlfriend dies?"
(Zach mistakenly says Replika didn't make it. It's still around, but not as sexual.)
For why we don't want to be on Spotify, a lot of it is based on Liz Pelly's fantastic writings and also that they fund AI weaponry. How does one work online without helping fund war crimes?
Leverage Institutes funding plan to create 10 masters has echoes of Theosophy's 'Ascended Masters'