Beyond Electric Sheep

Hosted by Ed Daniels and Brick Thompson

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Jul 2025

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About the show

Beyond Electric Sheep is a discussion of the impact Artificial Intelligence has on our personal and business lives. How will we interact with these human-like entities that have access to all realms of knowledge and the beginnings of human reasoning?

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37 recent

July 15, 2025Episode 3612 min

E36 The Gentle Singularity

In Sam Altman’s blog he talks about “The Gentle Singularity.” https://blog.samaltman.com/the-gentle-singularity He says, “We are past the event horizon; the takeoff has started. Humanity is close to building digital superintelligence, and at least so far, it’s much less weird than it seems like it should be.”Brick and Ed discuss this idea. AI news breaks every day if not every hour, but somehow, we are getting used to it. While it is challenging and sometimes confusing, it somehow seems like we were expecting worse. Somehow, we are getting used to this pace of change. The intelligence explosion is real, and both Brick and Ed are excited to be here.There are certainly things that we need to be concerned about and watch carefully. For example, the leading AI companies were originally worried about the militarization of their technology, but they are now vying for Defense Department contracts.Ed talks about how just accomplishing discussion using natural language was a huge hurdle, but now further advances in intelligence may not be as noticeable.Brick and Ed discuss how AI Models can talk with each other at higher data rates. For example, Gibberlink Mode. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberlink Ed relates a demo experience he had with this type of communication between LLMs. Ed raises the idea that maybe we just need to advance a bit more slowly and gently, but Brick notes that commercial competition among the Frontier AI companies, not to mention China, just doesn’t allow this.The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

July 9, 2025Episode 3511 min

E35 Intellification

In this Episode 35, Brick and Ed discuss Intellification. Intellification is a big idea: making sure artificial intelligence reaches everyone — not just the rich, educated, or urban elite. Just as electrification transformed the 20th century, Intellification can power the 21st. The spread of electricity wasn’t automatic — it required intention. Someone had to decide that everyone, not just the privileged, deserved access to the transformative power of a new technology. Today AI is in a position remarkably similar to electricity in 1925: a powerful tool changing how the world works but mostly concentrated in the hands of those with the resources, networks, and education to use it. Without deliberate action, the benefits of AI will flow primarily to wealthy nations, corporations, and highly educated individuals — widening the global AI equity gap. Intellification is about flipping that script. The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.---*Note: Christoph Windheuser, Cologne, Germany, used the term “Intellification” at his site intellification.net in July of 2017. His definition is closely related to the definition I provide in this podcast. Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

June 12, 2025Episode 3413 min

Is Your Job Doomed?

In this thirteen-minute Episode 34, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels discuss a new trend of CEO’s warning their employees that they need to learn how to use AI. Brick and Ed discuss Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman’s letter to his employees about AI. Brick reads a quote “If you do not become an exceptional talent at what you do, a master, you will face the need for a career change in a matter of months. I am not trying to scare you….I am talking about your ability to stay in your profession in the industry. Are we all doomed? Not all of us, but those who will not wake up and understand the new reality fast, are, unfortunately, doomed.” https://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/2025/04/fiverr-ceos-stunning-letter-to-all.htmlEd advises employees, “You gotta be ready, you gotta be nimble, and you gotta have a Plan A, a Plan B and a Plan C for your career.” Brick and Ed discuss the likely short term future and the impact of AI on employment and career choices. Brick says CEOs must set aside a certain portion of each day to study AI and learn about new AI trends and innovations. If possible, CEOs should assign one or more employees to just stay on top of AI developments. To wrap it all up, Ed and Brick say, “You may not be interested in AI, but AI is interested in you.” (Or if not you, your job.) The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

June 5, 2025Episode 3311 min

AI Evolution

In this eleven-minute Episode 33, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels discuss Google’s new AlphaEvolve, an evolutionary coding agent developed by Google DeepMind. AlphaEvolve uses an LLM to generate different versions of the target algorithm’s code, and then applies an evolutionary algorithm to evaluate and select the most promising code version.Ed and Brick riff on how this tool could be used in the business world to improve business processes. They also speculate on how humans fit into this approach. Do we still have a role to play? Brick and Ed wrap it up by spinning off into a discussion of the Singularity and how it sometimes feels like we are in the middle of it right now.· See more on AlphaEvolve at https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/alphaevolve-a-gemini-powered-coding-agent-for-designing-advanced-algorithms/ · If you really want to dive into the topic of AI self improvement, read this article by Carlos Perez https://medium.com/intuitionmachine/the-space-of-transcendental-machines-from-population-dynamics-to-recursive-self-improvement-5a3a047c1534The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and discuss the broader applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

May 27, 2025Episode 3213 min

E32 Bottom Rung

In this 13-minute Episode 32, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels discuss AI's impact on employment and how the ‘Bottom Rung’ jobs may be going away…replaced by AI Agents. Brick notes that this will present a problem for companies where typically new talent is brought in at an entry level, and as new employees gain experience, they advance up the career ladder. Without the Bottom Rung jobs, experienced people will not be available to fill the next level of jobs as managers advance up the ladder and, eventually, retire. Ed notes that new college graduates are already experiencing some difficulty finding jobs now in 2025, and this may be the beginning of this AI impact. Brick notes that, in law firms, AI can do a good job of reviewing cases replacing some of the work that a paralegal or entry level attorney might do. What do we do then? Do newly minted attorneys review the AI’s work, or jump in at a higher level, or move immediately to an apprentice type position mentored by a more senior person?Brick notes that if too many ‘cognitive’ jobs go away, young people or people changing jobs may need to consider other more difficult to automate jobs like the trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, welders, and mechanics), massage therapy or dance.Business executives need to be doing succession planning to replace themselves when experienced human employees are no longer available. There will be fewer experienced candidates to choose from.Employees need to recognize the upcoming wave of AI and be aware, be knowledgeable, and consider your options, and be prepared to zig or zag in your job choices with minimal advanced notice.The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines. Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

April 22, 2025Episode 3112 min

Robots

In this 12-minute episode, Ed Daniels and Brick Thompson talk about how large language model AI technology is about to facilitate a huge advancement in robotics. Ed recently rewrote his science fiction novel "The Last of the Firefighters" where robotics invades the profession of firefighting. Brick and Ed talk about the various scenarios portrayed in Ed's novel. https://thelastofthefirefighters.com/ We also discuss robot vacuum cleaners, self-driving cars, and other advances in robotics. The name of this podcast, "Beyond Electric Sheep," is a reference to the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

April 15, 2025Episode 308 min

NotebookLM

In this nine-minute Episode, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels discuss Google’s NotebookLM, a fascinating new tool that generates a podcast from one or up to 50 source documents. All the Google user needs to do is to drag the intended files into the NotebookLM window and instruct the application to generate an audio podcast. After some thinking, the one male and one female synthetic characters interact for ten to thirty minutes having an informative and entertaining conversation about the source documents. It must be tried to be believed!Brick discusses how he used it to help his daughter better understand a complex textbook while riding the train into the City.Ed explains how he uses NotebookLM to help his friends understand the amazing capabilities of AI.Brick and Ed both agree they haven't completely optimized their use of this revolutionary tool, but they are having fun exploring the use cases.They recommend that listeners experiment with NotebookLM for their own business and personal use. Go to notebooklm.google.com.Note: After recording this video I discovered several other videos on how to use NotebookLM by a podcaster named Callum AKA wanderloots. https://wanderloots.com/ Here's a link to one of his videos https://youtu.be/YP6fS5JtMkg?si=x8b1EOaUlyzNJxm1 The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

April 7, 2025Episode 2911 min

Episode 29 - Deep Research

In this eleven minute Episode 29, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels discuss AI's new Deep Research capabilities. Deep Research is a new capability that allows the AI user to pose a question or suggest a topic area, and ask the AI model to spend 5 - 10 minutes researching via the web before composing a full report. Sometimes these reports can be 10 to 15 pages in length complete with footnotes, explanations and web links. Brick talks about how he uses ChatGPT Deep Research from OpenAI as part of his daily business and personal workflow. For example, he queues up research queries on companies so the report is available to him before a sales meeting. Ed uses Google Gemini's Deep Research to evaluate personal buying decisions, like comparing brands for a new pickup truck. Ed also used Deep Research to generate work bios for friends and relatives as a way to share with them these new amazing AI capabilities.The podcasters both agree that podcast audience members should experiment with Deep Research for their own business and personal use.The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

March 22, 2025Episode 289 min

E28 - Just Buy It!

In this ten-minute Episode #28, Just Buy It! Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels talk about whether it makes sense to buy a premium subscription to ChatGPT or Claude or Gemini. Brick argues it is important for all of us, young and old, to keep up with this new technology. Ed argues that these premium-levels help the AI models remember you and tailor their responses to your preferred style. Both podcasters agree that, if you can afford it, you should subscribe to one or two premium-level AI services.- OpenAI https://openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/ - Anthropic (Claude) https://www.anthropic.com/pricing - Google Gemini https://gemini.google/advanced/?hl=en The name of this podcast, Beyond Electric Sheep, is a reference to the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn

March 22, 2025Episode 2710 min

Episode 27 - Book Writing

In this ten-minute Episode #27 - Book Writing, Brick Thompson and Ed Daniels talk about Ed’s latest adventures in book writing. This was a topic of two previous podcasts, and now Ed is nearing his final product and has continued to learn a lot about how to use – and how to not use – AI in this process. Ed and Brick also discuss the current flood of AI-written books and talk about how the right amount of AI contribution can improve the quality of writing. But Brick and Ed aren’t ready to entirely turn over writing to AI.The following topics were mentioned in the podcast:The Dashboard Effect by Jon Thompson and Brick Thompson https://a.co/d/j0wjvtZ The Age of Logos by Dr. Joe Ferguson https://a.co/d/0RqH9Gz Notebooklm.google.com the podcast-generating AI https://notebooklm.google.com/ Dyson Sphere by George Carl https://a.co/d/eoKetY3 Fire Chief: The Story of a Volunteer Firefighter by Ed Daniels https://a.co/d/2HGMYaH The name of this podcast, “Beyond Electric Sheep,” is a reference to the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick. That novel is the source for the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It explores the themes of artificial intelligence, empathy, and reality in a dystopian future where humans and androids coexist. The novel raises the question of whether androids can dream or feel anything at all, and whether they are different from humans in any meaningful way. In our Beyond Electric Sheep podcast we go beyond the novel and the movies and discuss the broader implications and applications of artificial intelligence in our personal lives and in our businesses. We explore the pragmatic as well as the ethical and philosophical issues that arise from creating and interacting with intelligent machines.Beyond Electric Sheep is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYg2J0jET_BPCKSnsxz8mleEmYogYJZhn