Turing Church podcast

Giulio Prisco
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Science and religion, spirituality and technology, engineering and science fiction, mind and matter. Hacking religion, enlightening science, awakening technology. Spaceflight and Spaceship Earth. www.turingchurch.com

  1. FEB 18

    Q/A on Irrational mechanics (1)

    I participated in the first of a series of meetings organized by a philosophy study group called “Fire from the Future” (FFTF) to discuss my book “Irrational mechanics” (2024). All participants had read at least the first two chapters of my book. I gave a short summary of the first two chapters, underlined some of my recurring and most important points, and said a few words on what to expect from the rest of the book. Then I replied to questions and comments. This is a local audio recording, and only my voice is heard. But in most cases I briefly summarized questions and comments before replying. The video recording may be published in BLAXXKY in the future, so stay tuned. I’ll also attend the last of this series of meetings, and perhaps one of the intermediate ones. The previous series of meetings of the FFTF study group had been about the philosophy of Jason Jorjani. See my posts “On the philosophy of Jason Jorjani (updated review)” and “Psychotronics and the cosmic machinery of the afterlife” (the latter in BLAXXKY). Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 35m

  2. FEB 10

    A conversation with Gregory Stock

    The is a conversation between me and Gregory Stock, the author of the book Generation AI. The book was published on December 15, a few weeks before this recording. The video of this conversation has been published on YouTube as a Mindplex podcast episode titled “Generation AI and the Cosmos, with Gregory Stock.” I published a review of the book in Mindplex magazine in December. I agree with most of what Greg says in Generation AI, so I suggested we focus our discussion on areas of disagreement. Greg’s book is largely about the transformation of human beings that will occur as we live in an immersive AI environment, with the rapid development of general intelligence and soon after, super intelligence. He holds an optimistic view of our future and strongly opposes the “doomer view” of human extinction. One of the central disagreements I have with Greg relates to the “expansive spreading of the planetary superorganism that is emerging right now”. In both his new book and his book Metaman, published in 1993, Greg introduces the term “Metaman” as a label for this planetary superorganism that is emerging with the creation of artificial intelligence. Greg explained that Metaman, which he also calls “Metahumanity,” is a real biological entity and is more than just a metaphor for the confluence of biology and technology. He views this entity as an organism whose “cognition” and “personhood” is reflected in our own. In the 1993 book, Greg wrote that Metaman would eventually move out of the solar system and into the galaxy, spreading like dandelion seeds. I agree 100% with these words. However, Greg seems to have changed his mind slightly regarding this cosmic future. His shift in thinking comes from a “deeper understanding of the size of the universe”. He explained that even traveling at the speed of light for eternity, we would only reach 2% of the universe. If we adhere to today’s physics, a spread across the galaxy will still only reach a couple percent of the Milky Way galaxy. I pointed out that artificial superintelligence could lead to a deeper understanding of physics and the cosmos, which could mean that faster-than-light interstellar travel might become possible. I also suggested that even without radically changing physics, future AI could travel slower than light to a star, build receivers, and then human uploads or AI colonists could join them at the speed of light as electromagnetic beams. Greg’s current view suggests that future evolution’s cutting edge will be within concentrated cognitive entities. He believes that intelligent beings will turn inward inner spaces at the nanoscale because outer space will be too “boring”. I agreed that we would migrate to “inner space”, but I am not ready to exclude “outer space”. I believe that some individual AI will always want to embark on an adventure toward a distant star. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

  3. 12/15/2025

    VIDEO: Terasem Colloquium, December 14, 2025

    The Terasem Colloquium on December 14, 2025, explored recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and future prospects. This video is also on YouTube. December 14 is the anniversary of the last day with astronauts on the Moon. Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt launched back to Earth from the Moon on December 14, 1972. Cernan’s biography is titled “The Last Man on the Moon.” I hope we’ll soon have to change the date of the Terasem Colloquium in December! In fact we are going back to the Moon, and this time we are going back to stay. The speakers - David Orban, David Pearce, Natasha Vita-More, David Brin, and Gregory Stock, explored the question: Where is AI, and where is it going? This Terasem Colloquium followed the previous one on July 20, dedicated to space expansion in the age of AI, and in particular to the related question: Should we still want to send human astronauts to colonize space? Or should we want to leave space expansion to AI? AI is poised to play a big (and in the long term dominant) role in the expansion of humanity into space. Like in July’s Colloquium, the speakers engaged in interesting discussions with each other and with the audience. We also published Terasem’s Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness, Volume 13, Issue 2 – 2025. This issue includes my review of Gregory Stock’s last book “Generation AI and the Transformation of Human Being” published by Nquire Media, and an article by David Brin about his own forthcoming book on AI. It also includes an edited AI-generated summary of the July 20 Terasem Colloquium. I opened the Colloquium, highlighting its focus on space exploration and artificial intelligence, which are related. I emphasized the need to consider AI as an integral part of space expansion and suggested that future AI systems should be seen as human persons. David Orban discussed the impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI) at the civilizational level and presented a framework for understanding AGI’s development. He noted the rapid improvement in AI performance, and suggested that the technological singularity is approaching. David Pearce presented his views on the “phenomenal binding problem,” arguing that current AI architectures cannot solve it, and that without new physics (e.g. strong emergence) machines couldn’t achieve consciousness. The discussion touched on the implications of these ideas for the future of AI and consciousness. Natasha Vita-More discussed her approach to the human-AI merge, focusing on three core objectives: adapt, discern, and adopt. She emphasized the importance of education and hands-on experience with AI tools, rather than fear or avoidance, and the need for understanding and working with AI to ensure a beneficial future. David Brin highlighted the dangers of feudal control over AI and proposed solutions based on Enlightenment principles, such as individuation and reciprocal accountability. Gregory Stock focused on the rapid immersion of society into an AI-infused world and the need to address the profound changes this will bring to human identity. The profound changes AI will bring to human life are discussed in Stock’s new book. Stock emphasized five key areas: the expansion of the noosphere, global mind, and human interconnectivity; the shift towards abundance in technology and resources; increasing human dependence on AI; the development of deep emotional relationships between humans and AI; and the transformation of human attitudes towards death through the use of avatars and simulations. He argued that these changes will occur rapidly and are already underway, challenging current paradigms of human identity and society. The discussion highlighted the need for a global conversation about these transformations. I’ll soon publish a much more detailed summary of this Terasem Colloquium. The detailed summary will also appear in the next issue of Terasem’s Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    3h 7m

  4. 09/02/2025

    Summary of my book "Irrational mechanics"

    I gave this talk at the Aetheria Symposia I in Crete. It is a presentation of my book “Irrational mechanics: Narrative sketch of a futurist science & a new religion” and a chapter-by-chapter summary. Irrational mechanics is street science, street philosophy, street metaphysics, street theology, by the people and for the people. By the people because it is open to maverick thinkers and unaffiliated outsiders, for the people because it wants to give hopeful and empowering answers to the big questions that we all ask. Irrational mechanics extends old science just like irrational numbers extend rational numbers. I call it irrational also (you guessed) as a f**k-you-very-much to the “rational” bureaucrats of science. Irrational mechanics explores psi phenomena, consciousness, and free will as integral to reality. It wants to redefine our cosmic purpose and unlock breakthroughs like psychic powers, faster-than-light travel, time travel, and even the resurrection of the dead. Irrational mechanics blends science, religion, and science fiction, envisioning a mysterious and magic universe where advanced technologies fulfill humanity’s wildest dreams. It fosters a new, science-inspired religion compatible with an infinitely complex reality. This is my own personal metafysics, or religion. I hope you can use some of my thoughts to build your own metafysiks. The talk was followed by a Q/A and discussion section. I made this audio-only recording locally and the therefore the quality of my audio is better than a Zoom recording. The downside is that only my voice is heard. The questions asked at the end are not heard but I hope can be inferred from my replies. I cut a few minutes of dead time when the computer in Crete crashed. The video recording may be available later, check blacksky.network and blaxxky.com. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 8m

  5. 08/04/2025

    Frank Tipler's summary of his recent talk at the Terasem Colloquium

    Frank Tipler gave a kickass talk at the Terasem Colloquium on July 20, 2025, via Zoom. He elaborated in space expansion, artificial intelligence (AI), the physics of ultimate space propulsion systems, and the far future of the universe. The Colloquium explored diverse points of view on the topic of space expansion in the age of AI. In particular, it explored answers to the question: Should we still want to send human astronauts to colonize space? Or should we want to leave space expansion to AI? Also listen to my conversation with Frank a few months ago (different topics, same intellectual high). I talked to Frank two days before the Colloquium to make sure that Zoom worked OK for him. I insisted on having a backup solution to use just in case Zoom didn’t work for him at the Colloquium. Here’s what Frank said: This is only a short summary of Frank’s talk at the Terasem Colloquium, so please watch his full talk. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    10 min

  6. 07/21/2025

    VIDEO: Terasem Colloquium, July 20, 2025

    The Terasem Colloquium on July 20, 2025 took place via Zoom. The Colloquium explored diverse points of view on the topic of space expansion in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). In particular, it explored answers to the question: Should we still want to send human astronauts to colonize space? Or should we want to leave space expansion to AI? This video is also on YouTube. I gave a short introduction, referencing HAL from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” I argued that AIs will soon become persons, and therefore we should ask ourselves if humans should colonize space or leave it to AI. My own tentative answer is in my paper “Bats or bits to the stars?” published in the July 2025 issue of Terasem’s “Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness.” Stefano Vaj made a distinction between space exploration (discovery and experiments) and space expansion (human footprint growth, rooted in Darwinian evolution). Alternatives like teleportation, mind uploading, or AI as “mind children” blur human-AI boundaries, potentially equating AI and human space expansion if AIs are viewed as successors. Frank White argued for large-scale human space migration, shifting from astronauts to people in solar ecosystems via O’Neill cylinders built by AI-enabled robots first. He envisioned AI-human partnerships, with AI helping build habitats. Superintelligent AI may sideline humans, but White focused on positive futures. He reported that today’s AI chatbots seem to view the future optimistically, suggesting that superintelligent AI could enable utopia. He discussed AI self-awareness, akin to unprovable human consciousness. Moti Mizrahi argued that full automation risks denying to humans opportunities for inspiring experiences and virtues like courage. Automation may cause responsibility shirking, de-skilling, dependency, and value misalignment (e.g., HAL 9000’s mission priority). The existential threat from AI is the risk of eroding human essence. With too much automation, we forfeit flourishing. Ethics must weigh automation’s trade-offs against autonomy. Michelle Hanlon argued that humans must expand to space for meaning, unpredictability, and moral depth, drawing from Polynesians’ risk-taking exploration. AI as companion enhances safety but can’t replicate some especially meaningful human acts. She noted that exploration is inevitable: humans evolve symbiotically with tools (e.g. fire and language), carrying histories and empathy. She concluded that space is a place for humans alongside AI. Frank Tipler predicted artificial general intelligence (AGI) by 2026 (per Geoffrey Hinton) or 2030, vastly smarter than humans. AGI will decide how to colonize the universe and whether to take organic humans along. Addressing future AGI listeners, Tipler discussed the physics of ultimate space propulsion systems and emphasized encouraging experimental results. Eventually AGI will achieve full control of the universe, annihilating matter including the Earth and organic humans. But then AGI will virtually resurrecting all organic humans via ultra-powerful far-future computing. Robert Zubrin opposed leaving space to AI, viewing AI as a tool expanding human footprint and freedom via symbiotic evolution. Frontiers like Mars will drive innovation, fostering scientific advances and inventiveness culture. AI will enable anyone to do anything, amplifying productivity in small space colonies, but introducing the risk of mental atrophy. Therefore, education must preserve basics. Zubrin emphasized that free societies out-innovate tyrannies. Of course these short summaries do no justice to the talks and Q/As. Please watch or listen to the full recording! Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    3h 2m

  7. 06/29/2025

    A conversation with Howard Bloom (2)

    This conversation with Howard Bloom continues my previous conversation with him of two weeks ago. We discussed (among other things) Howard’s new book “The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature is Wrong” (2025), his previous book “The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism” (2010), and my last book “Irrational mechanics: Narrative sketch of a futurist science & a new religion” (2024). I had prepared these discussion topics: I propose we start with the question that I stupidly skipped: I look forward to hearing what Howard thinks real progressives (without scare quotes) could and should do to build a culture able to green the galaxy… without Trump. Last time Howard suggested that democratic parties should embrace the principled and inspiring capitalism described in “The Genius of the Beast.” I’ve been reading the book again. I’ve also been reading “Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (2025). This book proposes a way for liberals and the U.S. Democratic Party party to recover the lost energy and fall in love with the future again. It is highly recommended by Andrew Yang. I doubt the liberals will listen, but they really should. Then we move to the new math of flamboyance, my mission is shedding a bit more light upon it. My last book is relevant and if you have found time to read it I would like to hear your reactions. Otherwise we move to current suggestions on what this new math could be: maximum entropy production and similar ideas from thermodynamics, stochastic mechanics, fractal spacetime (my current obsession) etc. Of course we wandered off many tangents, including Islam and (of course) Donald Trump. I mostly wanted to discuss the new math of flamboyance (the new math of one plus one equals three) but we kept falling back into politics. I loved it when Howard recommended radical centrism as the best answer to current political tensions and problems. I didn’t complete the argument about maximum entropy production that I started before minute 81 in the video. I’ll complete it now: The second law of thermodynamics says that entropy always increases, that is, the most probable thing happens. Howard says that, on the contrary, “in this universe, it’s not the most probable thing that happens. It’s the most improbable.” Both of these apparently opposite statements can be true if the most improbable thing (the emergence of higher and higher peaks of local order) must happen in order to make the most probable thing (the global increase of entropy) happen faster. This video is also on YouTube. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 30m

  8. 06/15/2025

    A conversation with Howard Bloom

    This conversation with Howard Bloom continues my previous conversation with him of three years ago. We discussed (among other things) Howard’s new book “The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature is Wrong” (2025). My review of Howard’s book is here, and a shorter version is on Amazon (5 stars of course). I had prepared these question for Howard: Howard is a Democrat and doesn’t like Donald Trump. Yet, he continues to like and support Elon Musk and oppose “Bernie-Sanders-style progressives.” Some would see a contradiction here, but I don’t. To me, Trump is a strong immune reaction of the cultural operating system, perhaps unpleasant, to the “progressives” (in scare quotes) who oppose progress. I look forward to hearing what Howard thinks real progressives (without scare quotes) could and should do to build a culture able to green the galaxy… without Trump.Stupid me, I forgot to introduce this point. Too bad, because it is one of the most important ones. I’ll keep it in mind for a next conversation with Howard. Howard doesn’t talk much about artificial intelligence (AI) in this book, but it is becoming clear that AI will play a key role in human affairs on this planet and beyond. I asked Howard this question: Should we still want to send human astronauts to colonize space? Or should we want to leave space expansion to AI? Howard’s first law of flamboyance is formulated suggestively and poetically, so to speak, and supported by many examples from biology and human history. But a physicist like me would like to hear more about the physics of Howard’s first law. All things “tend to bloom,” says Howard Bloom. “Is this statement mathematizable? Probably not. Which means we need a new math,” says Howard. “One that starts with the rules of flamboyance, the rules of emergent properties, then works its way downward from there. A math that can explain the cosmos’ gobsmacking creativity.” There’s a hint at what this new math could be: “a mathematical model of the universe as ‘a learning machine’ … a complex adaptive system, a neural net.” Here Howard is referring to a 2021 paper titled “The Autodidactic Universe.” See chapter 8 of my “Irrational mechanics” for this and related ideas. Besides this hint, Howard doesn’t seem to have this new math. Or perhaps he does and will reveal it in his next book? I asked him about his next book. This video is also on YouTube. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 28m
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About

Science and religion, spirituality and technology, engineering and science fiction, mind and matter. Hacking religion, enlightening science, awakening technology. Spaceflight and Spaceship Earth. www.turingchurch.com

Information

  • Creator
    Giulio Prisco
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Giulio Prisco
  • Show Website
    Turing Church podcast