Computing Up

Dave Ackley

Conversations about computation writ large, with Michael Littman and Dave Ackley.

  1. Benjamin J. Kuipers: On Space and Time and GOFAI

    11/02/2025

    Benjamin J. Kuipers: On Space and Time and GOFAI

    Ben Kuipers, emeritus professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—), joins Michael and Dave in a nerdly yet accessible conversation on topics ranging from Good Old-Fashioned AI, to how we understand space and time, to ethics and trust in society, to teaching Dave how to LISP properly in the 1970s. [Episode cover based on image used courtesy of Benjamin J. Kuipers]

    1h 13m
  2. Efficiency, Resilience, & Robustness With Moshe Vardi

    07/26/2025

    Efficiency, Resilience, & Robustness With Moshe Vardi

    Moshe Vardi (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—), the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational Engineering at Rice University, and a multi-award-winning force in theoretical computer science, joins Michael and Dave in a wide-ranging conversation about robustness and resilience in computer science, engineering, and society at large. Moshe's talk "Lessons from Texas, COVID-19, and the 737 Max" is online (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—). [Cover based on an image used by permission of Moshe Vardi] Episode Note: This conversation was recorded in August 2024 but is only becoming available now. Computing Up regrets and apologizes for the extended delay!

    1h 5m
  3. Computing Then And Now with Joy Lisi Rankin

    04/27/2025

    Computing Then And Now with Joy Lisi Rankin

    Dr. Joy Lisi Rankin (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—), an author, historian, and academic, joins Michael and Dave in a fast conversation about the history of computing and its systemic biases from the '60s to the techbros of today, and much more.  [Cover based on an image used by permission of Joy Rankin] Note: This conversation was recorded in April 2024 but is only becoming available now. Computing Up regrets and apologizes for the extended delay!

    58 min
  4. Collecting Cognition with Steve Sloman

    12/01/2024

    Collecting Cognition with Steve Sloman

    Cognitive scientist and psychologist Professor Steve Sloman of Brown University (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—) joins Michael and Dave in a fun romp through connectionism, collective cognition, the illusion of understanding, and much more. Also, Dave illustrates his illusion of understanding of a bicycle in a true back of the envelope sketch --  [Episode cover based on image used courtesy of Steven Sloman]

    49 min
  5. Manon Revel: Is Democracy a Comma in History?

    06/23/2024

    Manon Revel: Is Democracy a Comma in History?

    Manon Revel (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—), an Employee Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, joins Michael and Dave for a conversation about the past, present, and future of democracy, and ways to understand it in both computational and practical terms. [Thumbnail based on image provided courtesy of Manon Revel]

    1h 2m
  6. Martha White: Sparse is Rich

    03/02/2024

    Martha White: Sparse is Rich

    Martha White, associate professor of Computing Science at University of Alberta (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—) joins Michael and Dave in a conversation about AI, system prediction and control, the power of sparse representations, and many aspects of machine learning from new mathematical theory to the absolutely practical control of a real water treatment plant. [Thumbnail based on image used courtesy of Martha White]

    56 min
  7. Rich Sutton Brings Reinforcements

    12/31/2023

    Rich Sutton Brings Reinforcements

    Computer scientist Rich Sutton, FRS (๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—, ๐Ÿ”—), a quiet giant of machine learning, joins Michael and Dave in a sprawling conversation touching on reinforcement learning, a hopeful view of AI, the importance of ideas, and a host of other topics. [Thumbnail image used courtesy of Rich Sutton]

    55 min
  8. The Living Computation Theory of Everything

    11/28/2023

    The Living Computation Theory of Everything

    Michael interviews Dave about his recent video (YouTube) on a 'theory of everything'. The conversation begins with Michael praising Dave for finally doing some theory, and descends from there.

    1h 20m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Conversations about computation writ large, with Michael Littman and Dave Ackley.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Ackley
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Computing Up