This week Nir and J discuss the hottest topic in fantasy ecoscience, the genetic resurrection of extinct species. In particular we are discussing the work of Colossal, a firm working on modern versions of the mammoth, dire wolf, thylacine and dodo.

The Direwolf is Back

Amazon in White House crosshairs over report of displaying tariff costs

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This week on Prosthetic Gods, Nir and J discuss the ethics of parents being able to choose the genetic characteristics of their children. Is “germinal choice” good for parents, children, society?

He Jiankui and Gene-Edited Babies

Sandel Michael J. 2007. The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. Cambrige: Harvard University Press

De-extinction of Direwolves

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This week on Prosthetic Gods Nir and J discuss the problem, and opportunity, of “cognitive off-loading,” our tendency to forget knowledge and skills once we have reliable digital tools. Is it possible to educate ourselves and our students to use these tools in ways that enrich and extend their cognitive skills and productivity? Along the way, we discuss Ted Chiang’s short story “The Truth of Fact The Truth of Feeling,” which compares the transition to literacy to the adoption of 24/7 lifelogging.

Gong & Yang 2024. “Google effects on memory: a meta-analytical review of the media effects of intensive Internet search behavior.”

Nosta 2025. “Cognitive offloading with AI boosts performance but may hinder deeper learning”

Ted Chiang “The Truth of Fact The Truth of Feeling”

“Emboldened by Trump, A.I. Companies Lobby for Fewer Rules” NYT

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In this episode of Prosthetic Gods Nir and J. discuss Dario Amodei’s essay “Machines of Loving Grace,” which lays out the best case scenario for AI’s impact on health, economics and world peace.

Dario Amodei “Machines of Loving Grace: How AI Could Transform the World for the Better” October 2024

Richard Brautigan “All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace”

Marc Andreesen “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto”

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This week on Prosthetic Gods Nir and J. are joined by Damien G. Walter, a writer and a storyteller who has written for The Guardian, the BBC, Wired, The Independent, Aeon, and others. He teaches The Rhetoric of Story and Writing the 21st-Century Myth to over 35,000 students worldwide, and is the host of the Science Fiction Podcast. We discuss the interaction between the “New Mythos” of science fiction and philosophy.

Find out more about Damien Walter through the links below:

• Website
• Youtube
• Substack

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Griefbots (also called deathbots, AI ghosts, AI clones, death avatars, and postmortem avatars) are large language models built on available information about the deceased, such as social media, letters, photos, diaries, and videos. Nir and J debate whether they are just another way to commemorate our loved ones or a violation of human dignity.

Dario Amodei, CEO Anthropic. Machines of Loving Grace: How AI Could Transform the World for the Better (October 2024)

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This week on Prosthetic Gods, Nir and J discuss the pros and cons of life-tracking or “self-quantification,” with tools like health watches, and the “life-hacking” that these tools encourage, from dieting and exercise to sleep and meditation. How do we know when we are being distracted and made miserable by all this self-knowledge, and when it is helpful? Could AI life coaches, tracking every vital, help us live happier, longer lives?

• Self-Absorption in the Digital Era: A Review of "Self-Improvement Technologies of the Soul in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" by Mark Coeckelbergh
• “Know Thyself, Improve Thyself: Personalized LLMs for Self-Knowledge and Moral Enhancement,” Julian Savulescu
• Trump administration directs federal health agencies to pause communications
• Stargate AI Iniatitive, Spurned by Musk, Trumped by Chinese DeepSeek Breakthroughs
• China’s cheap, open AI model DeepSeek thrills scientists
• Why everyone in AI is freaking out about DeepSeek
• OpenAI Unveils A.I. Agent That Can Use Websites on Its Own

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On this week’s Prosthetic Gods Nir and J. discuss the ethics of life extension and anti-aging therapies. Is there a benefit to involuntary death? Would getting very old necessarily be boring or depressing? How can we ensure that everyone benefits?

Zuckerberg removes fact-checking from Facebook

Bezos imposes ban on criticism of Trump/Musk at WashPo

Sam Altman moves up the timelines for AGI and ASI

Journal abstracts written by asking LLMs to summarize papers are perceived as more authentic, clear and compelling than those created solely by academics.

Hosted by James Hughes and Nir Eisikovits Produced by Jake Burley Music by Jake Burley