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Increments · Nov 6, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min

#94 - Is AI Just a Tool? (w/ Scott Aaronson)

The time has come for Vaden to defend his faith in the face of cold, hard scientific rationality. Will AI take over the world, automating away everything that makes humans distinct? Or can Vaden defend the church of just-ism, the radical belief that AI is simply "just a tool." Scott Aaronson, professor of computer science at UT Austin, goes to head to head against the zealotry. Check out Scott's website and his blog, Shtetl Optimized. We discuss Scott view's on education. Should we radically reform K-12? Is ChatGPT changing Scott's approach to teaching The religion of "justa-ism" Is AI just a tool? Is there any principle which lets us say that AI won't be as general as humans? Aaronson's thesis of Artificial Intelligence Computational universality vs explanatory universality The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics Socials Follow us on Twitter at @IncrementsPod, @BennyChugg, @VadenMasrani Come join our discord server! DM us on twitter or send us an email to get a supersecret link Become a patreon subscriber here. Or give us one-time cash donations to help cover our lack of cash donations here. Click dem like buttons on youtube Have you been converted? Tell us at incrementspodcast@gmail.com Special Guest: Scott Aaronson. Support Increments

0:00 · Cold open & intro-1:24:46
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show notes

The time has come for Vaden to defend his faith in the face of cold, hard scientific rationality. Will AI take over the world, automating away everything that makes humans distinct? Or can Vaden defend the church of just-ism, the radical belief that AI is simply "just a tool." Scott Aaronson, professor of computer science at UT Austin, goes to head to head against the zealotry.

Check out Scott's website and his blog, Shtetl Optimized.

We discuss
  • Scott view's on education. Should we radically reform K-12?
  • Is ChatGPT changing Scott's approach to teaching
  • The religion of "justa-ism"
  • Is AI just a tool?
  • Is there any principle which lets us say that AI won't be as general as humans?
  • Aaronson's thesis of Artificial Intelligence
  • Computational universality vs explanatory universality
  • The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics
Socials
  • Follow us on Twitter at @IncrementsPod, @BennyChugg, @VadenMasrani
  • Come join our discord server! DM us on twitter or send us an email to get a supersecret link
  • Become a patreon subscriber here. Or give us one-time cash donations to help cover our lack of cash donations here.
  • Click dem like buttons on youtube

Have you been converted? Tell us at incrementspodcast@gmail.com

Special Guest: Scott Aaronson.

Support Increments

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