Added: Dec 7, 2023
In this podcast episode, Liv Boeree discusses the impact of media and new media on society, as well as the potential risks and rewards of artificial intelligence. She highlights the role of incentives in driving polarization and sensationalism in the media, leading to a lack of reliable information for the average person. Boeree introduces the Moloch concept, which she explains as a force that drives competition to the point of sacrificing too much in the name of winning. This concept is linked to the media's use of clickbaity and rage baity tactics to maintain market share, contributing to increased polarization and a lack of shared reality.Boeree also discusses the impact of new media on society, noting that while it offers potential solutions, it is also subject to similar flaws and perverse incentives as mainstream media. She emphasizes the role of emotions, particularly rage, in driving viral content and the potential negative impact on society's ability to coordinate and solve complex problems.
The conversation then shifts to the concept of shared reality, with Boeree acknowledging the challenges of finding common ground on contentious issues such as the definition of gender. She emphasizes the importance of truth and the need to address disagreements at a fundamental level in order to solve larger societal problems.
The discussion then turns to the role of AI in society, with Boeree expressing concerns about the potential unintended consequences of powerful AI models. She highlights the need for regulation, particularly on frontier models, to mitigate the risks associated with AI's rapid advancement. Boeree also discusses the potential benefits of AI, such as solving complex problems and improving efficiency, but emphasizes the need for responsible use and personal responsibility in engaging with AI and social media.
Boeree then delves into her background in poker, explaining how she got into the game and the strategies she used to become successful. She emphasizes the importance of mathematical analysis and understanding probability in poker. She also discusses the significance of reading people's emotional cues and tells in poker, as well as the importance of controlling one's own tells.
The conversation then shifts to the transferability of poker strategies to real life. Boeree explains how poker has taught her to be comfortable with uncertainty and to think probabilistically. She also discusses the importance of learning to deal with luck and randomness, as well as the potential pitfalls of over-relying on intuition in decision-making.
Boeree shares her experience of winning a significant amount of money in a poker tournament and the impact it had on her life. She discusses the challenges of dealing with the sudden fame and the pressure to replicate her success. She also explains why she eventually decided to step away from professional poker, citing the increasing difficulty of the game, boredom, and a desire to pursue more positive and win-win endeavors.
The conversation concludes with Boeree's reflections on the need for society to address coordination problems and inadequate equilibria. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the fundamental structures of systems and finding ways to fix the underlying issues rather than simply blaming individuals.
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