Episode #416: AI, Attention, and the Battle for Reality: A Mind-Bending Journey with Eric Fisher

Crazy Wisdom

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop reconnects with Eric Fisher, one of the show’s earliest guests. Their conversation weaves through profound topics like the evolution of AI, the potential consequences of large language models (LLMs), and how AI might reshape both spirituality and education. Eric shares reflections from his time at Facebook, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the creation of algorithmic feeds and how those decisions echo into today's world of AI-driven interactions. Together, Stewart and Eric explore the nature of human attention, the future of work, and the potential divide between tech-driven living and a return to nature. Their discussion raises essential questions about where humanity is headed in the face of exponential technological change and how people can retain their sense of agency and spirit along the way. If you want to learn more about Eric visit his website mindfulimprov.com.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Reunion

00:44 Reflecting on Past Interviews

01:18 Spiritual Understandings and AI

01:32 The Dual Nature of AI

02:43 The Evolution of Facebook's News Feed

05:32 AI's Role in Future Technologies

13:47 AI in Education and Synthetic Data

16:58 The Future of AI and Society

21:54 Spirituality and Technology

27:58 Humanoid Robots: Beyond Sex Dolls

28:28 The Role of Robots in Agriculture and Home

29:07 Industrial Robots vs. Home Robots

29:44 The Philosophy Behind Technological Advancements

30:22 The Vision of the Future: Post-Steve Jobs Era

31:17 The Impact of AI and Automation on Society

32:55 Accelerationism vs. Degrowth: The Tech Debate

40:41 Demographic Crisis and the Future of Humanity

45:18 Economic Inequality and the Common Man

46:39 The Evolution of Political Ideologies

52:09 The Future of Work and Society

54:14 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

Key Insights

1. The Dual Nature of AI: Promise and Peril
Eric Fisher highlights the dual potential of AI as both a tool for human advancement and a source of unforeseen challenges. Drawing from his experience at Facebook, he explains how algorithmic feeds designed to increase engagement eventually led to widespread issues like polarization and misinformation. This echoes in today’s world of LLMs (Large Language Models), where AI’s utility as a tool for learning, troubleshooting, and content creation exists alongside the risk of biased or manipulative outputs. The key takeaway is that technology, like a rock, is neutral — its impact depends on how it is used and who is using it.

2. The Evolution of Attention as a Resource
Attention has become a central currency in the modern economy, and Fisher points out that the concept of "attention economy" wasn't even part of public discourse a few decades ago. Today, with the rise of LLM-driven AI companions and algorithmic feeds, attention is being sliced and sold with increasing precision. This shift raises questions about how much of human autonomy is being traded away in favor of frictionless convenience. As AI becomes more adept at predicting and shaping user behavior, the concept of "free will" within an attention-driven economy becomes murkier.

3. The Next Phase of Education: Self-Directed Learning with AI Tutors
Both Stewart Alsop and Eric Fisher recognize the potential for AI to revolutionize education. Instead of the traditional classroom model, self-directed learning with AI-driven tutors could allow for personalized, one-on-one learning experiences for every student. Fisher notes that tools like ChatGPT have already enabled him to troubleshoot complex home systems, like his geothermal cooling system, without needing to call a specialist. This self-sufficiency could be mirrored in education, where AI assistants offer instant, tailored guidance to students across a range of subjects.

4. The Blurring of Reality: Personalized AI-Generated Worlds
A provocative idea discussed in the episode is the possibility of AI-generated personalized realities. Through augmented reality (AR) glasses or VR headsets, individuals could project and experience personalized versions of reality. Fisher points out that, in many ways, people already live in "personalized mental realities" shaped by language, perception, and cultural narratives. AI could make this more literal, with each person living in a bespoke, algorithmically generated world. While this concept sounds thrilling, it also hints at a future where shared consensus reality — the "real world" — becomes more fragmented than ever.

5. Economic Shifts: From Worker-Centric to Business-Centric Systems
Tracing the legacy of figures like FDR and LBJ, Fisher reflects on how America shifted from a society that valued the working class to one that prioritizes business interests. While earlier eras emphasized worker rights, health care, and public welfare, today's economy is focused on empowering small businesses and startups. Everyone is now expected to be a "business of one," as independent creators, gig workers, and personal brands become the dominant paradigm. The result is a world where individual workers act like micro-businesses, managing their own healthcare, retirement, and financial stability — often with no safety net.

6. The Threat of Decentralized AI and the Loss of Truth
With Meta and OpenAI releasing LLMs and synthetic AI models into the open-source community, Fisher expresses concern about the fragmentation of "truth." As more people train and deploy their own AI models, the risk of misinformation rises. Just as search engines can prioritize certain content over others, decentralized AI models may be subtly — or overtly — biased. This issue becomes even more concerning if companies start inserting ad-driven recommendations into AI responses, giving users the illusion of objectivity when, in fact, they’re being guided toward a commercial end.

7. The Coming Collapse and the Chance for Renewal
The episode touches on a cyclical view of history, where moments of collapse often lead to periods of rebirth. Fisher compares this to the aftermath of the bubonic plague, which killed half of Europe’s population but led to the Renaissance and an era of cultural flourishing. He speculates that a similar phenomenon could play out today. Whether through demographic decline, AI-driven disruption, or a collapse of old economic models, humanity could experience a dramatic contraction. Paradoxically, such a collapse might bring about an "age of spaciousness" where fewer people, better technology, and renewed humanism create a richer and more thoughtful way of life.