Author: rickrosnerorg

Ask A Genius 1487: Humanism and AI: Flexibility, Risks, and Ethical Governance

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Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner explore how humanism engages emerging technologies without rejecting them. They note mainstream medical augmentations and frame humanism as an empirical, adaptable ethic. Rosner warns about misaligned AI, deception, and resource capture, while Jacobsen argues for safeguards, fail-safes, and humanistic principles guiding design. The discussion contrasts humanism’s flexibility with faith-based rigidity, acknowledges religion’s compartmentalization, and critiques policy lag, including courts and governance. Both converge on building shared AI-human values that preserve creative order and well-being. The piece closes by redefining the Commons and “the Good” amid rapid change, urging pragmatic oversight and evidence-driven adaptation forward.

Ask A Genius 1486: Hearing Aids, Sensory Decline, and the Future of Human Augmentation

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Rick Rosner shares his first experience with a hearing aid, describing a thirty percent hearing loss at certain frequencies and the improvements in clarity it brings, from sharper environmental sounds to better communication at home. He reflects on his grandfather’s decline due to sensory deprivation, including hearing loss, poor vision, and ill-fitting dentures. Rosner emphasizes the importance of maintaining sensory input to prevent brain atrophy, a concern reinforced by his wife’s observations of her mother’s hearing loss. The conversation shifts to speculative futurism, imagining posthumanist “tech bros” enhancing and adding senses for heightened perception, merging natural evolution with advanced technology.

Ask A Genius 1485: Humanism in the Age of AI: Ethics, Displacement, and Human Flourishing

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Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner discuss the intersection of humanism and artificial intelligence, exploring whether AI poses a genuine threat to humanity or offers primarily additive benefits. They examine humanism’s ethical grounding in the Golden Rule and its focus on maximizing human flourishing amid historical challenges like war, disease, and industrial change. AI’s rapid advancements raise questions about displacement—not just of labor, but of human decision-making and influence. They consider AI’s potential priorities, philosophical divergence from humans, and its role in shaping societal values, emphasizing the need to preserve human creativity, empathy, and critical thought in a rapidly evolving world.

Ask A Genius 1484: Humanism, Religion, and AI: Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen on Emerging Ethical Challenges

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In a thought-provoking dialogue, Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen explore the evolving challenges to humanism, from historical conflicts with religion to the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence. They discuss the Humanists International Minimum Statement on Humanism, the Luxembourg Declaration on AI and Human Values 2025, and the alignment problem between AI and human ethics. Topics range from brain–computer interfaces and technological augmentation to the possibility of extending human cognition and lifespan. Drawing on examples from science fiction and cultural narratives, they consider how humanist values—reason, compassion, dignity, and freedom—can guide humanity through profound technological and societal transformations.

Ask A Genius 1483: AI Governance, Political Extremism, and U.S.–Japan Social Trends

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In this conversation, Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner discuss the release of GPT-5, noting its improved reasoning but lack of human-level intelligence, and dismissing unverified performance claims. They explore AI governance, nuclear disarmament’s stagnation, and political extremism, including Project 2025’s controversial policy goals. The dialogue shifts to sexual and reproductive trends, comparing U.S. and Japanese virginity rates and fertility declines, with insights into incel culture and societal pessimism. Political developments include California’s gerrymandering battle with Texas, Trump’s census manipulation plans, and his reckless rhetoric about using the military against foreign drug cartels, highlighting risks to democratic norms and stability.

Ask A Genius 1482: Trump Urges Supreme Court to Lift Immigration Arrest Limits Amid Racial Profiling Concerns

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President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to lift limits on immigration-related arrests in Southern California that were imposed to prevent racial profiling on language, accent, or appearance. Rick Rosner highlights that many detainees had no criminal records and that a DACA student was detained despite committing no crime. The discussion expands to transgender veterans being denied pensions as part of a punitive strategy. Rosner argues that Trump’s actions are driven by cruelty, greed, distraction.

Ask A Genius 1481: Rick Rosner Critiques Trump, AI Risk, and U.S. Foreign Policy: From Skynet to Maduro and ICE

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Rick Rosner discusses James Cameron’s warnings on AI and nuclear warfare, spotlighting the real-world risks of a Skynet-like future. Shifting focus, he critiques Trump’s $50M bounty on Venezuelan President Maduro, calling it political theatre. Rosner also condemns ICE’s lowered age requirements and Trump’s vanity projects, including excessive Oval Office decorations and a $200M White House ballroom. He argues these actions reflect a broader pattern of corruption, distraction from scandals, and catastrophic public health mismanagement.

Ask A Genius 1480: Deep Ocean Implosions and the Ethical Collapse in Gaza

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Rick Rosner discusses the catastrophic consequences of submersible implosions at extreme ocean depths, clarifying earlier misconceptions and emphasizing the near-instantaneous nature of such deaths. The conversation shifts to Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, where Rosner critiques the disproportionate violence and political motivations behind the ongoing conflict. While acknowledging the justice in confronting Hamas, he condemns the execution of the war as corrupt and potentially genocidal, reflecting on global inaction and moral failures.

Ask A Genius 1479: Titan Sub Disaster Explained: Rick Rosner on OceanGate’s Fatal Engineering Flaws and Deep-Sea Pressure

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Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner discuss the 2023 Titan sub disaster, highlighting OceanGate’s unsafe design choices, lack of third-party certification, and CEO Stockton Rush’s disregard for safety warnings. Rosner breaks down the physics of extreme deep-sea pressure and why the fibreglass construction was fatally flawed. The conversation contrasts amateur engineering successes like Adam Carolla’s pool project with OceanGate’s catastrophic failure, stressing the importance of rigorous structural testing when human lives are at stake.

Ask A Genius 1478: Trump’s Distractions, Apple’s Investments, and Why U.S. Crime Rates Are Dropping

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Rick Rosner critiques Donald Trump's latest antics, including claims about the 2028 Olympics and deflecting from Epstein inquiries. He questions the credibility of Trump’s partnership with Apple CEO Tim Cook over a $100 billion investment. Rosner analyzes the reported 4.5% drop in U.S. crime rates, attributing it to digitalization, reduced street life, and fewer opportunities for petty crime. He reflects on changes in society, policing, incarceration, and the evolving nature of crime in a cashless, surveilled era.