_{Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis}

^TagFeatured

image illustrates striking representation of human mind, divided into two contrasting halves. One side features blue brain against pink background, while other s orange brain yellow

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 20, 2026

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Featured, Michael Egnor, Popular Mechanics, Roger Sperry (1913–1994), Split brain research}

The Astonishing Fact That Split Brain Patients Reveal

_{Perception (what we take in from the world around us) can be split but conception (ideas) are not split. And no one has two minds} _{Denyse O'Leary
May 20, 2026

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

A misguided article in Popular Mechanics gave neurosurgeon Michael Egnor a chance to shed light on a unique fact about people with split brains here.

Glass of beer and pizza on wooden table. Beer and food concept. Ale.

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post

Robert J. Marks
Date
May 19, 2026

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Cell biology, Environment

Tagged
Featured, Human brain organoids, Organoid intelligence}

Organoid Intelligence?: That’s AI Powered by Pizza and Beer

_{It may help us address environmental impact issues posed by AI} _{Robert J. Marks
May 19, 2026

3

Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Cell biology, Environment}

If organoid computing succeeds, the next generation of computers may need both software updates and daily feedings.

AI Bubble risk and Economic technology bubbles fear and Artificial intelligence overhyped Stock market speculation and overvalued technologies economy as inflated speculative valuation of Tech.

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post

Robert J. Marks
Date
May 16, 2026

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Media

Tagged
AI hype, Citation bluffing, Featured, Small-silo ignorance}

When AI Headlines Sound Apocalyptic or Miraculous, Time to Slow Down

_{Most authors of AI hype articles have never taken a foundational computer science course, have never written code, and have never run AI software} _{Robert J. Marks
May 16, 2026

5

Artificial Intelligence, Media}

Here are a dozen tips for detecting fake and misleading articles about artificial intelligence.

Domestic parrot in a cage looks at its reflection in the mirror. Beautiful parrot, close-up, selective focus, pet. Parrot and mirror. Colored bird

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 14, 2026

Categorized
Evolution, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Featured, Royal Society}

What Is Consciousness Actually Supposed To Do?

_{The Royal Society offers sixteen theories of the evolutionary function of consciousness. The trouble is, it's not clear what consciousness even is} _{Denyse O'Leary
May 14, 2026

17

Evolution, Philosophy of Mind}

Some of the theories of animal mind are interesting but no one really has any idea how consciousness originated.

a digital photorealistic illustration from an eye-level perspective Imagine a dystopian cityscape with towering screens displaying Big Brothers

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 9, 2026

Categorized
Censorship, Education, Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
chatbots, Featured, George Orwell (1903–1950), Julia (1984 character), Matt Johnson, Nineteen Eighty Four (1949), Winston Smith (1984 character), Yohei Igarashi}

The Surest Way to Squelch Intellectual Freedom: Make It Impossible

_{As reading and writing skills plummet, the chatbot may turn out to be a bigger enemy of intellectual freedom than the censor} _{Denyse O'Leary
May 9, 2026

4

Censorship, Education, Large Language Models (LLMs)}

Automated writing leads to a decline in intellectual skills for the same reasons as automated walking would lead to a decline in motor skills.

Colorful space galaxy cloud nebula. Stary night cosmos. Universe spiral science astronomy. Supernova background wallpaper

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 29, 2026

Categorized
Cosmology, Intelligent Design, Philosophy

Tagged
Carl Sagan (1934–1996), David Berlinski, Featured, Fred Hoyle (1915–2001), John Keats (1795–1821), Jonathan Witt, Larry Krauss, Stephen Meyer, The Story of Everything (film), Timothy McGrew}

How Do You Cram the Universe Into A Story — and Keep it Focused?

_{Philosopher Stephen Meyer narrates the film but never gets in the story’s way} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 29, 2026

4

Cosmology, Intelligent Design, Philosophy}

At last, the end of materialism escapes the lecture room; it becomes a story about real people in real time in the midst of a civilizational struggle.

A young person engages with a virtual reality headset, interacting with an AI chatbot interface, set against a vibrant blue background, showcasing technology potential. XDMCP

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post

Peter Biles
Date
February 20, 2026

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Featured, social media, Technology}

Are Young People Getting Tired of AI?

_{A new article suggests teens are not universally excited about the blossoming technology} _{Peter Biles
February 20, 2026

3

Artificial Intelligence}

Julie Jargon wrote an interesting piece for The Wall Street Journal about teen attitudes towards AI and found that their view of it isn’t so optimistic as many might assume.

Glass lightbulb with golden gears inside, set against a backdrop of mathematical equations, symbolizing innovation, problem-solving, and the mechanics of ideas

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 8, 2026

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Featured, Michael Egnor, New Age movement, Terminal lucidity}

Toward a True — and Also Scientific — Picture of the Human Mind

_{Alexander Batthyány offers a personal anecdote about Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Sir John Eccles that might help point the way} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 8, 2026

8

Philosophy of Mind}

Batthyány also expressed concern that a non-material/spiritual understanding of topics like terminal lucidity risks being taken over today by New Age nonsense.

Businessman looking at a magnifying glass over a network of small people.

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 6, 2026

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Brain–magnifying glass analogy, Featured, Michael Egnor, Terminal lucidity, Threshold (book 2023), William James (1842–1910)}

Consciousness… a Computer or a Magnifying Glass?

_{At ID the Future, Egnor and Batthyány offer some further thoughts on the ongoing mystery: How does the human mind clear at the point of death?} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 6, 2026

6

Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Neither shortage of oxygen nor the presence of relatives account for the sudden release from confusion or dementia.

Cornell University

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post

News
Date
February 4, 2026

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Cornell University, Featured, Heterodox Academy, Michael Egnor, Randy Wayne}

An Evening With Michael Egnor at Cornell

_{The linked talk alone was worth coming to hear, but the Q&A truly did not disappoint} _{News
February 4, 2026

3

Philosophy of Mind}

Egnor continued to reference the scientific research at the foundation of his talk and repeatedly challenged his questioners.

A close-up shot of a clear crystal ball with a rainbow spectrum inside casting a shadow

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 3, 2026

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Charles Murray, Featured, Michael Egnor, Steven Pinker, Terminal lucidity}

How Sudden Lucidity at Death Became a Science Topic

_{Psychologist Alexander Batthyány and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discuss the implications of clear consciousness despite deadly illness} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 3, 2026

6

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology}

Serious research on terminal lucidity will immensely damage the sort of materialism that Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker champions.

deepfake parrot - stochastic parrot for large language models and artificial intelligence technology

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post

Gary Smith
Date
January 5, 2026

Categorized
Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
Featured, Large Language models as unreliable}

Large Language Models (LLMs) Are Inherently Frail and Unreliable

_{From my recent tests, things have not improved much. Even an apparent improvement did not last long. See for yourself} _{Gary Smith
January 5, 2026

7

Large Language Models (LLMs)}

Post-training might stabilize the responses to specific inquiries but then the bot can just go off the rails again, as my tests showed.

Wild west town street. Ai art.

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post

Robert J. Marks
Date
January 5, 2026

Categorized
Logic

Tagged
Air pressure, Featured, GunsmokeNet.com, James Arness}

Monday Microsofty 60: Here’s a Puzzle From Gunsmoke

_{Told to “get out of Dodge” after a shooting, a gunslinger does so at a nearly inexplicable time. Can you solve the puzzle?} _{Robert J. Marks
January 5, 2026

6

Logic}

To solve Microsofty 59, recall that direction of air flow is due to pressure — not size. Which tire is under more pressure?

Shovel and pick axe in digital background / A concept of data mining

^{Type
post

Gary Smith
Date
January 1, 2026

Categorized
Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
Correlation vs causation, Data Mining, Featured}

The Core Problem with Large Language Models

_{LLMs are inherently unreliable, which means that failures are not incidental, easily fixable glitches} _{Gary Smith
January 1, 2026

7

Large Language Models (LLMs)}

The data deluge exponentially increases the number of coincidental, useless statistical patterns — so the probability of useful patterns approaches zero.

View of the surface of the moon.Elements of this image furnished by NASA

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post

Gary Varner
Date
December 27, 2025

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
2001: A Space Odyssey, Dave Bowman (Space Odyssey 2001), Featured, HAL 9000 (motivations), Heywood Floyd (Space Odyssey 2001), Monolith (Space Odyssey 2001), Sentinel (short story)}

2001: A Space Odyssey: The Brief Story of Heywood Floyd

_{In Part 4, we look at what the middle story — meeting the Monolith on the moon — is doing} _{Gary Varner
December 27, 2025

8

Science Fiction}

We don’t really get to see enough of HAL 9000 when he is actually a help to the space travelers, which reduces the impact of his turn.

Focused Aim: Glowing Dart Hitting the Bullseye

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post

News
Date
December 24, 2025

Categorized
Biography, Intelligent Design

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Featured, Robert J. Marks, Walter Bradley (1943-2025)}

Why Engineer Walter Bradley (1943-2025) Still Matters

_{For Bradley, engineering was not about prestige or profit, but about restoring dignity} _{News
December 24, 2025

5

Biography, Intelligent Design}

Bradley’s ability to “live out loud” as a Christian without proselytizing deeply shaped those around him.

Cybernetic DJ Sets the Beat: A futuristic cyborg DJ in a vibrant club, surrounded by neon lights, hypes up the crowd.

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post

News
Date
December 24, 2025

Categorized
Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
Donald C. Wunsch II, Featured, Kummer Institute, Neural networks, Robert J. Marks}

Why the Real Danger of AI Is Not What You Think

_{What really makes Donald Wunsch stand out is his focus on what AI can actually do today} _{News
December 24, 2025

5

Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Artificial Intelligence}

His paper, “Artificial General Intelligence Is Nowhere Near, Artificial Specific Stupidity Is Already Here,” challenges both hype and groundless fear.

tree monument valley - usa

^{Type
post

Gary Smith
Date
December 22, 2025

Categorized
Business and Finance, Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
Copilot (Microsoft), Featured, Gemini (Google), OpenAI, Sam Altman}

Is OpenAI Approaching the Valley of Death?

_{Overpromising is still a big problem; in any event, the fate of Netscape looms} _{Gary Smith
December 22, 2025

6

Business and Finance, Large Language Models (LLMs)}

OpenAI needs to show that ChatGPT is more than just the first publicly available LLM. It has not done that and maybe never will.

LLM, AI Large Language Model concept. Businessman use tablet and laptop with LLM icons. A language model distinguished by its general-purpose language generation capability. Chat AI.

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post

Brendan Dixon
Date
December 18, 2025

Categorized
Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
ChatGPT, Featured, Gary Marcus, Hallucination (AI), Owain Evans}

The Chatbots’ Most Dangerous Correlations

_{To give these machines blind trust really is the case of the blind leading the blind, and that is not likely to end well} _{Brendan Dixon
December 18, 2025

5

Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Large Language Models (LLMs)}

When you prompt an LLM, the entire conversation acts as a prompt driving the reply. Thus your prompt can push the LLM in unforeseen, unintended directions.

Black stone monolith in ancient jungle, portal or a sign of civilisation. Generative AI

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post

Gary Varner
Date
December 13, 2025

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke, Featured, Hard vs soft magic, Sentinel (short story), Stanley Kubrick}

Space Odyssey 2001: Decisions To Make About That Monolith

_{In Part 2 of my series on the sci-fi great, I want to consider where the Monolith fits in the hard vs. soft magic systems that make for sci-fi stories} _{Gary Varner
December 13, 2025

7

Science Fiction}

Letting the question of who sent the monolith remain a mystery was probably a wise dramatic choice on the part of the writers.