
TagRobert J. Marks


The Cloud: Why It Is More Reliable Than It Sounds At First
Walter Myers III assures us that the data cloud is designed with failure in mind. Encryption and redundancy are backbones of digital storage security
How a Neurosurgeon Showed That Abstract Thought Is Immaterial
Wilder Penfield, one of the first neurosurgeons to split human brains in half to relieve epilepsy, found much more than a treatment
How to Build an AI Company: Advice from a Seasoned Entrepreneur
In the podcast, Copps emphasized the necessity of remaining flexible and open to change: “Don’t be married to your idea.”
Perspectives of a Different Kind of AI Entrepreneur
How can entrepreneurs incorporate the benefits of AI while maintaining their dedication to serving fellow human beings? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks welcomes David Copps, a renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader with over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. He’s the founder and CEO of a Read More ›

The Human Mind’s Sophisticated Algorithm and Its Implications
Winston Ewert argues that if some human cognition is algorithmic, that fact does not necessarily support a purely naturalistic view of intelligence
Joe McDonald: How AI Can Complement Human Capabilities
Despite its limitations, AI excels in areas where humans struggle, such as analyzing large datasets, identifying patterns, and automating repetitive tasks
Beyond the Physical: Exploring the Nature of the Mind
A recent podcast panel challenged the prevailing materialist assumptions about the mind and explored better accounts of the richness of human consciousness
Why Generative AI Will Not End Up Running the World
Business prof Gary Smith and computer engineering prof Robert J. Marks talk about what we should and shouldn't believe about claims that computers taking over
The AI Bubble: Hype, Reality, and Consequences
In this week's podcast, Pomona College economics prof Gary Smith discusses with Robert J. Marks what generative AI is and isn't good for
The Radio Frequency Spectrum: A Finite Natural Resource
The increasing demand for the radio frequency spectrum that our wireless technologies depend on is unsustainable long-term
Only in America
My discussion on this week’s podcast with Major General Bobby Hollingsworth (ret.) prompts a look at some of the many people that America has freed to be their best
Talking to Marine Corps Fighter Pilot, Bobby Hollingsworth (Ret.)
Hollingsworth does not shy away from critiquing the current state of U.S. military leadership and preparedness
Flashes of Genius: Hal Philipp’s Journey of Invention, Resilience
His groundbreaking work on optical sensors for automated doors and faucets laid the foundation for his career
Microsoft: What Did You Need To Work There in the Early Days?
They asked questions that were not about the details of computer technology. The questions made you think. Hard.
Mirror Neurons and Consciousness: A Philosophical Perspective
Dr. Miretu Guta criticized the overblown claims about mirror neuronsIn the most recent episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, hosts Brian Krouse and Robert J. Marks chatted with philosopher Dr. Mihretu Guta about the role of mirror neurons in understanding consciousness. Dr. Guta’s chapter in the book Minding the Brain critiques the popular interpretation of these specialized brain cells, which activate both when performing an action and observing others perform it. Mirror neurons, discovered in macaque monkeys, have been linked to empathy, learning, and imitation. However, Dr. Guta emphasized the distinction between correlation and causation. While these neurons activate during certain behaviors, this does not prove they cause those behaviors. He also noted the limits of extending findings from monkey studies to human cognition. Dr. Guta introduced three Read More ›

The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer
What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part Read More ›

Computer Prof: Handing Off Risky Operations to AI Would Be Stupid
When everything went wrong in Space Odyssey 2001, the cause was faulty programming, not the computer deciding to take over, he says.
Computer ‘Creativity’ Is Simply Digital Plagiarism
One outcome is many lawsuits against generative AI companies whose programs snatch and use copyrighted material
Dr. Robert J. Marks Reads From Minding the Brain
Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. Today many insist that the mind is completely reducible to the brain. But is that claim justified? On this Read More ›