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Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI . Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying math that powers modern machine learning to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives, even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AI https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writing https://anilananthaswamy.com/ Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligence https://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamy Discover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI research https://ksj.mit.edu/ Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptron Read about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significance https://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0…
Content provided by Virginia Public Radio. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Virginia Public Radio or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Content provided by Virginia Public Radio. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Virginia Public Radio or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
John Cano with the Legal Aid Justice Center addresses reporters at a news conference in Northern Virginia. (Credit: FreeThemAllVA Instagram livestream) Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, took to a handful of Northern Virginia neighborhoods this week. The number of people detained and the crimes they are charged with has not been released, but advocates are pushing back, as Brad Kutner reports.…
Emergency Committee Chairman David Bulova and Vice Chairman Rob Bloxom, center, talk to reporters after the committee’s first meeting in Richmond last month. (Credit: Michael Pope) Virginia’s emergency committee looking at reductions to the federal workforce is planning a tour across the Commonwealth. Michael Pope has this preview.…
The Piedmont Group of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club honored the work of the 500 Year Forest Foundation at one property being preserved in North Garden. (Credit: Sierra Club Piedmont) Virginia has about 16 million acres of forested land. About 20% belongs to various government agencies, but nearly 60% is in private hands. Now, a nonprofit called the 500-Year Forest Foundation is trying to persuade individuals and families to preserve their trees, as Sandy Hausman reports.…
Academic Building One sits in National Landing — although some students there are already calling it “Hokie Landing.” (Credit: Virginia Tech) Virginia Tech has a new campus in Alexandria. Michael Pope talked to some of the graduate students there about what they’ll be studying.
Virginia politicians are starting the feel the fallout from federal budget cuts. Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.
Credit: Jahd Khalil / Radio IQ Overdoses in Virginia’s schools was one of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s top concerns on the campaign trail. Thursday morning, the state’s Board of Education voted to approve new guidelines for how schools should inform parents when they happen. But some of the language proved to be too controversial for even members appointed by Youngkin. Brad Kutner has more.…
Youngkin already holds the record for the most vetoes by a Virginia governor. (Credit: VPAP) Governor Glenn Youngkin already holds the record for most vetoes. And as Michael Pope reports, he’s about to bump up that total with dozens of new vetoes expected in the next few weeks.
The Innovation Campus Academic Building One is 11 stories and 300,000 square feet. (Credit: Michael Pope) Virginia Tech is about to open a new Innovation Campus in Alexandria. The big grand opening is Friday, and Michael Pope has this preview.
The race for governor is starting to take shape as new polling numbers show where things stand eight months out from Election Day. Michael Pope has the numbers. Here’s a link to the new polling from Roanoke College .
Governor Glenn Youngkin announces a new website to support Virginia’s federal workers fired by President Donald Trump. (Credit: Screen grab / Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Facebook Page) Governor Glenn Youngkin traveled to Northern Virginia Monday to announce a new state-run initiative meant to get federal workers fired by the Trump administration jobs in the Commonwealth. Brad Kutner has more.…
State lawmakers are about to send many bills to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk. Michael Pope and Jeff Schapiro – political columnist with the Richmond Times-Dispatch – discuss potential vetoes and the week that was in state government and politics.
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