Gradient Proof Podcast
Episode 4 - Part 1

In part one of today’s episode of the Gradient Proof Podcast, Roy Peer and Steven W Sorensen discuss the 2018 book, The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan. They explored the idea that education is more of a signaling activity for employers than a way to learn skills, and questioned whether spending four to six additional years on a graduate degree is worth the cost. The speakers also discussed the potential for AI to improve education through personalized learning and memory reinforcement, but acknowledged the challenges of implementing such a system on a large scale. They suggested that gamification can be a useful motivator in education and that reinforcement learning within the paradigm of AI can help individuals become better optimized or educated components that are symbiotic extensions of the machine. The podcast also touched on the fear that AI will eventually remove the need for people to make a living and the importance of educating society to match the future progression of these things. Overall, the podcast highlights the potential of technology and gamification in education and the importance of staying up to date with the latest developments.

In this Episode:
[3:03] Modern Education / University System
[12:58] The New Minimum Threshold
[20:01] An Opportunity to Reform the Structure
[25:32] AI in Education
[27:58] Memrise App
[30:00] Transference vs Fadeout Effects
[34:14] Importance of Integrating AI in Education
[37:45] Gamification, AI, ML, Reinforcement Learning

Bios
Roy Peer is an architect turned entrepreneur. After working for award-winning architects, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, in New York City, he went on to start a virtual reality company, which later sold to a notable Hollywood director in 2018. Peer is the founder of PeerBasics, a data-driven products company that analyzes e-commerce sales data to drive its product launch decisions in multiple categories with multiple factory partners in Asia. Peer is the author of Simulation Arcade, a sci-fi novel that paints a possible future world when AI and brain chips are commonplace and details the way humanity meets its AI cocoon moment, and how to stop it.

Steven W Sorensen is the director, corporate finance at droppGroup / droppLabs, a web3 video & mixed reality shopatainment marketplace, co-founder of Fotin Media, and a board director of RocketStar, a small satellite launch company, and advisory board member of Stateline, a US made clothing company. Steven calls NYC home, lived in China for 7 years, and has an MA and M.Phil in English from The University of Hong Kong. He likes jazz piano and good whiskey.

Standout Quotes:
“Is the classroom itself the best environment to learn how to work?” [7:01]
“Throughout one's career IQ does increase through education more generally… the highest IQ a student will have will kind of be in the midst of that education, but [studies show] 18 to 24 months later these studies show [IQ gains] statistically diminish” [26:25]
“By changing your environment you’re almost telling your brain you no longer need that data” [31:08]

Mentions:
Purchase: The Case Against Education https://www.amazon.ca/Case-against-Education-System-Waste/dp/0691174652
Learn more about Bryan Caplan http://www.bcaplan.com/
Referenced site: Memrise https://www.memrise.com/
Keywords: #Education #AI #Signaling #Transference #Fadeout #IQ #Gamification

Whiskey:
Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye https://michters.com/us1-kentucky-straight-rye/

Where to find us:
Website: https://www.gradientproof.com/
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/gradient-proof
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gradientproof
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradient-proof/id1609791261
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Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/49fd0440-ab6c-465f-853c-5f50542d7880/gradient-proof
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNTQyMzIyNi9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVk?sa=X&ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwiQzYXL5In2AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en
BuzzSprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1943076/resources
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PlayerFM: https://player.fm/series/gradient-proof
PodChaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/gradient-proof-4249087
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gradientproof
Twitter: @gradientproof https://twitter.com/gradientproof

Other Projects:
Buy Simulation Arcade in Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QF3YPV4
Simulation Arcade Pre-Release NFT (comes with author-signed copy)
https://opensea.io/collection/author-release
RocketStar - Aerospike Engines & Small Satellite Launch Co.
https://rocketstar.nyc/
RocketStar - Aerospike Engines & Small Satellite Launch Co.
https://rocketstar.nyc/
Fotin Media https://fotinmedia.com/
droppLabs.io https://dropplabs.io/