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Artwork for Machine Learning Street Talk

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)
Deep Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Neural Networks
AI Ethics
Social Media
Entropy
Social Institutions
Artificial General Intelligence
Effective Altruism
IAC Movement
Agency
Divergence
Generative Models
Cognitive Science
Intelligence
Creativity
Free Energy Principle
Ethics In AI
Maven

Welcome! We engage in fascinating discussions with pre-eminent figures in the AI field. Our flagship show covers current affairs in AI, cognitive science, neuroscience and philosophy of mind with in-depth analysis. Our approach is unrivalled in terms of scope and rigour – we believe in intellectual diversity in AI, and we touch on all of the main ideas in the field with the hype surgically removed... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes249Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Machine Learning Street Talk

Latest Episodes

Robert Lange, founding researcher at Sakana AI, joins Tim to discuss *Shinka Evolve* — a framework that combines LLMs with evolutionary algorithms to do open-ended program search. The core claim: systems like AlphaEvolve can optimize solutions to fix... more

Dive into the realities of AI-assisted coding, the origins of modern fine-tuning, and the cognitive science behind machine learning with fast.ai founder Jeremy Howard. In this episode, we unpack why AI might be turning software engineering into a slo... more

What if life itself is just a really sophisticated computer program that wrote itself into existence?

Blaise Agüera y Arcas presenting at ALife 2025 — the most technically detailed public walkthrough of the ideas in his *What is Life?* and *What is ... more

What makes something truly *intelligent?* Is a rock an agent? Could a perfect simulation of your brain actually *be* you? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Jeff Beck takes us on a journey through the philosophical and technical foundations of age... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Robert Lange
Founding researcher at Sakana AI
Sakana AI
Episode: When AI Discovers The Next Transformer - Robert Lange (Sakana)
Mazviita Chirimuuta
A philosopher who teaches at Edinburgh University
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Why Every Brain Metaphor in History Has Been Wrong [SPECIAL EDITION]
Max Bennett
Author and expert in neuroscience
Episode: Your Brain is Running a Simulation Right Now [Max Bennett]
Chris Kempes
Professor at the Santa Fe Institute
Santa Fe Institute
Episode: The Universal Hierarchy of Life - Prof. Chris Kempes [SFI]
Sara Saab
VP of Product at Prolific, cognitive scientist and philosopher.
Prolific
Episode: The Secret Engine of AI - Prolific [Sponsored] (Sara Saab, Enzo Blindow)
Enzo Blindow
VP of Data and AI at Prolific with a background in economic science and computer science.
Prolific
Episode: The Secret Engine of AI - Prolific [Sponsored] (Sara Saab, Enzo Blindow)
Andrew Gordon Wilson
Professor at the Cron Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Center for Data Science at New York University
New York University
Episode: Deep Learning is Not So Mysterious or Different - Prof. Andrew Gordon Wilson (NYU)
Karl Friston
A renowned neuroscientist known for his work on the Free Energy Principle.
Episode: Karl Friston - Why Intelligence Can't Get Too Large (Goldilocks principle)
Michael Timothy Bennett
Computer scientist focused on AI, intelligence, life, the universe, and the nature of existence.
Episode: Michael Timothy Bennett: Defining Intelligence and AGI Approaches

Host

Tim Scarfe
Host and producer with expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 727 ratings
  • You let this happen?!

    The person who moderated (or failed to) the Wolfram and Yudkowsy conversation wasted both guests and the audience’s time

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Leopold P Bloom
    United States3 months ago
  • quantum mechanics

    I really enjoy Machine Learning Street Talk, even when I don’t agree with every opinion.

    I’m curious what happens when we add quantum mechanics to the discussion.

    I’d love to hear your thoughts.

    Boaz Kaizman, artist, Cologne

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bzeev
    Germany3 months ago
  • 😎😎

    норм подкастик. много свежих инсайтов

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Вода Природная
    Russia3 months ago
  • Once-excellent podcast

    It used to be one of my favourite ML podcasts, with genuinely in-depth discussions and fascinating guests. Over time, though, it became increasingly clear that its primary goal had shifted to revenue generation, and the quality of the interviews declined accordingly. At its worst, entire episodes felt like thinly veiled sponsored ads for overhyped startups. It’s genuinely disappointing to watch such a once-excellent podcast lose its way.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DePrincipatibus
    Germany4 months ago
  • The Host is pretty biased / episodes that are just not understandable

    The host is just against LLMs. Also, he has on some professors and they discuss fully specific PhD stuff, and it’s just not listenable

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Awsedrftgyhujikolm
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Intellectually stimulating discussions on AI and related fields.
Some listeners express concern regarding recent shifts towards sponsored content.
Hosts bring a wide range of expertise, contributing to rich dialogues.
Common praise for insightful guests and their diverse backgrounds.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#95
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#225
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#188
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#215
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#238
France/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When AI Discovers The Next Transformer - Robert Lange (Sakana)
Q: What are your thoughts on ARC and how ARC challenges push open-ended systems?
They discuss ARC as a benchmarking context that emphasizes abstract building blocks and low data contamination, highlighting the need for systems to generalize from fundamental concepts rather than memorized solutions, thus driving adaptive, scalable AI research.
When AI Discovers The Next Transformer - Robert Lange (Sakana)
Q: Tell me about the Shinka Evolve paper and how it compares to AlphaEvolve.
Lange explains Shinka Evolve builds on AlphaEvolve by enabling broader, multi-step, co-evolution of programs with LLMs, using a richer mutation space, model ensembles, and a meta scratch pad to diffuse insights, aiming for sample efficiency and open-ended discovery.
When AI Discovers The Next Transformer - Robert Lange (Sakana)
Q: So you're working for Sakana. Tell us about that.
Robert Lange describes Sakana as a Japanese AI startup focused on AI for Japan and ambitious research ideas; he discusses being a founding researcher and the company's early days and evolution.
Bayesian Brain, Scientific Method, and Models [Dr. Jeff Beck]
Q: What do you think about these broad sort of metaphorical idealizations?
The brain is a prediction machine; the nature of our explanations for how the brain works will align with the most sophisticated technology available.
AI Agents Can Code 10,000 Lines of Hacking Tools In Seconds - Dr. Ilia Shumailov (ex-GDM)
Q: What do you think about the open source thing?
While there might be benefits from openly available platforms, Shumailov expresses concerns about security risks associated with uncontrolled access to diverse AI models.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Machine Learning Street Talk

What is Machine Learning Street Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging conversations unfold with pre-eminent figures in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and philosophy. The discussions emphasize a rigorous examination of contemporary topics, shedding light on current affairs within the AI landscape while stripping away the hype often surrounding these subjects. A strong focus on intellectual diversity leads to the exploration of various ideas, including the philosophical implications of advancements in AI and neuroscience. Over time, episodes have included in-depth analyses that challenge traditional perceptions while inviting a broad array of viewpoints to encourage more profound insights.

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Which podcasts are similar to Machine Learning Street Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Machine Learning Street Talk:

1. Latent Space: The AI Engineer Podcast
2. Dwarkesh Podcast
3. No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
4. Training Data
5. Practical AI

How many episodes of Machine Learning Street Talk are there?

Machine Learning Street Talk launched 6 years ago and published 249 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Machine Learning Street Talk?

Recent guests on Machine Learning Street Talk include:

1. Robert Lange
2. Mazviita Chirimuuta
3. Max Bennett
4. Chris Kempes
5. Sara Saab
6. Enzo Blindow
7. Andrew Gordon Wilson
8. Karl Friston

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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