Infinite Loops

What can Aristotle, Plato, Prometheus, and the Greek city-states teach us about AI, innovation, and the future of human flourishing?
Alex Petkas joins the show to explore how old myths still matter in a world shaped by technology. We talk about Prometheus as the foundational myth of tech, Plato's fear that writing would become a tool for forgetting, the real lesson of Icarus, why decentralization creates cultural power, and what it means to remain fully human in the age of AI.

Important Links:

Learn More about The Cost of Glory: www.costofglory.com

Check out Alex's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@costofglory

Alex's Twitter: https://x.com/costofglory

The Cost of Glory Substack: https://costofglory.substack.com/

Scientist and writer Sam Arbesman joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, optimism, science, education, archives, science fiction, and why the history of computing still has so much to teach us.
 
We talk about why pessimism is often mistaken for sophistication, why AI may reward open-mindedness more than intelligence, why science works even though scientists are imperfect, and why the future may depend on revisiting forgotten ideas from the past.

Important Links:

Learn more about Sam here: https://arbesman.net/

Read Sam's latest book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/samuel-arbesman/the-magic-of-code

Sam's Substack: https://arbesman.substack.com/about

Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation: https://www.wired.com/2011/10/stephenson-innovation-starvation/

David Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity: https://www.thebeginningofinfinity.com/

Johnathan Bi returns to Infinite Loops for a conversation about founders, delusion, America, religion, mysticism, and the strange tension between truth and action.
We explore why some of the most effective builders may be the least introspective, why societies often run on useful fictions, how America encourages megalomania, what happens when materialism starts to feel incomplete, and why the "seeker" may matter even more in the age of AI. The episode moves from Plato and Caesar to founders, mystics, near-death experiences, and the future of human creativity.

Important Links:

Johnathan's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bi.johnathan

Johnathan's Substack: https://substack.com/@johnathanbi

Polina Pompliano studies some of the most successful people in the world—and what she's found challenges how we think about success, creativity, and human behavior.
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we explore the mental models behind high performers, why we misunderstand people (including ourselves), and what it really takes to see the world differently. From creativity and rationality to identity, media bias, and the hidden motivations driving success, this conversation is a deep dive into how great thinkers actually operate.

Important Links:

Check out Polina's new book: 
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Genius-Thinking-Successful-People/dp/0593715604


More from Polina Pompliano — The Profile: https://theprofile.substack.com

In this episode of Infinite Loops, we speak with Adam Mastroianni—experimental psychologist and sharp critic of modern culture and science. We ask, why does creativity feel like it's fading?

From endless remakes to cultural sameness, Adam argues that as society becomes more stable and risk-averse, we may be unintentionally reducing the "deviance" that drives originality and breakthrough thinking. We also discuss why science should get weirder, how to fight credentialism, and the dangers of professionalization.

Important Links:

To learn more about Adam Mastroianni: https://www.adammastroianni.com/

Adam's Piece on the Decline of Deviance: https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-decline-of-deviance

Slime Mold Time Mold: https://slimemoldtimemold.com/

Our Conversation with Julian Gough: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/the-egg-and-the-rock-ep-249