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 mathematical concepts that power 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…
Alice and Tatum conclude the late-night walk into the caves. The coven reunites with Ixis and discusses the next steps forward. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Weirder Things 2Cave of Time Winter Woods Additional Audio from Storyblocks…
Alice and Tatum take a walk on the dark side while Jess tries to piece things back together at The Crypt. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Weirder Things 2Cave of Time Additional Audio from Storyblocks…
The Coven encounters a stranger who takes issue with their past actions and offers a game. An eye for an eye. May and Jess give in to their hunger and go out to hunt for food whilst Alice struggles with their own humanity. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Weirder Things 2Crossroads Additional Audio from Storyblocks…
Our vampires make it home to see what is left in New Vampsterdam. Many things surprise them and things get a little worse for Jess. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Weirder Things 2Antiquarian Study…
Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Weirder Things 2Russian Winter Additional Audio from Storyblocks
Ixis stands at the edge of a life changing decision as she decides which side she will accept, the coven discover the aftermath of the previous nights party and attempt to find the ever vanishing Alice. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Winter Woods Weirder Things 2Russian Winter Additional Audio from Storyblocks…
Things at the party heat up as the vampires make connections. Immersed Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Tabletop audio: Russian Winter Weirder Things 2
The party in the mountain side rock star getaway heats up, the coven meets The Silver Bullets, bond over music and find out Jonnys secret. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Gearhead" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) (MOTTSTER) Music from https://filmmusic.io "Eighties Action" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Cool Rock" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ) Anamalie Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Tabletop audio: Russian Winter Weirder Things 2…
The vampire family bond with a new friend over drinks and a few songs but everyone has their secrets to keep. Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Gearhead" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) (MOTTSTER) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Neolith" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Whiskey on the Mississippi" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Sunshine (version 2)" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io/ "Cool Rock" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Tabletop audio: Crossroads…