Ok - full disclosure… the “movie” poster on the cover image for this episode was created by Anthropic’s Claude AI. I gave it a prompt describing the three of us and the name of the podcast and this is what it came up with. I have much that could be said but I am really not sure what’s happening with MaryAnn in this and how it seems to have tried to represent her hair. Phuc also commented on the “Electronic halo looking like a Bene Gesserit reverend mother” that MaryAnn is rocking. I also think the circles are supposed to be headphones? The full image is at the end for your mocking pleasure.
Anyway, I think its a fitting example of some of what we discussed throughout this great conversation that might be part 1 of at least 2 episodes since we barely touched base on much pop-culture-wise. This is our second time (and definitely not the last) having Phuc join us in the conversation. You can find his work at Love and Other Substances and also several books he’s written.
We did reference several things in the episode:
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is discussing a response to AI at its national gathering (aka General Assembly) later this month. Here’s their proposal being discussed. The Algorithm and the Almighty: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Through a Reformed Lens
Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical that was released in recent weeks entitled Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.
Below is a great infographic created about it
And here’s an “interesting” commentary wondering how much of the encyclical was AI generated.
NY Times Podcast - Can AI Make People Feel Less Lonely?
Our next episode will be Monday, June 8 at 1pm ET as we’ll be doing a “Will It Preach?” on the recent film, The Sheep Detectives.
And we also have another episode scheduled with Marlon Weems at 2:30pm ET on movies connected with America250. More on that to come!
Thanks for joining us!
