Weird Predictions – 2024

Episode Notes

The episode opens with the hosts greeting each other for 2024 and then moving into a discussion of older dystopian science fiction that reflected the anxieties of its era. They talk about Logan's Run, Make Room, Make Room/Soylent Green, Clockwork Orange, and Silent Running as stories shaped by fears about population growth, pollution, youth violence, and social instability, before widening the conversation into how people now think about depopulation, fertility decline, and whether modern cynicism is distorting judgments about the present and the past.

From there, the episode moves through a 2024 predictions segment covering Artemis, Starship, the presidential election, and the broader role of AI and robotics. The hosts also discuss how chat-based AI is already useful in daily life, debate what counts as AGI and how the Turing test is commonly misunderstood, then finish with reactions to Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Rebel Moon before ending on recommendations for Fargo, Lower Decks, A Clockwork Orange, and The OA.

Key topics

• 1970s dystopian fiction as a response to overpopulation and environmental anxiety: The hosts connect Logan's Run, Make Room, Make Room/Soylent Green, Clockwork Orange, and Silent Running to concerns about population growth, pollution, young people, and societal breakdown.
• The American vs. English endings of A Clockwork Orange: Brian explains the different endings, saying the English version includes a redemption arc while the American version is darker and closer to the movie version.
• How nostalgia and selective memory distort judgments about the past: The hosts argue that people often idealize old politicians and old media, forgetting the context and the irresponsible behavior that also existed then.
• Public reaction to Epstein-related names and the importance of context: The conversation stresses that names should be discussed with specific acts and evidence rather than vague insinuation or rumor.
• Artemis schedule skepticism: The hosts conclude Artemis is not going to the moon in 2024.
• Starship flight and reusability expectations: They discuss whether Starship will make a successful flight and return in 2024, with Andrew arguing SpaceX has enough resources and momentum to keep progressing.
• Election counting and delayed results: The hosts talk about whether election night results will be clear and criticize how long some states take to count ballots.
• AI and robotics progression: Andrew explains reinforcement learning, robotic manipulation, and why robotics may accelerate as AI improves the control layer.
• AI as a practical productivity tool: The discussion highlights everyday uses of ChatGPT-like systems for quick answers, learning, and custom storytelling.
• What counts as AGI: Andrew argues that AGI should be understood in practical terms, focused on performing knowledge work, not on consciousness.
• Infrastructure and automation in the global south: Andrew frames robotics as potentially useful for building schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure while improving local skills and institutions.
• Rotten Tomatoes and audience-score reliability: Andrew says audience scores are only meaningful when non-fans are watching, and Justin notes that critic infrastructure has weakened.
• Adaptations and audience expectations: The conversation uses One Piece and Cowboy Bebop to contrast successful and unsuccessful live-action adaptations.

Picks

• Brian Brushwood: A Clockwork Orange — Brian explicitly says this will be his pick and recommends the English audiobook version, praising the narration for making the invented slang understandable.
• Brian Brushwood: Lower Decks — He briefly endorses the show as continuing to be good.
• Justin Robert Young: Fargo — He says the new season is his favorite installment of the series so far and strongly praises the cast and overall quality.
• Andrew Mayne: The OA — He explicitly recommends it, saying he really enjoyed both seasons and would like another one.