Episode 126: Nikhil Suresh on the AI Lie and Humanising The Machine

Nikhil Suresh made me laugh, think, and reconsider my thoughts on technology.When I read his essay I Will F***ing Piledrive You If You Mention AI Again, in which he announced that “the next person to talk about rolling out AI is going to receive a complimentary chiropractic adjustment in the style of Dr. Bourne,” I knew I had found a deep thinker with a sharp wit and a way with words.Nikhil is the founder of Hermit Tech, a consultancy that sets up world class data infrastructure, and he is also highly skeptical of the marketing bumf and hot air being blasted out of the collective orifices of the technology industry.We had a fun and fascinating conversation about the rampant fraud and dishonesty in tech and AI in particular, the delusions and FOMO plaguing companies rushing into implementing useless technology, the ways that human vices and shortcomings are coded into the machines we create to help us, and the possibility of a better way forward.It was enlightening and heartening to speak with someone who feels deeply the need to humanise the machine, rather than further mechanise the human.I hope you enjoy our discussion.You can read Nikhil’s writing at ludic.blog and find out more about Hermit Tech on their website.Find us online:https://www.1984.todayhttps://1984today.substack.comX: @1984TodayPod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 1984today.substack.com