AI Wrote A Book: How Worried Should Writers Be? - Brian Naughton
Would you read a book written by an AI? We did. Do you care who writes the stories, as long as they move you to laughter, tears or thoughtful exploration? We do.When Brian Naughton challenged Claude 3.7 Sonnet to write a novel, he didn't expect what happened next. The result was The Echo Chamber, the first book written entirely by AI. And not only did the AI write the book, it planned and edited it. All the characters, character arcs, setting, pacing, twists and conversations. No human in the loop. On this week's Thinking On Paper, hosts Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson speak with the mind behind the experiment. An experiment that could have far reaching consequences for writers, literature and art itself.Stay disruptive, remain curious. Keep Thinking On Paper--Learn more: at www.thinkingonpaper.xyzRead The Echo Chamber: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8N4S64Q/Read the Echo Chamber Github: https://github.com/brian-naughton/the-echo-chamber--(00:00) Introduction to AI-Authored Literature(00:46) The Role of AI in Creative Writing(02:41) The Echo Chamber: The First AI Written Book(06:06) Managing the Writing Process with AI(09:30) AI Master Prompts(10:51) Character Development and AI's Choices(13:51) The Human Element in AI Writing(17:03) Reflections on the Writing Experience(20:24) The Future of AI in Literature(24:12) AI Art: What Happens Next?
--------
28:25
Why I Wish Artificial Intelligence Was Conscious: Book Club (Irreducible, Federico Fagin)
AI isn't conscious. It never will be. I wish it was! In Irreducible (Federico Faggin) Chapter 7, Mark and Jeremy tackle the “hard problem” of consciousness. Why can machines process data without ever tasting joy or suffering pain? Real curiosity? They'll never feel that. Yes, it's a feeling.They wrestle with qualia (the raw spark of experience) and question whether a machine can ever cross from the realm of make belief into awareness, sentience and... love.Your mind verses a pattern-matching algorithm. How are you different? How are you the same? You’ll hear why theories like panpsychism matter, why “free will” may be locked inside biology, and how emotional AI could be your next girlfriend or boyfriend. Or not.- Define qualia and its role in any conscious mind- Explore panpsychism: could awareness be woven into all matter?- Pinpoint what AI still misses when it mimics empathy- Weigh the risks of emotional AI and what they mean for trust- Understand the gap between information processing and true awarenessPress play now and decide for yourself▶️ Listen to chapter 1-6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2EteMXVv-8&t=357s&ab_channel=ThinkingOnPaper--Chapters(00:00) Introduction to Consciousness and AI(02:32) The Nature of Consciousness(05:12) Qualia and Human Experience(07:27) The Distinction Between Humans and Machines(09:23) The Hard Problem of Consciousness(11:27) AI, Empathy, and Human Connection(13:40) Cultural Norms and AI Integration(16:10) Interiority and Quantum Consciousness(17:54) True Intelligence vs. Machine Intelligence(19:46) Comprehension and Perception(22:20) The Future of Consciousness and AI--Join the free thinkers - www.thinkingonpaper.xyz
--------
27:27
Technology for Good: Can We Redefine Success with Ethics & Empathy? - Khang Nguyen-Trieu
Technology already touches every aspect of our lives, but are we using it to tackle our biggest challenges? And when millions of people have boring, repetitive jobs (that puts food on the family table), what's the collateral damage of AI and automation? On Victory in Europe Day, veteran technologist Khang Nguyen-Trieu (25 years building and advising large-scale systems across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.) shares down-to-earth examples and simple strategies to: measure what truly matters, talk to real people, turn CSRD rules into an edge, set ethical AI limits, blend global mindsets, and free your team from routine tasks.▶️ Press play to start using the tech you already have for genuine social impact. 🔗 Join our community: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz--Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Technology for Good (02:01) The Impact of Technology on Society (04:07) Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword (05:35) AI and Human Relationships (09:57) Shifting the Focus: Profit vs. Purpose (12:10) Rethinking Technology's Role (16:22) The Need for Ethical Considerations (20:52) Cultural Perspectives on Society and Individualism (22:45) Empathy in Technology and Human Interaction (24:45) The Role of Technology in Hospitality (28:38) Balancing Automation and Human Connection (34:16) Philosophical Reflections on Humanity and Wisdom
--------
39:08
Natural Intelligence: Kevin Kelly on AI & Life
On this special episode of Thinking On Paper, Kevin Kelly reveals how AI mirrors the architecture of life. From mycelium’s hidden networks to self-organizing algorithms and why these living technologies are remapping culture, work, and society. In this teaser, Wired’s co-founder shows you how decentralized AI systems outmaneuver rigid hierarchies, how a single algorithmic nudge can trigger collective creativity, and what this means for your organization’s culture and the evolving human-AI relationship. Press play to hear the full Thinking On Paper episode on Spotify and discover the ideas reshaping innovation, culture, and life itself.
--------
1:21
Today’s Enterprise AI Strategies: Forecast, Automate & Scale Your Business - Ajay Malik, CEO Studio-X
Shopify, Duolingo, Box, Hubspot, Fiverr, Meta, Google...Leading technology companies have issued formal AI-first mandates. Before the give a task or job to a human, they now ask: can AI do this. It's scary if you're on the wrong end, and signals a fundamental shift in corporate strategy and workplace expectations. So what can your business do today to not get left behind? In this episode we speak with Ajay Malik - founder and CEO of Studio-X - to give you the starting framework to incorporate AI into your business. You'll learn:• Forecast capacity like Google’s data centers • Build a “co-pilot” on Confluence, SharePoint & email • Automate email triage & supercharge support • Monitor operations with computer vision • Scale your workforce without layoffsPress play and start using the same AI playbook fueling enterprise value.Join the movement: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz--Timestamps (0:00) Disruptors and curious minds (00:45) Introduction to AI and Its Impact (03:47) Ajay Malik's Journey with AI (06:59) Core Capabilities of AI (09:58) AI as a Partner in Decision Making (14:20) Trusting AI in Business (15:32) Practical Applications of AI in Business (18:47) The Role of AI in Enhancing Productivity (21:49) Creative Potential and AI Hallucinations (24:35) Engaging with AI for Business Growth (29:27) The Emotional Aspect of AI Communication (30:06) Studio X: No Code AI Solutions(31:49) Connecting Knowledge for AI Utilization (34:48) Integrating AI into Daily Workflows (36:05) Managing AI Agents Like Interns (40:09) The Responsibility of AI Management (43:17) AI Applications in Business Operations (45:37) Navigating IT Concerns with AI Implementation (48:56) Maximizing Impact with AI Tools (51:39) Knowledge Transfer and Employee Concerns (54:49) Preparing Future Generations for AI
About Thinking On Paper: The Impact Of Technology On Business And Culture
Thinking on Paper is for builders, skeptics, and systems thinkers who don’t buy the default future. You want to know the why behind the what.
From AI and quantum to Web3 and robotics, we talk to engineers, founders, CEOS and researchers about what they’re creating—and what it really means for business, culture and society.
These conversations go beneath the roadmap: into architecture, incentives, trade-offs, and unintended consequences. It’s not about trends. It’s about how the future actually gets built.
🎙️ New episodes every Thursday
📚 Book club deep-dives every Friday
Listen to Thinking On Paper: The Impact Of Technology On Business And Culture, Lex Fridman Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app