In his book “Divided,” author Tim Marshall dedicates a chapter to the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Titled “Israel and Palestine,” the chapter begins by describing the stark contrast between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, separated by a 26-foot-high concrete wall topped with barbed wire and watchtowers. Crossing the border through these concrete sections is a … Read more

In June 2022, Google engineer Blake Lemoine claimed that LaMDA, a Google AI and large language model, exhibited signs of consciousness. LaMDA’s sophisticated text conversations led Lemoine to believe it had developed a sense of self and soul, a view met with skepticism and his subsequent administrative leave. The AI community refutes the idea of … Read more

“Player Piano,” Kurt Vonnegut’s first novel released in 1952, kickstarted his notable career by critically examining societal norms and the unbridled march of technology—themes that echo throughout his later works. Set in a post-Third World War America, the book unveils a dystopian future where automation has supplanted human labor across most fields, causing mass unemployment … Read more

In “Battling to the End,” René Girard takes a deep dive into Carl von Clausewitz’s famous book, “On War.” He shows how his ideas about imitation and history can help us understand the changing nature of wars better. Girard, who usually focuses on literature and human behavior, was surprised to find that Clausewitz’s thoughts on … Read more

Quantum mechanics, the branch of physics dealing with the behavior of subatomic particles, holds immense potential for revolutionizing technology. When combined with AI, quantum mechanics promises to bring about a new era of computing power and innovation. Classical vs. Quantum Computing Classical computers, including everything from early calculators to the latest smartphones, process information in … Read more

The fourth chapter of Fateful Triangle discusses the historical backgrounds of Israel and Palestine. The invasion of Lebanon in 1982 by Israel marked a contentious chapter in the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, challenging the ideological foundation of their alliance. Despite this, the U.S.’s commitment to ensuring Israel’s military superiority and financial support … Read more

“Cobalt Red” delves into the heart of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution and the world’s tech-driven economy, focusing on Kolwezi, a unique city that harbors about a quarter of the planet’s cobalt reserves. Kolwezi, likened to a Wild West frontier, has undergone extensive environmental degradation due to the explosive growth of mining activities. The landscape … Read more

“The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity” by David Graeber and David Wengrow challenges conventional narratives about human history, particularly the origins of inequality. The authors argue that most of human history is unknown, and what is often discussed is based on simplifications like the narratives of Rousseau and Hobbes. Rousseau romanticized pre-agricultural … Read more

“The Second Machine Age” explores how digital technology is changing our world. It looks at the big impact of computers and the internet, comparing this change to the Industrial Revolution. The book talks about the good things technology brings, like more choices and easier access to information. But it also warns about challenges, like jobs … Read more