Ep. 51: What’s Wrong With A Robotic Nose?

Ep. 51: What’s Wrong With A Robotic Nose?

Episode 51, ‘What’s wrong with a robotic nose?’, Part I of Robots, Cyborgs, and Artificial Intelligence

This week, Dave and Steve shake things up with their first multi-part episode. For the next three weeks they’ll be talking about the rise of machines in fiction. This week is all about how to tell you’re dealing with a robot — and then the more important questions: What’s the difference between the Terminator and (the?) Robocop?; What are the barriers to sentience and artificial life?; and Why does a Roobma cost $300? Note: at no point do your intrepid hosts talk about the 1983 hit WarGames, the 1986 flop Maximum Overdrive, and 2014’s entirely forgettable Transcendence. If that’s a problem for you, they sincerely apologize.

  • Intro Clip: I, Robot.
  • In a rare move, the editor has included a brief clip of outtakes. While the editor recognizes the absurdity of linking you to an audio clip when you’re listening to a podcast, he thinks the opportunity to make fun of Steve and Dave is worth it. So, enjoy.
  • Steve talks about parenting skills a lot for someone who sometimes forgets to wear pants.
  • Dave confesses to taking zumba lessons.
  • This episode probably owes a lot to the absolutely fantastic (bite-sized) podcast Robot or Not? — and the occasional side-episodes Sandwich or Not, such as episode 78 “Hot Dogs”.
  • Bite-sized wasn’t a pun, but maybe Dave and Steve should start an offshoot podcast about food.
  • Dave suggests that this dude looks human.
  • Steve prefers the term “fembot”.
  • Steve quotes from a term paper he wrote back in 2010.
  • Dave decides to cut off his hand and sews a camera in its place.
  • Steve makes a ridiculous mistake: he says “adamantine”, which is indestructible metal of the Gods with magic and psychic properties that was bonded with Earth-12025 James Howlett’s bones prior to his adventures with Hercules. He clearly meant “adamantium”, which is a mostly indestructible metal alloy with no magic or psychic properties that was bonded with Earth-616 James Howlett’s bones prior to his adventures with the X-Men. Two completely different things.
  • Dave and Steve are not racist against Steampunk Robots.
  • Dave defines a term by using the term.
  • Turns out Steve has this whole “I’m quoting from the dictionary” voice.
  • Regarding dogs and AI.
  • It should be noted that the entire discussion about animal intelligence is coloured by the fact that Dave is a vegan and Steve hangs out with vegans sometimes.
  • There is a brief discussion in which Dave uses the word “breeding” and we all feel just a little bit uncomfortable.
  • For whatever record there is, Steve is right: there is a working Cylon detector.
  • Dave humours Steve’s question about Toy Story.
  • Because they apparently didn’t settle the topic the first time they brought it up, Dave and Steve again talk about the differences between Toy Story, Toy Soldiers, and Small Soldiers.
The Style Guide
The Style Guide
Ep. 51: What's Wrong With A Robotic Nose?
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