The Local Maximum cover a wide range of topics in this Local Maximum May news update with Max Sklar and cohost Aaron. Max said “this is one of the most fun episodes to do, but all the best stuff is at the end so you better listen through”. Concept of the week is the separation of test and training set in machine learning. We discuss why it is important, how it separates learning and memorization, and where the grey areas are. Other Topics include: - The Bitcoin halving - a once-in-4-years waters...
May 12, 2020•1 hr 21 min
Today’s Local Maximum features Chistian Hubbs, host of the Artificially Intelligent podcast. We talk about the most recent examples of AI Hype, more on the Coronavirus models, and the nuanced problems of listening to the experts. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
May 05, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Cytometrist and author of the new Machine Learning text (ML with R the tidyverse, and mlr) joins the Local Maximum to tell us about some of the biological applications of machine learning and making it more accessible to all. We cover model evaluation, unsupervised learning, and the curse of dimensionality. Podlocalmax19 is the promo code to get 40% off all books at manning.com localmaxradio.com/116 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe...
Apr 28, 2020•47 min
Today Max dives into the Coronavirus pandemic models. He talk generally about statistical models of this sort, and how epidemiological models are usually performed. Then, he finds that the models followed by the state and federal governments do nothing of the sort! Also: - What actions should individuals and governments take? - Do lockdowns affect viral spread? - What's the story with asymptomatic people? localmaxradio.com/115 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/sub...
Apr 21, 2020•51 min
The Local Maximum takes a break from continuing Coronavirus coverage to talk about larger social trends. Stanford University researchers proposal for a smart toilet goes too far as it scans your from the bottom up for login credentials. Established media throws shade at podcasting as a dangerous medium, even as they are guilty of the same crimes. Max explains the necessity of the long form podcast in our fractured information news economy. Joe Biden starts a podcast - meaning that this could be ...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 17 min
The annualish Local Maximum predictions panel continues virtually even though under quarantine. They make future predictions, but also review past predictions for today’s time. Max gives a Coronavirus update from New York. Here are some questions that we tackle: - Will Urban or Rural spaces grow in the future? - Why did some virtual reality predictions fail, and what can turn that platform around? - Will doctors finally treat patients remotely on a regular basis? - How long will we be stuck in o...
Apr 07, 2020•48 min
Naomi Brockwell returns to the Local Maximum to share her knowledge of recent events. Naomi was reporting and sounding the alarm of Coronavirus before almost all of the media, but many dismissed her warnings. The discussion also includes: - Government reaction and mismanagement of the pandemic as well as misinformation - Ways to stay calm and protect yourself - The role of Censorship in preventing an informed public - Proposed laws against internet privacy and encryption (the EARN IT act) that c...
Mar 31, 2020•59 min
Max does a solo show during hist third week of staying at home during the Coronavirus outbreak. He covers: - The large amounts of stories about the virus coming in from all corners, and how it's difficult to evaluate them - The current situation in New York City, both everyday life, and policy - How we're getting set up to do more video chats and calls, some ideas for rigging up a home studio, and the popularity of zoom - The mathematics behind wagers and risks - Listener email on Logical Probab...
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 3 min
As Max is holed up at home, he talks to Aaron about the current coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. localmaxradio.com/110 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Mar 17, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Today’s guest is Adam Kapelner, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Queens College, to talk about the nature of probability, some of the theoretical and philosophical foundations of statistical inference, and his research into some basic questions of experimental design. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Mar 10, 2020•52 min
Max will tell you his definition of probability - which is his secret to clearly thinking about truth and inference - on the heels of last week’s discussion. Also some updates: - What’s the difference between the Google Photos leak and the iCloud leak? What is end-to-end encryption? - Now stories are coming out about Venezuela that contradict the positive stories being posted a few weeks ago - Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth want corporate board members to answer to other interests besides sharehol...
Mar 03, 2020•34 min
Economist Bob Murphy shares his insight into Ludwig von Mises’s ideas on Probability from the mid 20th century treatise Human Action. They work to square this with Max’s conception of probability in his own experience as a machine learning engineer. Topics include: - The differences between subjective and objective probability (and case vs class probability in Human Action) - Use of probability in decision making - The controversial meaning of subjective probability - Whether insurance companies...
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr 14 min
Today’s news update focuses on the 15 years of Google Maps and Location technology in general. Max relates to his experience on Stickymap and Foursquare. We talk about Satellite Imagery, Mapquest, and recent efforts to create digital models of cities on the ground level using Machine Learning on Photos. Finally, we talk about what the augmented reality City might look like. Other topics include a recent spate of articles about Venezuela selling off part of it’s nationalized company, and whether ...
Feb 18, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Today’s guest is Sophie Carr, a mathematician who specializes in Bayesian Inference and Aerodynamics. Max asks about her analogies for wrapping one’s head around Bayesian Inference, and applying it in the real world. Max also follows up on Encryption laws. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Feb 11, 2020•50 min
Today’s news update covers issues related to big data and privacy. We start with how big data from public information is being used to track and fight coronavirus, followed by the possibility that the car of the future will be spying on you. Finally, we get into a proposal in Congress to criminalize encryption technology, which will make our data less secure. Finally, the New York Times puts out another Bitcoin hitjob, complete with inaccurate links about criminal activity. Get full access to Th...
Feb 04, 2020•56 min
Dave Rubin stops in to The Local Maximum to discuss his new venture called Locals, a subscription-based community solution that gives power to creators, not platforms. He discusses the current problems with our online platforms and communication systems on “big tech” and his approach to fixing it. Dave Rubin is a talk show host, comedian, and TV personality. He is the host of The Rubin Report, a talk show about big ideas and free speech, heralded for it's politically incorrect and open approach ...
Jan 28, 2020•36 min
Max give his take on Logical Induction and the construction of mathematical objects, a topic that he's been interested in for years. Topics include: - Intro to Mathematical Induction - Tradition Induction vs Ordinal Induction vs Epslion Induction - The Dominos analogy - Logical arguments vs Physical Arguments - Problems with compound implications in the real world - Spotting arguments that hide compound errors localmaxradio.com/102 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.co...
Jan 21, 2020•41 min
These days there’s a lot of angst about job loss due to automation, AI, and Robotics. This led to a formal debate at the SoHo forum in New York about the implications of robotics and automation technology on the job market and what our response should be. Today’s guest, Anthony Sameroff, successfully argued against the resolution which predicts widespread joblessness due to automation. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe...
Jan 14, 2020•42 min
Max talks about all the exciting developments from 100 episodes of producing The Local Maximum Podcast. He also answers listener questions relating to the first 100 episodes, the podcast as a whole, and where it can go in the future. localmaxradio.com/100 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Jan 07, 2020•45 min
Aaron and I start by responding to listener emails, and talking about how our predictions are faring on Metaculus and PredictIt. Then we go over our short list of technological trends of the decade which includes: - The ubiquity of mobile and cloud computing - Consolidation of Social Networks - Status of Wearables and Audio - Populist Movements of all kinds fuels by mass communication - Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency - AI, Machine Learning, and Personal Assistants - Success and Failures of the “Uber...
Dec 31, 2019•1 hr 1 min
Alex Andorra, host of the new podcast Learning Bayesian Statistics joins The Local Maximum today to talk about these fascinating issues: - The growing role of Bayesian Analysis in Science and Technology - How the pollsters and journalists cover election data, and how it can be improved - Ways to look at election polls from a Bayesian standpoint - Strategic voting, comparative political systems, and social choice theory - Approaches to explaining these topics in audio (podcast) form! localmaxradi...
Dec 24, 2019•1 hr 13 min
Today we dive into the world of Computer Science with David Kopec, author of Classic Computer Science Problems in Python. Topics include misconceptions about computer science, what the general public should know, stumbling blocks for students, graph algorithms, and genetic algorithms. localmaxradio.com/97 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 17, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Ep. 96 - Climate Protests, Pascal’s Wager, and the Duplicitous Science Press Max gives a first hand account of the climate protests during the Yale Harvard football game which delayed the game by almost an hour. He breaks down the arguments made by climate activists, and relates it to Pascal’s Wager, a concept in probabilities that relates to infinite values, and how it can be abused. Max and Aaron discuss a couple of news articles on scientific discoveries and break down how they analyze them. ...
Dec 10, 2019•45 min
Panelists Craig Lorentzen and Foursquare Founder Dennis Crowley discuss inspiration, lessons learned, and career shifts they’ve obtained from playing video games as kids and as adults. localmaxradio.com/95 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 03, 2019•35 min
Today Max talks about his long-term fascination with the concept of infinity, including several different forms and definitions that infinity can take on. Then, we do a deep dive into what it means to extend the real number line and divide by zero. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 26, 2019•37 min
In our second November news update, we cover articles and stories on: - The consolidation of the internet - The dispute over whether Facebook centralized or decentralized speech - Calls to “re-decentralize” the internet with personal servers, and the practicality of that - How podcasting has been caught up in some internet trends, and left out of others. - A/B testing and shrinking emphasis on it Also, we go off on a bunch of tangents! localmaxradio.com/93 Get full access to The Local Maximum at...
Nov 19, 2019•1 hr 7 min
This news update covers Ranked Choice Voting in New York City, Twitter’s decision to ban political advertising as we enter the 2020 political campaign season, and Waymo and Uber fighting it out for dominance in the self driving car market. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 11, 2019•56 min
Max talks to Adweek reporter Shoshana Wodinsky about the fraud, the scandal, the propaganda, that goes out through online ad industry. localmaxradio.com/91 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 05, 2019•53 min
In this solo show, Max talks about Narrative building, and the confirmation bias that can be associated with it. To illustrate his points: The recent hearings in Congress of Mark Zuckerberg over the Libra Project A professor who claims to have the winning system to predict the presidential election Stefan Molyneux’s use of a combination of statistical and linguistic tricks to build his society narrative. localmaxradio.com/90 Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subsc...
Oct 29, 2019•36 min
Max interviews Vit Jedlicka, president and founder of Liberland, which is a project to create a new country on unclaimed territory between Serbia and Croatia. Liberland was founded as a free republic with the goal of building new institutions to safeguard personal and economic freedom in a way that isn’t being done in any country including the western democracies today. We discuss the legal and organizational challenges in pursuing this project, as well as the technologies - blockchain, mobile c...
Oct 22, 2019•52 min
