Starbase Indy Podcast

Afrofuturism: Building a Hopeful Future in Indianapolis

Afrofuturism is about not only critiquing the present, but working towards a future that we all want to experience. While some of the live session recording was  lost, this episode captures the second  half of the conversation, and includes information about the history of Indianapolis, how the Khprew Institute is working towards shaping the future, and why so many science fiction stories include just a little sprinkle of eugenics in their flavoring.

AI and the Nature of Truth

AI is often depicted as a way to find answers to questions. Is this the same as finding truth? Are our current AI technologies structured to find truth? Or are they designed to do something different, and how does that affect their functionality and how they are (and how they should be) used?
 
This episode was recorded during our live event in November of 2023, and is a part of our series on the Humanities of Artificial Intelligence. This series was awarded an Action Grant by Indiana Humanities, and received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

AI, Sentience, and the Rights of Robots

AI isn't sentient -at least not yet. But what would it mean to our systems if that changed? When would (and when should) our legal system begin to recognize the rights of non-human intelligence? What would that change for humans, and for other intelligent beings?
 
This episode was recorded during our live event in November of 2023, and is a part of our series on the Humanities of Artificial Intelligence. This series was awarded an Action Grant by Indiana Humanities, and received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
 

The Ethics of Machine Learning

Machine learning holds great potential - but also comes with some significant ethical challenges. Listen to experts discuss the technology, and the ethical concerns it creates.
This episode was recorded during our live event in November of 2023, and is a part of our series on the Humanities of Artificial Intelligence. This series was awarded an Action Grant by Indiana Humanities, and received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

AI In Fact and Fiction

AI has been the subject of literature since William Grove’s novel The Wreck of the World in 1889, and in cinema since 1927’s Metropolis. Everyone alive has grown up with the idea of artificial intelligence - with those ideas having varying degrees of similarity to actual technology. Star Trek has contributed significantly to these fictional depictions of AI,. We explore these contributions in this pane with both Star Trek and technology experts.
 
This episode was recorded during our live event in November of 2023, and is a part of our series on the Humanities of Artificial Intelligence. This series was awarded an Action Grant by Indiana Humanities, and received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
 
 

A Whirlwind Tour of AI

What are the first things we think about when someone says Artificial Intelligence? Many of us think of general AIs, like Data, Marvin, or the Cylons. Maybe we think about ChatGPT, Dall-E, or Midjourney. Do you think about Google Maps? How your characters move in a video game? What about the ranking algorithms of Netflix and YouTube? Chances are you’re carrying two or three devices at least partially designed by AI on your person. AI is so ubiquitous we often don’t realize when we’re using it. This talk aims to provide a broad overview of AI so that we can recognize when and where AI is touching our lives. 
The episode you are about to hear is a part of our series on the Humanities of Artificial Intelligence. This series was awarded an Action Grant by Indiana Humanities, and received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Xenocosmetology and the Meaning of Life

This interview is a two-fer, with both the FABULOUS Cosmetologist (and Starbase Indy regular) Moxie Ann Magnus, and the brilliance behind her, Brantley Moate. The conversation ranges from the Kobyashi Hairdo challenge Moxie passed to graduate from Starfleet Academy, to the nature of Captain Kirk's coiffure, to the purpose of joy and kindness in the world. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed having the conversation.

Eclipses

Dan McGlaun is an expert on eclipses, and he's working to get the state of Indiana ready for the total eclipse that will cross the state in 2024. We talk to Dan about the experience of viewing a total eclipse, the science behind eclipses, and why all eclipses are not created equal.

Envisioning Star Trek

We have a special treat for our 50th episode - an interview with Emmy Award Winner Doug Drexler. Doug has been involved in Star Trek since TNG, in roles including makeup, visual effects, conceptual design, and more - having a major effect on the look and feel of the Star Trek many of us grew up with. Hear him talk about his career and about the special magic that was working on Picard's third season in this supersized episode.

Inspiring the Future by Preserving the Past

Max Kaiserman is the founder of Luna Replicas and a managing Member of the AstroVette Endeavour organization. Listen to him talk about the decisions required when dealing with a historic automobile (owned by an astronaut), creating accurate replicas of apparel and flight gear from America's early space program, and how his love of Star Trek fits into these professional passions.