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May 29
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Can Catholic Doctrine Survive the AI Revolution? First Impressions of Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas – Nerding Out ep42

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The Pope speaks on AI! In this episode of Nerding Out with That Nerdy Catholic, Seth, Cesar, and Lee give their first reactions to Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and the position of the Catholic Church in relation to the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our world. 

They talk about the significance of the encyclical being signed on the 135th anniversary of another famous encyclical, Rerum Novarum, and start to dive into what Pope Leo and tech leaders like Christopher Olah, a co-founder of Anthropic, are trying to communicate through Magnifica Humanitas.

Topics covered:

  • First impressions of the introduction and purpose of the encyclical
  • The Importance of the timing of its release
  • Why it’s a primer on Catholic Social Teaching
  • The potential impact and urgency of Pope Leo’s message to the world about AI 
  • The symbolism used to convey two worlds and two paths AI might take 

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May 08
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What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, AI & Privacy – Nerding Out ep41

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Is AI spying on you? In this episode of Nerding Out with That Nerdy Catholic, Seth and Cesar kick off their series on the ethics of artificial intelligence with a deep dive into AI privacy and AI data collection.

They try to break down what really happens to your data when you use tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini, and why digital privacy matters more than most people realize. From Microsoft’s controversial Microsoft Recall feature to the erosion of end-to-end encryption, they explore how with artificial intelligence, privacy is being reshaped in ways that touch everyone.

Topics covered:

  • AI and your data: what AI agents collect and where it goes
  • How to run AI locally on your own computer with Ollama, the best way to keep your data truly private
  • Using a local AI model so your conversations never leave your device
  • The free/open source software movement and what it means for AI transparency
  • Anonymity in cyberspace, what it actually takes to stay private
  • Apple’s CSAM detection and what it reveals about the limits of encryption
  • AI ethics and privacy vs. security: a faith and technology perspective on human nature and trust
  • Practical tips for protecting your information online

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just trying to be a more informed digital citizen, this episode will help you make prudent, informed decisions about the AI tools you use every day.

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Apr 10
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Going Deeper into AI: The Guts of ChatCPT and Large Language Models – Nerding Out ep39

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What happens inside ChatGPT and other LLMs?

In this episode, we take some time to look under the hood of how a Large Language Model (LLM) like ChatCPT works. Building off of the previous episode where we looked at neural networks, the basis for all AI, we explore how these neural networks are used to comb through large quantities of text, find its meaning, and respond with language that is easy to understand.

We move beyond simple neural networks to discuss the intricacies of Transformer Architecture and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and how this approach is central to understanding modern artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.

We also touch on the benefits of running your own local AI model and agent and how we use Ollama at That Nerdy Catholic to help with some of our tasks. You want to know how LLM actually works? Continue this exploration of AI with us.

Links from Episode:

Attention is all you need: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.03762

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Mar 07
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The Technology Behind ChatGPT: Neural Networks and the AI Revolution – Nerding Out ep38

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What is AI, and how does it actually work?

Artificial Intelligence has exploded in popularity with tools like ChatGPT, but the technology behind it has been developing for decades. In this episode, Seth and Cesar break down Artificial Intelligence for beginners, explaining where AI came from, how it evolved, and why it suddenly became so powerful in recent years.

Starting with the early ideas of AI in the 1950s, they trace the key breakthroughs that led to today’s revolution in machine learning and large language models (LLMs). One turning point was the groundbreaking 2017 research paper “Attention Is All You Need,” developed by Google researchers, which introduced the transformer architecture that powers many modern AI systems.

In Part 1 of this two-episode series, they focus on the core building block of modern AI: neural networks.

  • What is a neural network?
  • How do artificial neural networks compare to the neurons in the human brain?
  • How do machines actually learn from data?
  • What’s the difference between supervised learning and unsupervised learning?

If you’ve ever wondered how ChatGPT works, how machines learn patterns, or why AI suddenly seems everywhere, this episode will give you a clear foundation without requiring advanced math.

For viewers who want to dive deeper into the mathematics behind neural networks, Seth and Cesar also reference the excellent visual explanations from the YouTube series by Grant Sanderson on the channel 3Blue1Brown.

If you’re curious about Artificial Intelligence, neural networks, machine learning, and how modern AI models are trained, this video is the perfect place to start.

We want your input for this series, so head over to https://thatnerdycatholic.com/ai to share your thoughts and experiences.

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Feb 13
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AI and Us: A Future in Question. can We Stop AI if we need to? – Nerding Out ep37

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With AI already embedded in our daily lives, it’s important that we have a critical conversation about its impact. AI has been touted as a game-changer for humanity, but what does it truly mean for us? What are the ethical issues surrounding AI? What does it mean for AI to reason, to decide, and to have conversations? Can AI take over the world and bring about a utopia or a dystopia? Will AI liberate us or enslave us? What is the role of the AI vs the role of the companies behind it?

From the loss of human agency to the rise of job displacement, the stakes are high. In this series, we’ll explore the philosophical, social, and economic implications of AI. We’ll examine the parallels between the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century and our current technological revolution, and discuss what it means for humanity to take control of AI rather than be controlled by it.

Join us as we venture into the world of AI and examine its implications on society, economy, and individual freedoms.

We want your input for this series, so head over to https://thatnerdycatholic.com/ai to share your thoughts and experiences.

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Aug 15
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What Happens When Machines Do Everything? – Nerding Out ep36

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What kind of future can we expect with the rise of AI? Seth and Cesar are beginning a series on AI. They will discuss whether artificial intelligence will help us live a better life so we can pursue the deeper meanings of life and what kind of AI dangers  we need to consider.

Join us as we ask the big questions and prepare to dive deep into some of the answers in the upcoming weeks. Will machines allow us to focus on art, music, and philosophy, or will other factors come into play? What language do we use to describe AI? What happens when we start to treat AI as a person? We want your input for this series, so head over to https://thatnerdycatholic.com/ai to share your thoughts and experiences.

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Jul 25
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Newton’s Physics and God: The Story Behind the Science – Nerding Out ep35

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We often think of scientists as people who are all about logic and reason, but what’s fascinating is that many of them have actually had a deep faith in their lives. Scientists like Newton, Kepler, and Halley were trying to understand the natural world through science, while also believing in a higher power. Newton even said that seeing the universe as just a machine was missing the point – there must be a creator behind it all! But then came the scientific breakthroughs of the 19th century, and suddenly people started thinking they’d figured out everything through science. This way of thinking became so ingrained that many people began to see faith as something old-fashioned and unnecessary. But what if I told you that’s not necessarily the case? There are still scientists today who believe in a higher power, and who think that science and faith aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s time to rethink our assumptions about the natural world and our place within it – there’s so much more to explore! So, let’s keep the conversation going and see where it takes us!

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Jun 20
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Did People Really Think Earth Was the Center of Everything? – The Copernicus Revolution – Nerding Out ep34

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Imagine being able to look through the eyes of history’s most groundbreaking thinkers, and witnessing firsthand the pivotal moments that shaped our understanding of the universe. In this fascinating conversation, hosts Seth and Cesar take you on a journey through the forgotten chapters of scientific discovery, exploring the lives and ideas of visionaries who dared to challenge conventional wisdom.

In this episode they focus on Roger Bacon, the medieval polymath who pioneered the scientific method who will captivate and inspire you. Join Seth and Cesar as they delve into the fascinating stories behind some of science’s most significant breakthroughs, and discover how the pursuit of knowledge has shaped human history.

As a Franciscan Friar, what was life like for Roger Bacon? Getting help from Pope Clement IV, Bacon was able to work on his scientific experiments and writing while staying true to his Franciscan vows. Seth and Cesar look into his most important writings as well as his role in the development of the scientific method. Bacon is an important figure in the history of science that many people don’t know about.

So why wait? Join Seth and Cesar on an unforgettable adventure through the history of physics, and discover how the greatest minds in science continue to inspire us today. By exploring the triumphs and setbacks of these pioneers, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the scientific method, and develop a newfound respect for the people who have shaped our understanding of the cosmos. So sit back, relax, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the history of physics!

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