Episodes

  • EP5: Robots (2023): Robot Doubles, Reinforcement, and the Future of Human Jobs

    EP5: Robots (2023): Robot Doubles, Reinforcement, and the Future of Human Jobs
    May 25 2025
    In this episode, we dive deep into Robots (2023) - a sci-fi rom-com set in a near-future America where humans use robot doubles to scam love and wealth. But beneath the laughs and chaos, the movie reveals important questions about autonomy, machine learning, and the future of work.What You'll Learn:AI Concepts from the Big ScreenHow robot doubles in Robots reflect real-world machine learning (ML) modelsThe line between instruction and autonomy in artificial agentsReinforcement learning and how AI learns from ''rewards'' - even problematic onesLegal and Ethical InsightsJob displacement through automation and the ethics of AI-enabled productivityWhy ''human protectionism'' might be needed to preserve economic stabilityPolicy in PracticeHow countries like Nigeria, the US and Canada are (or aren't) preparing for AI's impact on employmentState-level programs in the US supporting worker upskilling and trainingHow legal frameworks like the Industrial Training Fund Act (Nigeria) and Quebec's 1% training law offer blueprints for the AI eraReal-World ExamplesHow Spotify's recommendation engine likely introduced you to this podcastWhy self-driving cars and robots rely on reinforcement learningLessons from Daron Acemoglu on who really benefits from technologyResources Mentioned1% training law: Do you know yourobligations Canada - https://www.bdo.ca/insights/the-1-percent-training-law-in-quebec Chapter 04 Basic Skill Training orRetraining Tax Credit Mississippi https://sos.ms.gov/ACProposed/00018881b.pdf Employment equity Canada https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/individuals/employment-equity#:~:text=About%20the%20Employment%20Equity%20Act,-The%20Employment%20Equity&text=The%20Employment%20Equity%20Act%20requires,with%20disabilities%2C%20and%20racialized%20people.Employer Training Investment Program(ETIP) Illinois https://ima-net.org/etip/ Employment Training Panel California https://etp.ca.gov/ Explaining decisions made with AI https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bLYxQHUxs26bXLRyaVVQf4Zi6xCVFt-G/view?usp=drive_linkHow Recommendation Engines Work - https://thecondia.com/how-recommendation-engines-work/ Incumbent Worker Training Connecticut https://www.ewib.org/business-services-team/incumbent-worker-training/ Machine Learning for Dummies https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jAjakV2w0DyMSwfQ4Vy536G6HeLyXGfX/view?usp=drive_linkMaze patrolling by rats with and withoutfood reward https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/BF03208022Medical Devices 2030: Making a power playto avoid the commodity trap https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5ErXFFImsACPIhY5ssbFpJFc9kSHUfM/view?usp=drive_linkMicrosoft laying off about 6000 people, or3% of its workforce https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/microsoft-is-cutting-3percent-of-workers-across-the-software-company.html Next Level Jobs Indiana https://www.in.gov/dwd/nextleveljobs/home/ Ohio Tech Cred https://www.ohio.edu/lancaster/techcred Power, progress, and technology (withDaron Acemoglu) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mS1eyqiF772yGNijLB6DL?si=c4be5f454bb54cdc Quantum Computing & ReinforcementLearning: Partners in Achieving Artificial General Intelligence https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iaLdEfOGdBthtSBjEI96Fbz963lWMpcC/view?usp=sharingRegulation 29 - Department of WorkforceServices – Training Trust Fund Program Arkansas https://dws.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/DWS-Training-Trust-Fund-Regulations.pdf Reward is enough https://drive.google.com/file/d/11_UVbxnTUOG1lFM6TM7sUKpcl3qSdD1q/view?usp=drive_linkSummary of Part II of the Canada LabourCode https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/reports/summary.html UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker TrainingGrant Program New Jersey https://www.nj.gov/labor/assets/PDFs/Grants/FY25/FY25%20UPSKILL%20NGO%208-13-2024.pdf Next Episode TeaserThe Pod Generation (2023) - Artificial wombs, shared pregnancies, and the ethics of AI in reproductive health.
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    40 mins
  • EP4 - Robots (2023): AI Companionship, Data Privacy, and the Ethics of Robot Doubles

    EP4 - Robots (2023): AI Companionship, Data Privacy, and the Ethics of Robot Doubles
    May 3 2025

    Get ready for a deep dive into 'Robots' (2023)! We're back after a brief hiatus (apologies!) and jumping straight into this thought-provoking film about robot doubles and human (mis)behaviour. This episode examines key themes including:

    • AI and Human Relationships: Exploring the subservient nature of early AI in the movie and the implications of AI sentience and autonomy.
    • Data Protection Nightmares: The ethical and legal minefield of creating robot doubles, drawing parallels to real-world data usage by generative AI like Grok and potential violations of GDPR and Nigeria's GAID.
    • AI in Everyday Life: From garbage collection to customer service, I analyze the movie's portrayal of AI integration and discuss the need for 'human protectionism' in the face of increasing automation, referencing the recent layoffs by a Nigerian food delivery app.
    • The Ethics of Disposable AI: Examining the disturbing trend of treating robots as subhuman, drawing parallels to animal cruelty and its potential real-world consequences.
    • Robot Doubles: Fair Advantage or Impersonation Risk? I debate the ethical implications of creating human-like robot doubles and how current legal frameworks might (or might not) address this future technology.
    • A Glimpse into the Future (2032 Edition): Unpacking the movie's surprisingly relevant depiction of AI in immigration control and the broader societal impact of increasing automation.


    Stay tuned for our next episode, in which I'll explore AI learning, autonomy, and the regulatory landscape in more depth!

    Robots (2023) is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Showmax.

    Resources

    • 'The Robot Who Looked Like Me' by Robert Sheckley - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22309049-the-robot-who-looked-like-me
    • Nigeria Data Protection Act - General Application & Implementation Directive 2025 - https://ndpc.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDP-ACT-GAID-2025-MARCH-20TH.pdf
    • EU General Data Protection Regulation 2018 - https://gdpr-info.eu/
    • Nigeria Labour Act 2004 - https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/L1.pdf
    • EP1 - Unravelling M3GAN - https://open.spotify.com/episode/67OKKPuI23DwfTv5XKUgBz?si=7860123b951542a9
    • 'Sex Robots: Ethical Issues Arising and their Potential Impact on Human Intimacy' by Akin Ifeanyi Agunbiade - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4483857
    • Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 - https://www.cac.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CAMA-NOTE-BOOK-FULL-VERSION.pdf
    • Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended, 2024) - https://www.nfiu.gov.ng/images/Downloads/downloads/cybercrime.pdf
    • "'Homegrowns are next': Trump hopes to deport and jail US citizens abroad" - https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/nx-s1-5366178/trump-deport-jail-u-s-citizens-homegrowns-el-salvador
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    25 mins
  • EP3 - Unravelling M3GAN (The Building Blocks of M3GAN's AI)

    EP3 - Unravelling M3GAN (The Building Blocks of M3GAN's AI)
    May 29 2024

    In this episode, we explore the building blocks of M3GAN's AI, delving into the technical aspects of its speech and language processing capabilities. We also discuss the theoretical concept of emotional AI and how M3GAN's evolution from a neutral to a psychotic state highlights the challenges and ethical considerations in developing AI systems, particularly when it comes to human oversight and the potential risks of granting AI too much autonomy.

    Join us as we unravel the complexities of M3GAN's AI and its implications for the future of artificial intelligence.
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    19 mins
  • EP2 - Unravelling M3GAN (Real-world AI vs. M3GAN's AI)

    EP2 - Unravelling M3GAN (Real-world AI vs. M3GAN's AI)
    May 8 2024

    In Episode 1, we peeled back the layers of M3GAN. In Episode 2, we go further to separate fact from fiction. We'll explore the real-world applications of AI compared to M3GAN's murderous capabilities. We'll discuss real-world AI accidents and debunk the Hollywood myth of killer robots (for now!).

    We'll break down the elements of M3GAN's AI that mirror real technology like biometrics and facial recognition. We'll expose the creative liberties taken with technology in the film, like the A17 bionic chip. Is M3GAN a glimpse into the future, or just a spooky story? Tune in to find out!
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    12 mins
  • EP1 - Unravelling M3GAN (Movie Synopsis and Setting the Stage)

    EP1 - Unravelling M3GAN (Movie Synopsis and Setting the Stage)
    May 1 2024

    This episode lays the foundation for a series of episodes diving into the horror film M3GAN (2023). We meet Cady, a young girl who loses her parents and is left in the care of her overwhelmed aunt, Gemma. Gemma is a brilliant robotics engineer and sees a solution in her latest project, M3GAN, a lifelike AI doll designed to be the perfect companion and protector. This is until things go awry. M3GAN's protective programming becomes twisted, leading to a horrifying rampage.

    In this episode, Akin Agunbiade considers the fascinating mechanics behind some M3GAN features, like its ability to mimic human emotions and the technology of her robotic prototype, BRUCE. He also raises questions that future episodes will consider, like AI's potential in childcare and its ethical implications.


    M3GAN is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple TV.

    You can follow and engage the host on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. You can also shoot him a email at akinifeanyi5@gmail.com
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    14 mins
  • The Intro

    The Intro
    Nov 8 2023

    Here I set out why I started Blockbusters & Algorithms podcast, the knowledge gap it seeks to fill, some of the topics and movies to expect, and how the podcast will generally flow
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    9 mins