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First Principles

First Principles

Written by: First-Principles Podcast
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 First Principles is the podcast that deconstructs the complex, invisible systems shaping our modern world. Ever wonder how a social media algorithm works, how AI really thinks, or how GPS knows your exact location? Each episode, we break down one concept from its fundamental truths, giving you clarity without the technical jargon. If you're curious about the tech you use every day and want to finally understand it, this is your starting point.First-Principles Podcast Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • EP42 - The Librarians of Everything: Unlocking the Database

    EP42 - The Librarians of Everything: Unlocking the Database
    Dec 25 2025
    You check your bank balance, "like" a photo, or book a flight, and the digital world instantly remembers. It feels like magic, but it's all managed by an invisible, perfectly organized system. What is this system, and how does it *really* keep track of trillions of shifting facts without ever making a mistake?
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    31 mins
  • EP41 - The Pixel's Gaze: How Computer Vision Teaches Machines to See

    EP41 - The Pixel's Gaze: How Computer Vision Teaches Machines to See
    Dec 25 2025
    We effortlessly unlock our phones with a glance, and our photo apps magically sort faces. It feels like computers just *see* the world like we do. But beneath the surface, it’s a black box. How does a machine transform a meaningless grid of numbers into a recognized face or a bounding box around a cat? This episode deconstructs the surprising journey of computer vision, revealing the mathematical alchemy that teaches artificial intelligence to perceive.
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    29 mins
  • EP40 - The King's Accord: How Bluetooth Unites Our Devices

    EP40 - The King's Accord: How Bluetooth Unites Our Devices
    Dec 11 2025
    You put in your earbuds, and they just... connect. Your mouse moves the cursor, your watch gets a text, all without wires. We live in a personal bubble of connection, but what is this invisible link? It's not just "weak Wi-Fi." The truth is a high-speed, synchronized dance in a hurricane of radio noise.
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    32 mins
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