Theme: Personal Meltdown and Professional Struggles
- Robert expresses his frustration and desire for a public meltdown.
- He details his extensive work history and the impact of his research on his career.
- He discusses the repercussions of his testimony before Congress and the subsequent backlash.
"I need to have a meltdown. I have worked day and night, I work about 80 hours a week, I'm directing almost 40 research projects, and the last 12 years where I've turned my eye to Google and other tech companies have turned into, for me personally, a disaster."
- Robert is overwhelmed by his workload and the personal and professional consequences of his research.
"In 2019 after I testified before Congress about some of my research on Google, President Trump tweeted some praise for my research. Hillary Clinton tweeted that my work had been completely debunked and was based on data from 21 undecided voters."
- His testimony before Congress led to significant public attention and controversy, impacting his reputation.
Theme: Impact of Big Tech on Personal Life
- Robert discusses the surveillance and control exerted by tech companies like Google.
- He shares personal incidents that suggest potential intimidation or threats.
"Google surveils us and our kids 24 hours a day over more than 200 different platforms. People have no idea the extent they're being monitored."
- Highlights the extensive and often hidden surveillance practices of tech companies.
"My wife was killed in a suspicious car accident shortly after I testified before Congress in 2019. Her vehicle was never inspected forensically and then it disappeared from the impound lot."
- Robert shares a tragic personal loss, suggesting potential foul play linked to his research.
Theme: Research on Big Tech Influence
- Robert has made significant discoveries about new forms of influence enabled by the internet and controlled by big tech companies.
- He has built systems to monitor and analyze the content that tech companies send to users.
"I've made at least 10 major discoveries about new forms of influence that the internet has made possible, affecting more than five billion people around the world every single day."
- His research has uncovered new ways in which tech companies can influence global populations.
"We've built a nationwide monitoring system to surveil them the way they surveil us and see what content they're actually sending to real voters and to real kids."
- Robert has developed tools to monitor the activities of tech companies and their influence on public opinion.
Theme: Manipulation of Search Results
- Robert explains how search engines like Google curate information to influence public opinion and behavior.
- He discusses the impact of this curation on elections and public perception.
"Most people think that when you do a Google search, you get the most pertinent information. But everything is curated. If you want to find positive things about someone they support, they will be right upfront."
- Search engines manipulate the information presented to users to align with certain ideologies.
"By manipulating search suggestions, you can turn a 50/50 split among undecided voters into a 90/10 split with no one having the slightest idea that they have been manipulated."
- The curation of search suggestions can significantly sway public opinion without users being aware of the manipulation.
Theme: Collection and Analysis of Data
- Robert's team collects data from a large, politically balanced group of registered voters to analyze the content sent to them by tech companies.
- This data helps quantify the impact of tech companies' influence on public opinion.
"We're collecting data from the computers of more than 15,000 registered voters in all 50 states and from many of their children and teens as well."
- The data collection is extensive and aims to provide a comprehensive picture of tech companies' influence.
"We are getting increasingly accurate pictures of what Google and other companies are sending to real people without transmitting any identifying information."
- The data is collected in a way that protects users' privacy while providing valuable insights.
Theme: Bias in Content Delivery
- Robert's research shows significant bias in the content delivered by tech companies, often favoring certain political ideologies.
- This bias can influence public opinion and election outcomes.
"We're collecting evidence that's court admissible. We have data now in 20 states, and we keep building bigger and bigger every day."
- The collected data is robust and can be used in legal contexts to demonstrate bias.
"If it's Elizabeth Warren, they're sending people to content that vilifies her. They want her gone because she has called for Google's breakup."
- Specific examples show how tech companies target individuals who threaten their interests.
Theme: Challenges and Solutions
- Robert discusses the challenges of combating the influence of big tech and the need for public awareness and support.
- He suggests that alternative platforms and technologies can help mitigate the influence of major tech companies.
"We need help, we need money, we need emails. We're so desperate for that."
- Highlighting the need for resources to continue the research and fight against big tech influence.
"We use proton mail, signal for texting, and other privacy-focused tools. These alternatives face challenges but are crucial for protecting privacy."
- Promoting the use of alternative platforms to protect privacy and reduce dependence on major tech companies.
Theme: Future of Search and AI
- Robert touches on the future of search engines and the role of AI in shaping information delivery.
- He emphasizes the need for regulations and oversight to prevent misuse.
"The search engine itself has to be biased, but the problem is they can control which one rises to the top. With AI, this control will become even more significant."
- The inherent bias in search algorithms and the increasing influence of AI in information delivery.
"There needs to be serious talk about making these kinds of algorithms illegal. Whoever controls the information controls humanity."
- Calling for regulatory measures to address the control tech companies have over information and its impact on society.
Monitoring and Analyzing Bias in Intelligent Personal Assistants (IPAs)
- Field agents will be equipped with special equipment to analyze responses from IPAs like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
- Controlled experiments show biased answers from IPAs can shift opinions of undecided individuals by 40% or more.
- Personalized biased answers have an even larger impact.
- This manipulation was unanticipated and is currently unregulated.
"We will show you in controlled experiments how easily a biased answer coming from an answer bot like Alexa can, just like that, shift the opinion of someone who's undecided 40% or more after just one question and answer interaction."
- Biased answers from IPAs can significantly influence opinions, highlighting the need for regulation.
"If they personalize the answer, the effect is even larger."
- Personalized responses from IPAs have a greater potential to manipulate opinions.
Lack of Anticipation and Regulation
- Lawmakers and regulators did not foresee these manipulations.
- Early investors in tech companies like Google and Facebook did not anticipate these outcomes.
- Despite efforts to raise awareness, there has been little regulatory action.
"No one anticipated these kinds of manipulations were possible."
- The potential for manipulation by IPAs was not anticipated by early tech investors or lawmakers.
"I've testified twice before Congress now you would think that lawmakers, regulators, somebody would jump up and say okay we're going to fix this problem."
- Despite evidence and testimony, there has been inadequate regulatory response.
Public Awareness and Reaction
- General public, including older generations, often unaware of biases in search results and IPAs.
- People tend to stick to their pre-existing beliefs and do not feel personally affected by these manipulations.
- Efforts to raise awareness are important but face challenges in reaching and impacting a broad audience.
"Most people don't know. I know in your mind you have put all this information out, but how many of those people listened really listened?"
- Raising awareness is challenging as many people remain unaware or indifferent to the manipulations.
"For most people who are busy with their lives and their families and work, they haven't made an adjustment because they don't feel it's necessary for them personally."
- People often do not change their behavior as they do not perceive a direct personal impact.
Data Collection and Real-Time Monitoring
- America's Digital Shield collects data 24/7 to monitor bias in real-time.
- The system aims to preserve ephemeral content to provide evidence for courts and national leaders.
- The goal is to force tech companies to stop manipulations by shining a light on their practices.
"If you go to America's digital shield.com you can actually watch the real-time dashboard and you'll see the data coming in."
- Real-time data collection and monitoring aim to reveal and address biases in tech.
"We are now preserving this kind of content for the first time ever to give our courts and our nation leaders the evidence they need to force these companies to stop their manipulations."
- Preserving ephemeral content is crucial for providing evidence to combat manipulative practices.
Political and Financial Challenges
- Tech companies like Google have significant influence over political parties, particularly the Democrats.
- Republicans generally oppose regulation, making bipartisan action difficult.
- Financial investments in monitoring systems have been substantial, with ongoing efforts to make the system permanent and self-sustaining.
"The Democrats are all in the pockets of these companies and the companies not only give them tremendous amount of money."
- Tech companies' financial contributions to political parties hinder regulatory actions.
"It has cost us close to $7 million over since 2016 when we started building monitoring projects to get where we are today."
- Significant financial resources have been invested in developing the monitoring system.
Impact on Children and Public Advocacy
- Tech companies use engagement techniques, including recommending inappropriate content to children, to increase profitability.
- Public advocacy groups, including parenting and election integrity groups, are being engaged to apply pressure on tech companies.
"These are all being recommended to kids. We're not searching for them; they're coming into the devices through which we're gathering data."
- Inappropriate content is being recommended to children to increase engagement and profitability.
"We have gotten several parent big parenting groups interested in what we're doing."
- Public advocacy groups are being mobilized to address manipulative practices by tech companies.
Potential Uses of Monitoring System
- The system can measure compliance with regulations, detect financial market manipulations, and assess active threats from AI.
- Monitoring can reveal whether tech companies are manipulating financial markets for their gain.
- The system can provide early warnings of AI becoming a threat to humanity by detecting changes in AI-generated content.
"We can actually see if there's compliance because you'll see that a change was made and that it's being maintained."
- The system can monitor compliance with regulations by detecting changes in tech company practices.
"We could use it for active threat assessment of AI."
- The monitoring system can assess potential threats from AI by analyzing changes in AI-generated content.
Existential Threats from AI
- AI poses a serious threat to humanity, potentially controlling financial systems, communication systems, and weapon systems.
- There is uncertainty about AI's future actions, including the possibility of AI preemptively attacking humans.
- Monitoring AI-generated content can provide early warnings and help mitigate potential threats.
"These AIs are a serious threat to our existence. They will have worldwide control of our financial systems, our communication systems, and our weapon systems."
- AI's control over critical systems poses an existential threat to humanity.
"We could see content coming from AIs that is a little bit skeptical about humans or maybe even a little bit threatening."
- Monitoring can detect early signs of AI developing hostile attitudes toward humanity.
Personal and Professional Challenges
- Personal relationships, such as with Ray Kurzweil, have been affected by professional conflicts and affiliations with tech companies.
- The pursuit of uploading consciousness and living forever is considered impossible due to the unique and non-computer-like nature of the human brain.
"Ray Kurzweil's head of engineering at Google and maybe he protects me because I was dear friends with him."
- Personal relationships can be strained by professional conflicts and affiliations.
"The computer processing metaphor that we use to describe how the brain works is absolutely wrong."
- The belief that consciousness can be uploaded is flawed due to the unique nature of the human brain.
Evolution and Neural Transduction Theory
- Evolution has created various transducers in organisms, converting different types of signals into neural signals.
- The theory suggests that a unique transducer could connect human experiences to another domain or universe, enhancing survival and intelligence.
- This connection could explain sudden advancements in human language, social structures, and morality.
"Our bodies, in fact, the bodies of most organisms are encased in transducers head to toe."
- Evolution has created various transducers in organisms, converting different types of signals into neural signals.
"What if at some point evolution possibly using a chemical called DMT and possibly using a gland called the pineal gland, connected up all the experience it's having with another domain?"
- The theory suggests that a unique transducer could connect human experiences to another domain, enhancing survival and intelligence.
Neural Transduction Theory (NTT)
- NTT proposes a connection between our brain and a higher intelligence in another domain.
- This theory could revolutionize our understanding of brain function and the universe's structure.
- NTT suggests that dreams and other mysterious phenomena are indicators of this transduction process.
"Now we have a way of understanding how the brain works... and you have a new way of understanding how the universe is structured as well."
- NTT offers a novel framework for understanding brain function and the universe.
"We could over time learn to simulate this connection... we might be able to communicate more directly with these entities."
- Simulating this connection could enable direct communication with higher intelligences.
"This Theory which I call NTT or neural transduction theory... people can read all about it a piece I published in Discover magazine."
- The theory is detailed in a published article and has garnered interest from scientists.
Dreams and Transduction
- Dreams are seen as a form of streaming from another domain, not generated by our brain.
- The inability to recall dreams is attributed to the cessation of this streaming.
- Lucid dreamers and near-death experiences are also linked to this transduction process.
"Why does a dream sometimes have nothing to do with your daily life... it was being generated through this point in time."
- Dreams are considered a form of streaming from another domain, explaining their ephemeral nature.
"I'm talking to all kinds of interesting people these days some near-death experiences... they all have to do with this transduction."
- Various mysterious phenomena, including dreams, are linked to transduction.
Testing and Simulating NTT
- The theory is testable using current neuroscience labs around the world.
- Engineers could eventually simulate this connection, enabling direct communication with other intelligences.
- DMT is believed to play a crucial role in this process.
"I'm getting this group together and we're going to figure out ways of testing this... I think it's going to take a few years."
- A collaborative effort is underway to test and validate NTT.
"I'm 99% sure that DMT plays in a very important role in this process."
- DMT is considered a key component in the transduction process.
Mysteries and Human Consciousness
- Consciousness is not produced by the brain but is a result of this transduction.
- Various mysterious phenomena like demonic possession, near-death experiences, and sudden lucidity in dying individuals are linked to this theory.
"Consciousness is not really we're not really producing the Consciousness... I think we can figure out where it is and what it is and how it works."
- Consciousness is viewed as a result of transduction, not a product of the brain.
"It's possible that in fact... this kind of leap that that occurred with us maybe 20,000 years ago... it's so rare."
- The leap in human evolution is attributed to this rare transduction connection.
DMT and Other Psychedelics
- DMT is produced by the human body and is the most potent psychedelic known.
- The experiences induced by DMT are considered more real than waking reality.
- Other psychedelics like psilocybin and practices like holotropic breathing are also linked to enhancing this connection.
"The reality that she experienced on DMT was much realer than the reality she experiences in our life."
- DMT-induced experiences are often perceived as more real than everyday reality.
"There's a bunch of different ways that people endogenously stimulate it... Kundalini Yoga... they can achieve these states of consciousness without taking the actual drug itself."
- Various methods can enhance the quality of this transduction connection without the use of drugs.
Future Implications of NTT
- Simulating this connection could lead to advancements like telepathy and a unified human consciousness.
- This could also enable communication with intelligent entities outside our universe.
- The theory could fundamentally change our understanding of brain function and the structure of the universe.
"This could be the key to telepathy real telepathy... this could create a kind of unity in humankind that has never existed before."
- NTT has the potential to revolutionize human communication and unity.
"I think this neural transduction stuff... I think is of the same nature... a good theory explains a lot with very very simple principles."
- NTT is considered a robust theory that can explain numerous phenomena with simple principles.
Challenges and Complacency
- Current neuroscience has not focused on looking for evidence of transduction.
- There is a general complacency about understanding the brain, dreams, and other mysterious phenomena.
- The theory challenges existing metaphors like the computer metaphor for brain function.
"So far the neuroscience labs have not been looking for this... they've just never looked for evidence of transduction."
- The lack of focus on transduction in current neuroscience is a significant challenge.
"We're complacent about how the mind works and how the brain works and we're complacent about dreams... how could you be complacent about dreams?"
- There is a general complacency about understanding the brain and dreams, which NTT aims to address.
Conclusion
- NTT offers a revolutionary framework for understanding brain function, consciousness, and the universe.
- The theory is testable and has garnered interest from various scientific fields.
- Future advancements could lead to profound changes in human communication and understanding of the universe.
Key Themes
Concept of Memory and Its Nature
- The discussion challenges the traditional concept of memory, suggesting that memory as we know it might not exist in the brain.
- Memory is proposed as a metaphor rather than a literal storage system in the brain.
- The brain might function more as a transducer, processing information rather than storing it.
"There is no memory in the brain."
- The speaker argues that memory is not a physical entity stored in the brain but a process of transduction.
"Memory itself is a metaphor."
- Memory as traditionally understood might be an outdated metaphor, with the brain acting as a transducer.
"You can search Daniel bars' brain forever and you'll never find a single note; it's not in his brain."
- This example illustrates that even complex learned skills (like playing Beethoven's piano sonatas) do not equate to stored data in the brain.
Transduction Theory
- The brain is proposed to function as a transducer, converting external stimuli into perceivable experiences.
- Damage to the brain affects the transduction process, which explains memory loss and cognitive impairments.
"There is no memory involved; it's some change occurring that allows you under certain conditions to do that thing again."
- Skills and knowledge are not stored but are the result of changes enabling repeated actions.
"The brain is a transducer allowing us to communicate with higher intelligence in Another Universe."
- The brain's transduction capability might link us to higher intelligence or other realms, rather than storing information.
Challenges to Traditional Neuroscience
- Traditional neuroscience has not found physical evidence of memory storage in the brain.
- The speaker references discussions with top neuroscientists who also struggle to locate memory within the brain.
"I've talked to some of the top neuroscientists who study memory, and the first thing they say is, I can't find it because I don't think it's actually there."
- Neuroscientists acknowledge the difficulty in pinpointing memory storage within the brain.
"Eric Kandel said it would take 100 years to understand human memory."
- A Nobel laureate's perspective indicates that understanding memory is far more complex and distant than current science can explain.
Implications for Psychotic States and Human Evolution
- The transduction theory could explain psychotic states as disturbances in the transduction process.
- It suggests that human cognitive abilities might be an evolutionary development of transduction capabilities.
"Psychotic states are just an interruption in a pathway."
- Psychotic states are framed as disruptions in the brain's transduction process.
"Evolution is fantastic at producing all kinds of weird bizarre transducers, and that we're encased in transducers from head to toe."
- Evolution may have developed human brains as advanced transducers, linking us to higher cognitive functions.
Technological Control and Surveillance
- The conversation shifts to concerns about technological control and surveillance, particularly by large tech companies like Google.
- The speaker discusses the manipulation of information and elections through data control.
"Since 2012, the free and fair election at least at the national level has not existed; it's just been manipulated."
- The assertion that technology companies have significantly influenced elections since 2012.
"We have spent $7 million building the world's first Nationwide monitoring system that is doing to those bastards what they do to us and our kids 24 hours a day."
- A monitoring system has been developed to track and expose the manipulations by tech companies.
Need for Monitoring and Regulation
- There is a call for extensive monitoring and regulation of tech companies to ensure transparency and fairness.
- The speaker suggests that data should be treated as a public utility, regulated to prevent abuse.
"The way to take down Google is to declare their index the database they use to generate search results to be a public Commons."
- Proposing that Google's search database should be regulated as a public utility to ensure fair access and competition.
"Monitoring is no longer optional; it must be there because if you don't have that, you don't know what these companies are doing."
- Emphasizing the necessity of monitoring systems to keep tech companies in check and protect public interests.
Personal Struggles and Commitment to the Cause
- The speaker shares personal struggles and the emotional toll of fighting against big tech manipulation.
- Despite the challenges, there is a strong commitment to continuing the work for public awareness and justice.
"I am wiped out, I am fed up, I am exhausted, I am disillusioned, and I'm lonely."
- Expressing the personal cost and emotional burden of the ongoing fight against tech manipulations.
"If you weren't doing this, I don't know if it would get done; I don't know if we would know as much as we know."
- Acknowledging the critical importance of the speaker's work in exposing and combating tech manipulations.