Digest

The podcast begins with a discussion of the "portal" art installation that allows people to see other cities. The installation is coming to Philadelphia's Love Park after a successful run in New York City. The hosts then discuss Philadelphia's history with art projects, specifically mentioning the hitchhiking robot Hitchbott that was beheaded in the city. They also discuss the potential for the portal to be vandalized or shut down. The podcast features a sponsorship segment for Benobos, a clothing company that focuses on fit and comfort. They highlight the curved waistband feature that helps eliminate bunching in the back. The hosts then discuss Cuba's power crisis, which is due to a combination of factors, including its aging energy infrastructure, a significant crude oil deficit, and the impact of Hurricane Oscar. The country relies on outdated power plants that have not been properly maintained, and its fuel imports have been significantly reduced due to economic difficulties. Sam's Club opens its first cashierless store in Grapevine, Texas. The store uses AI-powered blue arches to confirm purchases and bypass checkout lines. The hosts discuss the potential for this technology to help Sam's Club compete with Costco. A new startup, Heliospect Genomics, offers wealthy couples the chance to screen their embryos for above-average IQ. The service uses genetic predictors of intelligence and has sparked ethical concerns about genetic selection and the normalization of "superior" genetics. The hosts discuss their "winners of the weekend," which are nuclear energy stocks and self-driving cars. Nuclear energy stocks are seeing a surge in investment due to big tech companies' interest in using small modular reactors for their data centers. Self-driving cars, particularly Waymo, are gaining popularity as people become more comfortable with the technology. The podcast concludes with a preview of the week's events, including the potential end of the Boeing strike, the upcoming US election, and the start of the NBA season. The hosts also discuss the World Series matchup between the Dodgers and the Yankees.

Outlines

00:00:00

Philadelphia's Portal and Art Projects

The podcast begins with a discussion of the "portal" art installation that allows people to see other cities. The installation is coming to Philadelphia's Love Park after a successful run in New York City. The hosts then discuss Philadelphia's history with art projects, specifically mentioning the hitchhiking robot Hitchbott that was beheaded in the city. They also discuss the potential for the portal to be vandalized or shut down.

00:01:37

Benobos Sponsorship and Cuba's Power Crisis

The podcast features a sponsorship segment for Benobos, a clothing company that focuses on fit and comfort. They highlight the curved waistband feature that helps eliminate bunching in the back. The hosts then discuss Cuba's power crisis, which is due to a combination of factors, including its aging energy infrastructure, a significant crude oil deficit, and the impact of Hurricane Oscar. The country relies on outdated power plants that have not been properly maintained, and its fuel imports have been significantly reduced due to economic difficulties.

00:06:49

Cashierless Stores and Embryo Screening

Sam's Club opens its first cashierless store in Grapevine, Texas. The store uses AI-powered blue arches to confirm purchases and bypass checkout lines. The hosts discuss the potential for this technology to help Sam's Club compete with Costco. A new startup, Heliospect Genomics, offers wealthy couples the chance to screen their embryos for above-average IQ. The service uses genetic predictors of intelligence and has sparked ethical concerns about genetic selection and the normalization of "superior" genetics.

00:14:47

Winners of the Weekend and Week Ahead Preview

The hosts discuss their "winners of the weekend," which are nuclear energy stocks and self-driving cars. Nuclear energy stocks are seeing a surge in investment due to big tech companies' interest in using small modular reactors for their data centers. Self-driving cars, particularly Waymo, are gaining popularity as people become more comfortable with the technology. The podcast concludes with a preview of the week's events, including the potential end of the Boeing strike, the upcoming US election, and the start of the NBA season. The hosts also discuss the World Series matchup between the Dodgers and the Yankees.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main reasons for the power outage in Cuba?

  Cuba's power outage is due to a combination of factors, including its aging energy infrastructure, a significant crude oil deficit, and the impact of Hurricane Oscar. The country relies on outdated power plants that have not been properly maintained, and its fuel imports have been significantly reduced due to economic difficulties.

• How is Sam's Club using technology to compete with Costco?

  Sam's Club is opening cashierless stores that use AI-powered technology to confirm purchases and bypass checkout lines. This technology is designed to provide a faster and more convenient shopping experience, which could attract younger customers who are more digitally native.

• What are the ethical concerns surrounding IQ reveal parties and embryo screening?

  The use of genetic predictors of intelligence to screen embryos raises ethical concerns about genetic selection and the potential for creating a society with genetic stratification. Critics argue that this technology normalizes the idea of "superior" genetics and could lead to discrimination against individuals with lower IQ scores.

• Why are nuclear energy stocks seeing a surge in investment?

  Big tech companies like Google and Amazon are investing in small modular reactors (SMRs) to power their data centers. This renewed interest in nuclear energy is driving investment in companies that develop and manufacture SMRs.

• What are the challenges facing self-driving car companies?

  Self-driving car companies face several challenges, including public perception, regulatory hurdles, and the need to achieve profitability. While some people are becoming more comfortable with the technology, there are still concerns about safety and reliability. Additionally, the high cost of developing and deploying self-driving cars makes it difficult for companies to turn a profit.

Show Notes