Particles of Thought

In a world flooded with fake images, manipulated videos, and AI-generated voices, how do we know what’s real anymore? Hany Farid has made it his mission to find out. A leading voice in AI research and digital forensics, Hany works to authenticate digital media and expose the fakes. In this episode, Hakeem and Hany dive into how we got here. How does AI really work? How are deepfakes detected? And what does the future hold for truth in the digital age? Plus, Hakeem puts Hany to the test: can he tell the difference between real and AI-generated headlines? And can Hakeem tell a deepfake version of Hany from the real thing?Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. --------------------------Guest Bio:Hany Farid is a Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Information. In addition to teaching at UC Berkeley, Hany is Chief Science Officer at GetReal Security, a company that focuses on the authentication of digital media. His research focuses on digital forensics, forensic science, misinformation, image analysis, and human perception. He has published dozens of papers on how humans relate to AI and technology.Timestamps(00:00:00) Introduction(00:06:06) What is Artificial Intelligence? (00:11:47) What are Deepfakes and How Are They Made?(00:19:30) Can You Detect a Deepfake? (00:38:51) Will AI Take Away Our Jobs? (00:52:00) The Concerns of AI (01:08:19) What Does the Future of AI Look Like?(01:25:03) Credits

What do fossilized leaves, an asteroid, and Florida sinkholes have in common? Dr. Kirk Johnson oversees one of the largest natural history collections on the planet, and he has the answers. He’s spent his career digging into the story of life on Earth across millions (and billions) of years. In this episode, Hakeem and Kirk explore the science of “deep time,” how fossils actually form, and the surprising origins of Earth’s oceans. Plus, Kirk shares some hot tips on fossil hunting and how to count the number of leaves on a tree … because you never know when you might need these skills.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. --------------------------Guest Bio:Dr. Kirk Johnson is Sant Director at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, home to one of the largest natural history collections in the world. A paleobotanist by training, his research explores ancient climates and extinct ecosystems through the study of fossil plants. He has authored more than a dozen books on paleontology and natural history and has traveled extensively in search of fossils on every continent. As a science communicator, Dr. Johnson has brought the natural world to millions through hosting acclaimed NOVA documentaries such as Polar Extremes and Making North America, blending deep scientific expertise with an engaging, accessible storytelling style.Timestamps(0:00:00) Introduction(00:01:32) What is Paleobotany?(00:03:36) How Do Fossils Form?(00:10:02) The Bennu Asteroid Sample(00:17:57) Early Earth: Evolution and Extinction(00:41:58) Trees and Fossil Leaves(01:06:53) Fossil Reefs and Sinkhole Formation(01:15:53) Excavating Teen Rex(01:25:46) What Does the Future of Earth Look Like? (01:37:19) Credits

What happens when brilliant minds collide? In Particles of Thought, astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi is obsessed with understanding not just what the world's greatest scientists know, but how they think. From quantum mechanics clashing with general relativity to fossil memories written in ancient rocks, each conversation captures those electrifying moments when curiosity sparks new understanding. Join Hakeem as he explores the downright bizarre, the subatomic, and the furthest reaches of the universe through the minds that dare to question everything.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.