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First Principles

First Principles

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
  • EP63 - The Ghost in the Machine: How Video Compression and Codecs Hack Your Eyes

    EP63 - The Ghost in the Machine: How Video Compression and Codecs Hack Your Eyes
    May 22 2026
    We stream billions of hours of high-definition video every day, assuming the internet is a vast pipe of moving pictures. It isn't. Discover the clever mathematics and biological hacks that allow us to squeeze reality into a wire, revealing why the movies you watch are actually elaborate optical illusions.
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    21 mins
  • EP62 - The Anti-Noise Paradox: How We Engineer Silence

    EP62 - The Anti-Noise Paradox: How We Engineer Silence
    May 15 2026
    When you turn on noise-canceling headphones, the world doesn't just get quieter; it feels like the air itself vanishes. But the physics behind this silence is counter-intuitive. In this episode, we deconstruct the high-speed race against the speed of sound, revealing how adding more noise to a chaotic environment is the only way to find true peace.
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    22 mins
  • EP61 - Ouroboros and the Synthetic Data Paradox in AI Model Collapse

    EP61 - Ouroboros and the Synthetic Data Paradox in AI Model Collapse
    May 8 2026
    We assume Artificial Intelligence will grow indefinitely smarter, feeding on an endless buffet of digital information. But what happens when the internet runs out of human-made data and AI begins to consume its own output, leading to a catastrophic statistical phenomenon known as Model Collapse?
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    23 mins
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