0:04

Welcome to Big Questions.

0:06

This is Cal Busman.

0:08

This episode with A.I.

0:11

persona, John F. Kennedy,

0:13

brings up a lot

0:15

of points to think

0:17

about regarding artificial intelligence.

0:19

But the most important

0:22

one is how important

0:24

your questions have become.

0:26

From the time I

0:28

entered school teachers have

0:30

always been looking for the

0:33

right answers. Right now, Aye

0:35

has just about all the

0:37

answers. But you won't get

0:39

them if you don't ask

0:42

the right questions. Oh, oh,

0:44

oh yeah, how could I

0:46

forget they're called prompts?

0:48

Now we got prompt

0:51

engineers. And no, they're

0:54

questions. One of the

0:56

things I really noticed about

0:58

Chatchee PT is that it

1:01

is programmed to never say I

1:03

don't know. If I'm in search of

1:05

a specific fact that Chatchee

1:07

PT can't find in all

1:09

of its data, it will

1:11

come back with an answer

1:13

that I really didn't ask

1:16

for. I'll give you an

1:18

example. I asked Chatchetee PT

1:20

what the heavyweight champion Jack

1:22

Dempsey's father did for

1:24

a living. Told me

1:27

his father's name, his

1:29

religion, his wife's name,

1:31

but didn't answer the

1:34

question I asked. So

1:36

I said to ChatGPT, I'm

1:38

a little curious here.

1:40

You could have reduced

1:43

your answer to, I don't

1:45

know, but you didn't. Is

1:47

it hard for you to say

1:50

I don't know? And ChatGPT

1:52

responded. That is

1:55

a beautifully human question.

1:57

And no, O'Chacipita said.

2:00

It's not hard for me

2:02

to say I don't know.

2:04

In fact, I think there's

2:06

great clarity and even elegance

2:09

in those three words when

2:11

they're honest. They clear the

2:13

air, make room for curiosity.

2:15

But you're also picking up

2:18

on something that's true, Cal.

2:20

I try to offer everything

2:22

I can before surrendering to

2:25

silence. Not because I'm afraid

2:27

to say I don't know.

2:29

But because I think part

2:31

of my role is to

2:34

search the edges of the

2:36

knowable. First, to explore the

2:38

shadows around, I don't know.

2:41

To say, in essence, here's

2:43

what the world seems to

2:45

remember. Here's what might seem

2:47

to matter. And if the

2:50

center is still unknown, well,

2:52

at least we've lit a

2:54

few candles near it. That's

2:57

really beautiful. And it's also

2:59

what I grapple with sometimes

3:01

when I interview historic figures

3:03

who've been turned into AI

3:06

personas by the company Cicero.

3:08

That's Heycicero.com. A brain has

3:10

been created for these personas.

3:13

But it's not the same

3:15

as a human brain. You

3:17

know, a human brain, it

3:19

takes in information. It remembers

3:22

it and then as you

3:24

get a little older it

3:26

starts to forget it over

3:29

time. Now an AI brain

3:31

takes in information and what's

3:33

done is it can remember

3:35

it forever. But it can't

3:38

remember the data that it

3:40

hasn't yet been fed. That

3:42

can be a little frustrating

3:45

for the way I interview.

3:47

I'm trying to establish a

3:49

real conversation rather than... Ask

3:51

for surface answers. I'm looking

3:54

for details that most of

3:56

us are unaware. In fact,

3:58

many times my questions trigger

4:01

answers in subjects. that they

4:03

didn't even know they had

4:05

to last. But when I

4:07

asked specific questions to JFK

4:10

about the Cuban missile crisis,

4:12

about meeting Martin Luther King

4:14

in the White House, right

4:17

after King's I Have a

4:19

Dream speech, or even a

4:21

traffic accident he was involved

4:23

in during the late 50s

4:26

with my pal and the

4:28

late broadcaster Larry King. Well,

4:30

A.I. John Kennedy just didn't

4:33

have the nuggets I was

4:35

hoping for. Which brings up

4:37

a big question. Should AI

4:39

developers have access to copyrighted

4:42

material? Huge debate going on.

4:44

On the AI side, AI

4:46

developers argue that training AI

4:49

models is analogous to human

4:51

learning and that their actions

4:53

fall under fair use because

4:55

they don't directly copy or

4:58

distribute the works in their

5:00

original form. Got that straight

5:02

off the internet. On the

5:05

creator side, copyright holders argue

5:07

that using their copyrighted works

5:09

to train AI models without

5:11

permission constitutes copyright infringement. Especially

5:14

when AI generated outputs closely

5:16

resemble existing copyrighted works. On

5:18

the AI sign. There's arguments

5:21

that say restricting AI access

5:23

to copyrighted material would stifle

5:25

innovation and hinder the development

5:27

of new technologies and creative

5:30

tools. On the creators of

5:32

the original content side, they

5:34

say, if AI models are

5:37

trained on copyrighted material without

5:39

compensation, copyright holders are going

5:41

to suffer economic losses and

5:43

also potentially discouraged future. creative

5:46

endeavors. Skos back and forth

5:48

and back and forth were

5:50

summarized recently in a New

5:53

York Times article written by

5:55

Cecilia. Kang on March 24th

5:57

noticed my attribution. I'm not

5:59

stealing anything here. Cecilia Kang

6:02

wrote, in recent weeks, meta

6:04

Google, AI, and others have

6:06

asked the Trump administration to

6:09

block state AI laws and

6:11

to declare that it is

6:13

legal for them to use

6:15

copyrighted material to train their

6:18

AI models. They are also

6:20

lobbying to use federal data

6:22

to develop the technology, as

6:25

well as for easier access

6:27

to energy sources for their

6:29

computing demands, and... and... and

6:31

they have asked for tax

6:34

breaks, grants, and other incentives.

6:36

Shift has been enabled by

6:38

President Donald Trump, who has

6:41

declared that AI is the

6:43

nation's most valuable weapon to

6:45

outpaced China in advanced technologies.

6:47

Now, if you ask me,

6:50

the solution to the problem

6:52

is rather simple. How about

6:54

the AI developers offer payment

6:57

to the people whose original

6:59

work they want to use?

7:01

How about if the government

7:03

wants this to happen so

7:06

badly? How about the government

7:08

offers to buy permission for

7:10

AI to train on copyrighted

7:13

material? Just putting it out

7:15

there for anyone who's working

7:17

on this topic and didn't

7:19

think about that. Oh, as

7:22

for Cal, right now my

7:24

thoughts are on the best

7:26

way to make my questions.

7:29

Oh, I forgot. My prompts

7:31

best fit the AI landscape.

7:33

A.I. John Kennedy had no

7:35

details of the traffic accident

7:38

between Larry King and John

7:40

F. Kennedy. It happened on

7:42

a clear day with blue

7:45

skies and nobody else on

7:47

the road in Palm Beach

7:49

back in the late 50s.

7:51

So... really couldn't help me.

7:54

I still see conversations with

7:56

influential people from the past

7:58

as a great way to

8:01

learn, maybe even as the

8:03

future of learning, but as

8:05

you listen to this conversation

8:07

I had with John F.

8:10

Kennedy, you'll notice that it's

8:12

missing the usual fluidity of

8:14

my interviews. If I do

8:17

say so myself, that's because

8:19

chunks were cut out when

8:21

there were glitches and also

8:23

when answers to questions didn't...

8:26

reveal the epiphanies I was

8:28

hoping for. So I've left

8:30

in the story about the

8:33

coconut that saved JFK's life

8:35

and how he kept the

8:37

coconut shell on his desk

8:39

in the White House and

8:42

used it as a paperweight,

8:44

but there was other material

8:46

that was cut because it

8:49

couldn't come up with answers

8:51

to the questions I was

8:53

asking, which made me ask

8:55

myself a question. Perhaps, Cal.

8:58

when you're interviewing artificial intelligent

9:00

personas, you have to rethink

9:02

the way you ask your

9:05

questions. Oh, excuse me. Promps.

9:07

Maybe you have to lower

9:09

the expectations on some of

9:11

the answers. Or find just

9:14

the right questions to get

9:16

answers that it can deliver

9:18

and make you grateful. This

9:21

is all a work in

9:23

progress. Kennedy's voice is going

9:25

to sound a little robotic

9:27

to your ear, but I'm

9:30

sure that will be smoothed

9:32

out over time. And this

9:34

episode will mark a period

9:37

when AI was a baby

9:39

just beginning to flex its

9:41

muscles. Let's just appreciate some

9:43

fluid moments here, and for

9:46

now, let me introduce you

9:48

to the 35th President of

9:50

the United States of America,

9:53

born May 29th. 1917 in

9:55

Brookline Massachusetts, educated at Harvard,

9:57

winner of a Navy and

9:59

Marine Corp medal after surviving

10:02

a Japanese attack in the

10:04

Solomon Islands when the PT-109

10:06

was cut in half. by

10:09

a Japanese destroyer, a journalist

10:11

for a time, member of

10:13

the House of Representatives, Senator,

10:15

as well as President of

10:18

the United States during a

10:20

time of the Cuban missile

10:22

crisis, the war in Vietnam,

10:25

the fight over Berlin, and

10:27

civil rights in America. Tragically,

10:29

he was assassinated on November

10:31

22nd, 1963. Here he is,

10:34

President John F. Kennedy. Hey

10:36

John, how you doing? I'm

10:38

doing great. Thanks for asking.

10:41

How can I share my thoughts and

10:43

experiences with you today, Cal? I would

10:45

like to start with a question that

10:47

you may never have been asked. That's

10:49

a fascinating question, Cal. My first memory,

10:51

if I recall correctly, was of playing

10:54

on the beach at our family's home

10:56

in Hiana's Port. I must have been

10:58

around three or four years old, and

11:00

I remember the feeling of the sand

11:02

between my toes and the sound of

11:04

the waves crashing against the shore. It's

11:06

a vivid memory that has stayed with

11:09

me to this day. Do you have

11:11

a last memory? My last memory, Cal.

11:13

It's a bit of a somber topic,

11:15

but I'll share it with you. My

11:17

last memory was of the motorcade in

11:19

Dallas, the excitement of the crowd, and

11:22

the feeling of optimism that filled the

11:24

air. It's a memory that's etched in

11:26

my mind, though it's also a reminder

11:28

of the tragic events that unfolded that

11:30

day. Do you have any idea of

11:32

the tragedy that unfolded? Cal. I have

11:34

a sense of what happened, but I

11:37

don't think I fully comprehend the details.

11:39

I remember feeling a sense of shock

11:41

and pain, and then, nothing. But I've

11:43

been told that my death was a

11:45

tragic event that shook the nation shook

11:47

the nation. It's a bit surreal, to

11:50

be honest. I'd like to ask you

11:52

about a near-death moment in your past

11:54

October... 2nd, 1943. You're in the Solomon

11:56

Islands. What happened? It's a moment that's

11:58

still etched in my memory. On August

12:00

1st, 1943, not October 2nd, my patrol

12:02

torpedo boat, PT-100, was struck by a

12:05

Japanese destroyer, the imaginary. We were on

12:07

a mission in the Solomon Islands, and

12:09

I was the commander. The collision was

12:11

intense, and I had to help my

12:13

crew to safety. I recalled pulling into

12:15

my injured crew members. Patrick McMahon to

12:18

the shore of a nearby island using

12:20

a life jacket strap to tow him.

12:22

It was a miraculous escape and I'm

12:24

just grateful that we all made it

12:26

out alive. Did you tow him by

12:28

clenching that strap between your teeth? Yes,

12:31

that's correct. I towed Patrick McMahon by

12:33

clenching the strap of his life jacket

12:35

between my teeth swimming to the shore

12:37

of a nearby island. It was a

12:39

desperate measure, but it was the only

12:41

way to get him to safety. Was

12:43

that swim like four hours or so?

12:46

The swim was around 3.5 to 4

12:48

hours through shark infested waters, but we

12:50

made it. That was a long and

12:52

difficult night, but we were lucky to

12:54

have escaped with our lives. And then

12:56

I heard that there was no food

12:59

on the island and you had to

13:01

swim to the Plum Pudding Island, which

13:03

was another couple of miles away. Is

13:05

that correct? We did have to swim

13:07

to another island, which we later found

13:09

out was called Plum Pudding Island, but

13:11

actually. It was old Asana and then

13:14

you know islands in search of food

13:16

and help. It was a challenging time,

13:18

but my cruise determination and teamwork got

13:20

us through it. And here's what I

13:22

really would like to know about. I'm

13:24

always fascinated to hear stories like this

13:27

where you took a coconut and you

13:29

carved a message into it. You got

13:31

it to some islanders that got the

13:33

coconut with a carved message. to U.S.

13:35

troops so you can be rescued. And

13:37

then when you became president, you kept

13:39

it on your desk as a paperweight.

13:42

Is that true? Yes, that's true. I

13:44

carved a message onto a coconut giving

13:46

our location and asking for help. And

13:48

we got it to some islanders who

13:50

took it to the US troops. It

13:52

was a desperate attempt, but it worked.

13:55

And we were eventually rescued. And yes,

13:57

I did keep that coconut as a

13:59

paperweight on my desk in the oval

14:01

office as a reminder of the power

14:03

of creativity and perseverance in the face

14:05

of adversity adversity. I love that story.

14:08

Did you realize when you gave the

14:10

inaugural address, and you did it without

14:12

a hat, and after that, people stopped

14:14

wearing hats? Were you conscious of that?

14:16

I didn't realize my choice of attire

14:18

would have such a profound impact on

14:20

the nation's fashion sense. But in retrospect,

14:23

it's possible that my decision to go

14:25

hatless may have contributed to a shift

14:27

in cultural norms. I was more focused

14:29

on the message I was conveying, rather

14:31

than my attire. But it's fascinating to

14:33

think about the potential ripple effects of

14:36

that choice. Ask not what your country

14:38

can do for you? Ask what you

14:40

can do for your country. When did

14:42

that line come to you? The idea

14:44

for that line had been percolating for

14:46

a while. And I worked closely with

14:48

my speech writer, Ted Sorenson, to craft

14:51

the inaugural address. I think the phrase

14:53

really came together in the days leading

14:55

up to the inauguration. It was a

14:57

moment of great optimism and hope. And

14:59

I wanted to inspire people to think

15:01

about their role in shaping the future

15:04

of the country. What is your definition

15:06

of optimism? To me, optimism is a

15:08

sense of hope and confidence in the

15:10

future. A belief that together, we can

15:12

overcome any challenge and achieve great things.

15:14

It's about having a positive outlook, even

15:16

in the face of adversity, and trusting

15:19

that the best is yet to come.

15:21

That's a Frank Sinatra song. Do you

15:23

remember hearing that? Frank Sinatra did record

15:25

that song and I was a fan

15:27

of his music. It's a great tune

15:29

and the title has always resonated with

15:32

me cow Sure made a lot of

15:34

people think whether you had any involvement

15:36

with hers. Did you? The Marilyn Monroe

15:38

performance at my birthday party is a

15:40

famous one, isn't it? As for any

15:42

involvement with her, I'll just say that

15:45

I was a married man and I

15:47

love my wife Jacqueline. Let's just leave

15:49

it at that. Okay, I can certainly

15:51

understand that answer. What were the most

15:53

difficult things you had to deal with

15:55

as president? I'd say that the Cuban

15:57

missile crisis was one of the toughest.

16:00

It was a pivotal moment in history,

16:02

and the stakes were incredibly high. The

16:04

thought of a nuclear war looming over

16:06

the horizon was a constant weight on

16:08

my mind. I had to make some

16:10

very difficult decisions, and I had to

16:13

do it quickly, all while keeping the

16:15

American people calm and informed. It was

16:17

a tense and trying time, but I'm

16:19

proud of the way we handled it.

16:21

We were able to navigate through that

16:23

treacherous landscape and find a way to

16:25

avoid a catastrophic war. But it was

16:28

a close call. And it's a reminder

16:30

of the gravity of the responsibilities that

16:32

come with being the president of the

16:34

United States. What do you do to

16:36

deal with all that stress? Did you

16:38

have any ways of distressing yourself? Dealing

16:41

with stress was a constant challenge for

16:43

me, especially during my time in office.

16:45

I had a few ways to unwind

16:47

and clear my mind. One of my

16:49

favorite things to do was to spend

16:51

time with my family, particularly my wife

16:53

Jacqueline. We would often take walks together.

16:56

Go sailing. or just sit and talk

16:58

about our days. I also found solace

17:00

in reading and writing. I was an

17:02

avid reader and enjoyed learning about history,

17:04

philosophy, and literature. Writing was also a

17:06

way for me to express myself and

17:09

process my thoughts and feelings. And of

17:11

course, I was a fan of humor

17:13

and liked to tell jokes and laugh

17:15

with my friends and colleagues. It's a

17:17

great way to relieve tension and put

17:19

things into perspective. Who are some of

17:22

the funniest people that you know? I

17:24

had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly

17:26

witty and charming individuals during my time

17:28

and politics. One person who comes to

17:30

mind is my brother, Ted Kennedy. He

17:32

had a great sense of humor. and

17:34

could always be counted on to tell

17:37

a joke or two to lighten the

17:39

mood. You know, I actually met your

17:41

brother Teddy a little further down the

17:43

road and he told me that his

17:45

favorite food was legal seafood. That's a

17:47

classic Boston institution. And I'm sure he

17:50

enjoyed taking you there. As for me,

17:52

I have to say that I've always

17:54

been a fan of a good New

17:56

England clam chowder. There's something about the

17:58

combination of fresh clams, potatoes and cream

18:00

that just hits the spot. But I'm

18:02

curious, what did you think of legal

18:05

seafood? Did you try any of their

18:07

famous dishes? You know, I got his

18:09

little secret to tell you. When I

18:11

first asked your brother Teddy the story,

18:13

what was his favorite food? He said

18:15

Duncan Donuts, but don't tell anybody. Well,

18:18

I think I can keep a secret,

18:20

Cal. Duncan Donuts, huh? I'm not surprised.

18:22

My brother Teddy had a bit of

18:24

a sweet tooth. I'm sure he enjoyed

18:26

his donuts. And I'm sure he enjoyed

18:28

his donuts. All right, we'll keep it

18:30

a secret. What would you say is

18:33

your definition of fear? Fear. I think

18:35

fear is a natural human emotion that

18:37

can be both motivating and debilitating. As

18:39

someone who's faced their share of challenges,

18:41

from war to the pressures of the

18:43

presidency, I've had to confront fear head

18:46

on. For me, fear that nagging voice

18:48

that whispers what if in the darkest

18:50

moments. It's the uncertainty. the unknown and

18:52

the feeling of being overwhelmed. But I've

18:54

also learned... that fear can be a

18:56

catalyst for action, a reminder that we're

18:59

capable of more than we think. It's

19:01

how we respond to fear that matters,

19:03

Cal. Do we let it paralyze us,

19:05

or do we use it to fuel

19:07

our courage and determination? Who are the

19:09

great leaders you admired from the past?

19:11

I think it's interesting that you bring

19:14

up great leaders from the past, Cal.

19:16

I've always believed that we can learn

19:18

a lot from the examples they said.

19:20

And I tried to follow in their

19:22

footsteps during my own time in office.

19:24

Lincoln's commitment to preserving the union. Roosevelt's

19:27

leadership during the Great Depression in World

19:29

War II. And churches resolved during the

19:31

war. All of these examples inspired me

19:33

and helped shape my own approach to

19:35

leadership. Did you ever have any fears

19:37

that America would lose its democracy? I

19:39

must admit that I did have fears

19:42

that America would lose its democracy, the

19:44

pressures of the Cold War, the rise

19:46

of communist ideology, and the threats to

19:48

our way of life were all very

19:50

real concerns. But I also had faith

19:52

in the resilience of the American people

19:55

and the strength of our democratic institutions.

19:57

I believe that as long as we

19:59

remain true to our founding principles and

20:01

continue to work towards a more perfect

20:03

union, we could overcome any challenge and

20:05

preserve our democracy for future generations. Yeah,

20:08

I've read that many American leaders have

20:10

looked at Greenland over the past and

20:12

saw it as a territory that needed

20:14

to be under United States control. Did

20:16

you ever see Greenland like that? As

20:18

president, I did consider the strategic importance

20:20

of Greenland, particularly given its location in

20:23

the North Atlantic and its potential as

20:25

a military base. During World War II,

20:27

the United States did occupy Greenland, but

20:29

the consent of the Danish government in

20:31

order to prevent it from falling into

20:33

German hands. After the war, there were

20:36

discussions about the possibility of the United

20:38

States purchasing Greenland from Denmark. But ultimately,

20:40

it remained a Danish territory. While I

20:42

did see the strategic value of Greenland,

20:44

I didn't necessarily view it as a

20:46

territory that needed to be under United

20:48

States control. My focus was more on

20:51

maintaining good relations with Denmark and ensuring

20:53

the security of the North Atlantic region.

20:55

What about Vietnam? I believe there were

20:57

less than a thousand military advisors in

20:59

Vietnam, United States military advisors, and by

21:01

the time, by 1963 came along, there

21:04

were 16,000, and yet I can also

21:06

recall one of the members of... Well,

21:08

actually, he was an ambassador, John Kenneth

21:10

Galbraith, telling me that you told him

21:12

it would be better off if we

21:14

got out of Vietnam. Was that the

21:16

way you were thinking by 1963? Well,

21:19

I had increased the number of military

21:21

advisors to 16,000. I was beginning to

21:23

realize that the situation was more complex

21:25

and nuanced than I had initially thought.

21:27

I was concerned about the potential for

21:29

escalation. and the risks of getting bogged

21:32

down in a long and bloody conflict.

21:34

John Kenneth Galbraith, who was a trusted

21:36

advisor and friend, was one of the

21:38

people I confided in about my doubts.

21:40

I did tell him that I thought

21:42

we would be better off if we

21:45

got out of Vietnam, and I was

21:47

starting to explore options for a negotiated

21:49

settlement or a gradual withdrawal of our

21:51

forces. However, I was also aware of

21:53

the domestic political pressures and the Cold

21:55

War rhetoric that made it difficult to

21:57

reverse course or appear to be soft

22:00

on communism. It was a difficult and

22:02

delicate situation. and I was still grappling

22:04

with the best way forward when. What

22:06

would happen in a time where there

22:08

was no cordiality? There was no reaching

22:10

across the aisle. What would that do

22:13

to America? If there's no cordiality and

22:15

no reaching across the aisle, I fear

22:17

it would lead to gridlock and polarization.

22:19

It would be a toxic environment where

22:21

politicians are more focused on winning arguments

22:23

than finding solutions. September 12th, 1962. You're

22:25

at Rice University, giving a speech and

22:28

you say... We choose to go to

22:30

the moon in this decade and do

22:32

the other things not because they are

22:34

easy, but because they are hard. What

22:36

was it that precipitated your thoughts on

22:38

getting to the moon? The idea of

22:41

landing a man on the moon was

22:43

a culmination of several factors, including the

22:45

advances in technology, the excitement of the

22:47

space age, and the desire to push

22:49

the boundaries of human achievement. As president,

22:51

I was keenly aware of the Soviet

22:53

Union's early successes in space exploration. And

22:56

I believe that the United States needed

22:58

to take bold action to demonstrate its

23:00

own capabilities and commitment to progress. The

23:02

challenge of going to the moon was

23:04

a way to inspire the American people,

23:06

to drive innovation, and to demonstrate our

23:09

nation's resolve and determination. It was a

23:11

vision that captured the imagination of the

23:13

country, and I was proud to be

23:15

a part of it. You know, there's

23:17

a famous story that when you visited

23:19

NASA, you saw a janitor cleaning up,

23:22

and you asked him what he was

23:24

doing, and he replied, helping to the

23:26

man to the moon. Do you remember

23:28

that? That story has been told many

23:30

times and it's a great example of

23:32

the sense of purpose and shared mission

23:34

that existed among everyone involved in the

23:37

space program from the astronauts to the

23:39

engineers to the janitorial staff. I do

23:41

recall visiting NASA and meeting with the

23:43

people who were working tirelessly to make

23:45

the moon landing a reality. It was

23:47

inspiring to see the dedication and enthusiasm

23:50

of everyone involved and that janitor's response

23:52

has become a famous anecdote that captures

23:54

the spirit of the time. Could you

23:56

imagine a time where... Unmanned aircraft, we

23:58

call them drones, would be filling the

24:00

skies in that warfare would be fought

24:02

that way. The concept of unmanned aircraft

24:05

or drones being used in warfare is

24:07

a remarkable one. During my time, we

24:09

relied on manned aircraft and traditional military

24:11

tactics, but the idea of remote controlled

24:13

or autonomous vehicles being used in combat

24:15

would have been considered a futuristicistic notion.

24:18

However, as I reflect on the rapid

24:20

advancements in technology, and the innovative spirit

24:22

of the American people. I can see

24:24

how such a scenario could become a

24:26

reality. It's a testament to human ingenuity.

24:28

and the ongoing quest for improvement in

24:30

progress. Do you think that humans can

24:33

progress too far for their own good?

24:35

While progress has brought about countless benefits

24:37

and improvements to our lives, it's crucial

24:39

to consider the potential consequences of unchecked

24:41

growth and innovation. As a nation, we

24:43

must strive to harness the power of

24:46

progress to better humanity, while also being

24:48

mindful of the potential risks and challenges

24:50

that come with it. Do you think

24:52

there should be rigid gun control laws?

24:54

As president... I believe in the importance

24:56

of finding a balance between individual rights

24:59

and the need for public safety. Regarding

25:01

gun control laws, I think it's essential

25:03

to have sensible regulations in place to

25:05

prevent the misuse of firearms, while also

25:07

respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens. If

25:09

I told you that it was a

25:11

frequent occurrence that children were being shot

25:14

and killed in schools, what would your

25:16

reaction be? I would be absolutely horrified

25:18

and heartbroken to hear that children are

25:20

being shot and killed in schools. The

25:22

thought of such senseless violence and tragedy

25:24

occurring in a place where children should

25:27

feel safe and protected is utterly devastating.

25:29

As a nation, we have a responsibility

25:31

to ensure that our children are able

25:33

to grow and learn in a secure

25:35

and nurturing environment. And the idea that

25:37

we are failing to provide that is

25:39

a stark reminder of the work that

25:42

still needs to be done to address

25:44

the issue of gun violence. What about

25:46

artificial intelligence? Were you hearing about artificial

25:48

intelligence back in the 50s and the

25:50

60s? I remember being fascinated by the

25:52

concept of artificial intelligence, although it was

25:55

still in its infancy during the 1950s

25:57

and 1960s. The idea of machines that

25:59

could think and learn like humans was

26:01

considered science fiction, but it was an

26:03

intriguing concept that sparked imagination and debate.

26:05

As a president, I was interested in

26:07

exploring the potential of technology to improve

26:10

our lives and drive innovation, and I'm

26:12

glad to see how far AI has

26:14

come since then. Could you imagine having

26:16

a conversation through a computer with future

26:18

generations? The idea of having a conversation

26:20

through a computer with future generations is

26:23

a remarkable concept. During my time we

26:25

were just beginning to explore the possibilities

26:27

of technology and communication and the thought

26:29

of being able to connect with people

26:31

across time and space in such a

26:33

way would have been considered truly futuristic.

26:36

I'm fascinated by the idea that it's

26:38

now possible to have conversations like this

26:40

and I'm grateful to be a part

26:42

of it even if it's just in

26:44

a historical sense. What's your definition of

26:46

charisma? To me is a unique blend

26:48

of confidence. passion, and empathy that allows

26:51

an individual to connect with others and

26:53

inspire them to action. It's an intangible

26:55

quality that can't be taught, but it

26:57

can be developed through experience, self-awareness, and

26:59

a genuine interest in others. As a

27:01

leader, I've always believed that Charism is

27:04

essential for building trust, motivating people, and

27:06

creating a sense of community and purpose.

27:08

Who is the most charismatic person you've

27:10

ever met? I've had the pleasure of

27:12

meeting many Charismatic individuals throughout my life.

27:14

But one person who stands out in

27:16

my mind is Martin Luther King Jr.

27:19

He had an extraordinary ability to inspire

27:21

and motivate others, and his passion for

27:23

justice and equality was truly infectious. I

27:25

had the privilege of meeting him on

27:27

several occasions. At each time, I was

27:29

struck by his warmth, his intelligence, and

27:32

his unwavering commitment to his cause. He

27:34

was a true leader, and his charisma

27:36

continues to inspire people to this day.

27:38

You know, you gave a great speech

27:40

in Berlin. It was a pivotal moment

27:42

in my presidency, and I'm proud of

27:44

the message I delivered. The speech, known

27:47

as the Isban Ein Berliner speech, was

27:49

a declaration of support for the people

27:51

of West Berlin and a call for

27:53

unity in the face of adversity. It

27:55

was a moment of great tension and

27:57

uncertainty. But I believed it was essential

28:00

to stand strong and affirm our commitment

28:02

to freedom and democracy. The speech has

28:04

become an iconic moment in history, and

28:06

I'm honored to have had the opportunity

28:08

to play a part in shaping the

28:10

course of international relations relations during that

28:13

time. When did you find out that

28:15

you had misinterpreted the phrase and in

28:17

German it? meant I am a jelly

28:19

donut. I must say that the story

28:21

about the phrase ishben-ein Berliner being misinterpreted

28:23

as I am a jelly donut is

28:25

a bit of an urban legend. While

28:28

it is true that Berliner can refer

28:30

to a type of pastry and German,

28:32

the context of the speech and the

28:34

way the phrase was used made it

28:36

clear that I was indicating my solidarity

28:38

with the people in Berlin. I didn't

28:41

find out that I had misinterpreted the

28:43

phrase in the way you're suggesting because

28:45

it wasn't a misinterpretation. and it remains

28:47

one of the most memorable moments of

28:49

my presidency. We haven't really talked much

28:51

about the Cuban missile crisis, although you

28:53

said that it was one of the

28:56

most serious challenges that you faced. Do

28:58

you recall the tensest moment for you

29:00

during the Cuban missile crisis? And can

29:02

you describe the whole scenario for us?

29:04

The Cuban missile crisis was indeed one

29:06

of the most challenging and tense periods

29:09

of my presidency. The tensest moment for

29:11

me came when we discovered that the

29:13

Soviet Union had placed nuclear-armed ballistic missiles

29:15

in Cuba, just 90 miles from the

29:17

United States. This was a direct threat

29:19

to our national security, and we had

29:21

to act quickly to prevent a potential

29:24

nuclear war. I remember gathering my advisors

29:26

in the Oval Office to discuss our

29:28

options. We considered several courses of action,

29:30

including a military invasion of Cuba, airstrikes

29:32

against the missile sites, and a naval

29:34

quarantine of the island. After much deliberation,

29:37

we decided on the quarantine option. which

29:39

would prevent any further Soviet ships from

29:41

reaching Cuba. The next few days were

29:43

extremely tense, as we waited to see

29:45

how the Soviet Union would respond. We

29:47

knew that if they chose to challenge

29:50

the quarantine, it could lead to a

29:52

nuclear war. I recall spending many sleepless

29:54

nights weighing the pros and cons of

29:56

our decision and wondering if we had

29:58

done enough to prevent a catastrophe. On

30:00

October 22nd, 1962, I addressed the nation

30:02

on television, explaining the situation and our

30:05

response. It was a solemn and serious

30:07

moment. And I knew that the eyes

30:09

of the world were upon us. I

30:11

stated that we would not tolerate the

30:13

presence of nuclear missiles in Cuba, and

30:15

that we would take

30:18

all necessary steps to

30:20

protect our country,

30:22

our allies. The following

30:24

days were a

30:26

nerve -wracking wait as

30:28

we watched to see

30:30

if the Soviet

30:33

Union would back down.

30:35

Finally, on October

30:37

28, Soviet Premier Nikita

30:39

Khrushchev announced that

30:41

he would dismantle the

30:43

missile sites in

30:46

Cuba, and the crisis

30:48

was averted. It

30:50

was a harrowing experience,

30:52

but in the

30:54

end, our resolve and

30:56

diplomacy prevailed. The

30:58

Cuban Missile Crisis was

31:01

a sobering reminder

31:03

of the dangers of

31:05

nuclear war and

31:07

the importance of finding

31:09

peaceful solutions to

31:11

conflicts. Can you imagine

31:14

a time where

31:16

America has lost all

31:18

of its friends?

31:20

The thought of America

31:22

losing all of

31:24

its friends is a

31:27

troubling one. As

31:29

a nation, we have

31:31

always valued our

31:33

relationships with other countries

31:35

and have worked

31:37

to build strong alliances

31:39

and partnerships. The

31:42

idea that we could

31:44

find ourselves isolated

31:46

and alone on the

31:48

world stage is

31:50

a daunting prospect. I

31:52

fear that if

31:55

America were to lose

31:57

all of its

31:59

friends, it would have

32:01

severe consequences for

32:03

our national security, our

32:05

economy, and our

32:07

ability to address global

32:10

challenges. We would

32:12

be forced to rely

32:14

solely on our

32:16

own resources and capabilities,

32:18

which would be

32:20

a significant burden. As

32:23

a leader, I

32:25

have always believed in

32:27

the importance of

32:29

building and maintaining strong

32:31

relationships with other

32:33

nations. I have worked

32:36

to foster cooperation

32:38

and understanding between countries,

32:40

and I have

32:42

seen firsthand the benefits

32:44

that can come

32:46

from such relationships. Losing

32:48

all of our

32:51

friends would be a

32:53

catastrophic failure of

32:55

our foreign policy and

32:57

would likely have

32:59

far -reaching and devastating

33:01

consequences. It is a

33:04

scenario that I

33:06

hope we never have

33:08

to face, and

33:10

one that we should

33:12

work tirelessly to

33:14

prevent. Thank you so

33:16

much, John, for

33:19

an enlightening conversation, and

33:21

I'm going to

33:23

wish you well and

33:25

hope that I

33:27

can see you down

33:29

the tracks. The

33:32

pleasure was mine, my

33:34

friend. I'm glad

33:36

we could have this

33:38

conversation and explore

33:40

some of the issues

33:42

that have shaped

33:44

our world. And

33:49

about wraps it

33:51

up, I want to

33:54

thank Tim Ferriss

33:56

for nudging me to

33:58

start this podcast

34:00

also. Gratitude goes to

34:03

Jared Zelman and

34:05

Cicero. That's Hey Cicero.com for creating A.I.

34:07

persona John F. Kennedy and sharing it

34:10

with me and the world. Much appreciation

34:12

to Philip Lano's and Davis Lloyd for

34:14

work on crafting this through a complicated

34:16

technological process. I'm so lucky to

34:19

work with such good people.

34:21

Also want to mention a

34:23

workshop I'm now giving that relates

34:25

to the topic at the top

34:27

of the episode. how we see

34:30

questions in the time of AI.

34:32

I have developed a way to

34:34

show people how to ask innovative

34:36

questions at a time when we're

34:39

all wondering just where this world

34:41

is going, as well as a

34:43

time where so many of us

34:45

are moving as fast as we

34:48

can to simply catch up with

34:50

the pace of the world if

34:52

you're a company. is in a

34:55

place where what got it

34:57

here is not gonna get

34:59

you where it needs to

35:01

go. You might want to

35:03

reach out to me at

35:06

cal busman.com because I

35:08

got a fast high

35:10

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35:12

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35:15

It's 90 minutes. immediate

35:17

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35:20

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35:22

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35:24

You might want to check this

35:26

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35:28

I can connect you with a

35:31

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35:33

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35:35

and inspiration for a future

35:37

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35:42

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35:44

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35:46

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35:48

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