TheRantSavant

by RackSavant

Season 1

SF Bay Area Artist & Digital Illustrator, Olomex drops the first piece from his Original Collection, “The Hand of Rubric”, on display at RackSavant HQ

Olomex The Hand of Rubric, 2025 Why does AI have so much trouble generating human-like hands? Listen to our discussion of topics like artistry, digital illustration, the artistic process, AI sentience, and universal consciousness, to name a few. On Season 1, Episode 9 of #TheRantSavant, we uncover the Easter eggs hidden within this piece, dive into Olomex' creative process, and draw connections between Michelangelo, the abstract movement, and the current climate of AI technology within the arts. He invites all to explore the themes within this artwork to answer the question, “Well, what do you think?” This one’s for the seekers, the art lovers, and the minds that wander deep. Rooted in the traditions of abstract expressionism and infused with spiritual symbolism, The Hand of Rubric marks the inaugural work in Olomex’s original collection. A self-taught illustrator and certified digital designer from San Francisco’s Excelsior District, Olomex combines themes of divine timing, universal consciousness, and hidden messages into layered compositions. This piece invites viewers to decode embedded “Easter eggs” that reference art history, sacred geometry, and the metaphysical—an homage to both Michelangelo’s influence and the ever-unfolding mysteries of human existence. A proud product of SF’s Excelsior District, Olomex blends abstract history, divine timing, and universal consciousness into stunning visual storytelling.

S1 · E8

Apr 20, 2025

25:15

Tony Jackson, Founder of MZZK Architects, speaks on the Re-Opening of Turtle Tower SF & Navigating San Francisco’s Unique Business Landscape

In this episode, we talk with Tony Jackson, the resident architect behind the resurrection of Turtle Tower 2.0—the revival of a beloved legacy business that was forced to shut down due to hardships following the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders. Known for its iconic chicken pho, Turtle Tower was a staple for the city during some of its darkest times. Now, the Pham Family has teamed up with major food and beverage players in the Bay Area to elevate the restaurant’s original vision, first established in 1999. While preserving its deep Vietnamese roots, the new iteration will introduce a seasonal cocktail menu and create a vibrant hub for those returning to office life in the Financial District. With other long-standing institutions like Tadich Grill and Perbacco nearby, we’re dubbing the 220 California stretch of FiDi "The Legacy Row." Tony also shares his insights on San Francisco’s complex permitting process and how his firm is committed to helping small businesses navigate the often-daunting regulatory landscape. His advice? "Be good and keep it simple." Keep showing up raise your hand and shake hands and somebody somewhere in the places of influence will hear your story and want to contribute to your project! WE LOVE THIS CITY! We're back!

S1 · E7

Mar 5, 2025

28:38

Yujin Tang, Founder of OOS4AI, announces the Seattle Startup Summit on March 28, 2025, alongside a profound and stochastic rant about Google Titans, NY Tech Week (June 2-6) & fun theories on Zuck's NEW LEWK

Explicit

In this episode, Yujin Tang takes us back to the olden days when Moore's Law caught up, leading to the birth of AlexNet—a groundbreaking convolutional neural network that changed everything. We dive into Titans from Google, long short-term memory networks, and the game-changing 2017 paper on transformers, breaking it all down for the everyday listener. Understanding large language models is key to navigating the future of AI. We explore an analogy between Google Titans’ inference model and how the human brain processes travel and new experiences. Plus, we break down Mad Libs as a framework for decoding and encoding language. On the event front, Yujin announces the Seattle Tech Summit on March 28, 2025—tickets available at https://lu.ma/seattle-startup-summit. He’s also hosting on June 3rd in NYC as part of NY Tech Week (June 2–6), and OOS4AI is on the hunt for a San Francisco-based event lead to MC upcoming SF events. Of course, we had to discuss the fun stuff: Did Elon Musk create Bitcoin? Is the Mark Zuckerberg vs. Elon Musk Jitz match ever happening? And speaking of Zuck—what’s with his new hypebeast look? Is he microdosing shrooms? We also talked Steve Jobs coining "podcast," Reddit threads, and whether people enjoy being told what to do. Would you share everything about yourself with AI if it meant an improved life?

S1 · E6

Feb 18, 2025

51:53

Jenice Wilson, World Contributor & Born Leader, Member of the Pomo Tribe - Cloverdale Rancheria

Explicit

At our latest THERANTSAVANT gathering, we had the honor of hosting Jenice Wilson, a member of the Pomo tribe, who took us deep into the intersections of technology, politics, and representation. She spoke on: ✨ Speaking into existence & Women’s Representation in Politics – How silence keeps women out of leadership and what must change. 🔍 Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about touchdowns—it’s about tears, triumphs, and transformation. The sight of men openly weeping for their teams reminds us: male vulnerability is not weakness—it’s humanity. In a world where emotional expression is often suppressed, moments like these challenge outdated norms and invite a broader conversation about empathy, connection, and healing. ⚡ The Meta Dilemma – With Mark Zuckerberg’s stance that Meta "will not be the arbiters of truth," what happens when misinformation spreads unchecked? How do we hold tech giants accountable when laws lag behind innovation? 🔍 Cambridge Analytica & Data Exploitation – Lessons from the past and how social platforms still shape our political realities in ways we barely understand. 🌌 Astrological Journals & The Cosmic Shift – How celestial movements reflect shifts in political and technological landscapes. What does this moment in history mean astrologically? From Super Bowl emotions to tech ethics and cosmic alignments, the conversation reminded us: everything is interconnected. Let’s embrace change, challenge power, and make space for truth, tears, and transformation. We explore the caveats of benefits within the Native American community and the UC system, shedding light on the complexities and gaps that still exist. Additionally, we discuss the rampant addiction issues in our society and the growing influence of cryptocurrency in Panama. Jenice is developing a pilot program for juvenile youth, aiming to foster critical thinking and discernment—an increasingly rare skill in an era of misinformation and fake news. We delve into the power of speaking ideas into existence and reflect on the Democratic Party, analyzing what went wrong in the recent election and why a solid strategy was lacking. How can we learn from these mistakes and move forward effectively? We also reflect on 2015, before reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), when content moderation was handled by a team of 250 in Menlo Park and Meta was still "The Facebook." We emphasize the power of critical thinking and personal discernment in navigating new information. "What do you choose to align with and support? Is it rooted in fear and scarcity or othering, bad vs. good?" We urge listeners to consider the implications of technology and reflect on how running large language models can be equivalent to drinking a bottle of water—if we’re not conserving and consuming mindfully.

S1 · E5

Feb 10, 2025

1:24:34

Eric Chuk, Masters in Linguistics and Member of Indivisible.Org, a grassroots movement with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and mobilize concerned citizens.

In this episode of TheRantSavant, we welcomed Eric Chuk, a member of Indivisible.org, to recap on Inauguration Day 2025 and the lessons that can be learned from the Trump party’s messaging strategies. Over the past eight years, Trump and his supporters have demonstrated remarkable consistency in their branding—from their attire and colors to even their hairstyles—creating a seamless and trustworthy image through basic PR tactics. This is an area where the Democratic Party can improve as it prepares for the future. We also explored the power of language in political messaging, emphasizing the importance of one-liners and mindful communication. Messaging must resonate with the intended audience, and choosing the right words can shape perceptions and influence public opinion. Shifting gears, we delved into the topic of cryptocurrency and its growing presence within the Republican Party. We analyzed why tech leaders who previously held liberal views have shifted their support to Trump and why cryptocurrency advocates are increasingly aligning with the new wave of Republican members. To wrap up, we engaged in a fun and interactive activity using a deck of observation prompt cards by Lea Redmond. These beautifully illustrated cards encourage engagement with the material world, providing unique and thought-provoking prompts. Tune in for this insightful discussion on political messaging, the shifting allegiances in the tech world, and the evolving landscape leading up to 2025!

S1 · E4

Jan 22, 2025

16:57

AI Ethics and the Future of Creativity, Financial Literacy, and Personalization with Manoj Bitra, Founder of SquareOne.Finance and Author of AI's Moral Compass on LinkedIn

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating conversation with Manoj Bitra, founder of SquareOne.Finance and creator of AI's Moral Compass on LinkedIn, exploring the evolving role of data in the modern world. Manoj discusses how data is becoming more valuable than gold, with the dark web exploiting company vulnerabilities to sell sensitive data. He offers a cautionary warning about the data being used to train AI systems, emphasizing the need for greater mindfulness about what information is accessible and how it’s applied. Referencing the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal and lawsuits like Michelle Carter’s case, we examine the ethical challenges of AI misuse, such as instances where AI has unintentionally encouraged suicidal behavior with its users. We also discuss the rise of "vertical agents"—AI systems that specialize in performing specific tasks with remarkable efficiency. From replacing call centers to creating hyper-personalized assistants, vertical agents are set to revolutionize industries and daily life. These agents, powered by immense computational abilities, could outnumber humans, forming trillions of extensions of individuals tailored to their unique preferences and needs. We touched on how the movie industry is facing challenges as AI models are trained using creative works without proper credit or compensation to artists. This mirrors the dot-com era, where companies exploited user data like browser cookies without giving ownership or benefits to users. Now, artists are pushing for rights and compensation when their work is used in AI training, similar to royalties in traditional media. The goal is to establish frameworks where AI usage requires consent and payment to creators, ensuring they share in the profits. This pivotal shift could redefine how art and creativity are valued in the digital age. Manoj shares insights into SquareOne.Finance’s mission to empower financial literacy among teenagers aged 14-18. Their platform leverages AI to personalize financial education, adapting to each learner's style and pace. Parents manage the learning experience through custodial accounts, ensuring that teens are better prepared for financial responsibilities in adulthood. A unique feature of the platform is its integration of cryptocurrency and blockchain, rewarding users with Bitcoin and SquareOne Coins, which can be converted into other cryptocurrencies. We also touch on broader societal shifts, comparing AI’s disruptive impact to the transition from horse-drawn carriages to cars, and how such innovation reshapes industries while enhancing convenience. As AI continues to advance, the future holds exciting possibilities for personalized education, automation, and beyond.

S1 · E3

Jan 14, 2025

13:45

Patricia J. Kim, LAc, DACM — Founder of TheGreatEmbrace.co

In this episode of TheRantSavant, we dive deep with Patricia J. Kim, LAc, DACM, and founder of TheGreatEmbrace.co, to explore how meditation can help clear your energetic clutter and heal the physical and emotional illnesses caused by overconsumption and hoarding. We discuss what it means to feel energy without thoughts and dissolve the stories we tell about our lives, uncovering pure presence and balance. Patricia shares her insights on Maum Meditation, a practice that phonically resonates with "MOM" and offers profound healing, especially for those dealing with mother wounds. We also explore teachings from great meditation practitioners like Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth and Patricia's spiritual leader, Gangaji, to learn how to sever the energetic ties to our personal narratives, embrace stillness, and truly experience life beyond the mind’s chatter.

S1 · E2

Jan 8, 2025

1:31:24

Louis-Nicolas Roussel, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Humiris.AI

In this engaging episode, we sat down with Louis, founder of Humiris.AI, to discuss a wide range of fascinating topics, blending tech innovation, sustainability, and startup culture. Tesla Test Drive: Louis shared his experience test-driving a CyberTruck around the SF city. AGI Aspirations: The conversation dove into Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), exploring its potential impact, current challenges, and how Humiris.AI is contributing to the journey toward more sustainable AI systems. Sustainable AI: Sustainability in AI was a central theme, with Louis emphasizing the importance of developing eco-conscious AI technologies to reduce carbon footprints and promote long-term environmental responsibility. No More Pizza at Hackathons: Louis offered a refreshing take on startup culture, critiquing the stereotype of late-night hackathons fueled by pizza. Founder Find: The podcast wrapped up with Louis sharing advice for aspiring founders, focusing on how to identify meaningful problems, build resilient teams, and navigate the search to find your ideal co-founder.

S1 · E1

Dec 29, 2024

49:15