Ep. 16: Strategic Reflectivism

In late 2025, artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI automated the process of determining which model is best for a task. This allowed users to simply send their prompt and let the system determine whether to respond “fast" or "slow". In a 2022 paper, I suggested that this kind of strategic deployment of slow, more reflective reasoning could be crucial to good judgment and decision-making. Since then, I have been synthesizing the arguments and evidence for this view in a paper titled, "Strategic Reflectivism in Intelligent Systems". After the new paper was accepted in Lecture Notes In Computer Science, I recorded a podcast of me reading the final proofs of the paper. I review evidence suggesting that one key to intelligence in humans and machines is pragmatic switching between intuitive and reflective thinking based on the goals of the system. The paper has a wide range of implications for applied science, computer science, decision science, and epistemology. Byrd, N. (2025). Strategic Reflectivism In Intelligent Systems. Lecture Notes In Computer Science. Preprint: As always, free preprints of my papers are available on my CV at byrdnick.com/cv under "Publications". This episode's affiliate partner is Road Runner Sports. For about a year I've been adding a weekly marathon to my exercise routine. So shoes, socks, headphones, shorts, and other fitness products have felt more important to me lately. What I like about Road Runner Sports is their integration of online and in-store retail; I can try things on in person, deliver to the store for free, return and exchange in person, etc. I am not stuck doing everything online. To meet your running needs, check out roadrunnersports.sjv.io/byrdnick. You can find the Upon Reflection podcast here or in your podcast app. If you like what you hear, you can

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Ep. 16: Strategic Reflectivism is an episode from Upon Reflection by Nick Byrd.

This episode is 29:00 long.

This episode was published on Oct 8, 2025.

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