Welcome to the Deep Dive: this episode explores why thinking isn’t free and how our minds make effective decisions under limited time and mental energy. Using the Deep Blue vs. Kasparov match as a launching point, the host walks through bounded rationality, Herbert Simon’s satisficing, and modern resource-rational models that reframe biases as efficient adaptations.
The episode covers meta-reasoning and the value of computation (VOC), neural evidence for effort tracking, the model-based vs. model-free arbitration, and an AI analogy (Monte Carlo Tree Search) that mirrors human selective thinking. It also discusses cognitive switching costs and evolutionary ‘mental organs’ that optimize common tasks.
Practical takeaways include the Five-Minute Rule and the Assumption Audit to help listeners allocate thinking time wisely and avoid analysis paralysis. Hosted by the Deep Dive presenter, this solo episode blends theory, neuroscience, AI parallels, and actionable tactics for better decision-making.
