Robert J. Marks II

Robert J. Marks Ph.D. is Senior Fellow and Director of the Bradley Center and is Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor University. Marks is a Fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and Optica (formerly the Optical Society of America). He was the former Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and is the current Editor-in-Chief of BIO-Complexity. Marks is author of the books Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will Never Do and The Case For Killer Robots. He is co-author of the books For a Greater Purpose: The Life and Legacy of Walter Bradley, Neural Smithing: Supervised Learning in Feedforward Artificial Neural Networks and Introduction to Evolutionary Informatics. For more information, see Dr. Marks’s expanded bio.

Archives

Monday Micro Softy 88: Flipping Gold Coins

_{Computer programmers must be good at math. The solution to this week's Micro Softy uses math — but you don’t need to know the math to impress your friends}_{Robert J. Marks
July 20, 2026}

The answer to Micro Softy 87 depends on understanding which number a given sequence of the code represents.

With AI, It’s Verify. Then Verify the Verification

_{Advice for AI Natives}_{Robert J. Marks
July 19, 2026}

AI "immigrants" like me tend to approach artificial intelligence with a healthy measure of skepticism. AI natives, who grew up with it, should learn this too.

How Cognitive Principles Can Inform Better Technological Design

_{Robert J. Marks
July 17, 2026}

The age of AI is upon us and is already changing the way we conduct our lives. What is the optimal division of tasks between humans and machines? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks welcomes psychologist Dr. Joe McDonald to the podcast to explore the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. McDonald is an expert in cognitive psychology and human factors research. He is the CEO and Principal at Jumpseat Research, a firm that applies cognitive science principles to improve technology design and user experiences. Dr. McDonald has over 15 years of experience in this field, holds a PhD in Human Factors from Georgia Tech, and is passionate about empowering people through technology.

Why Human Cognition Remains Unique

_{Joe McDonald
July 17, 2026}

Today's episode of ID The Future comes from our sister podcast Mind Matters News. The age of AI is upon us and is already changing the way we conduct our lives. What is the optimal division of tasks between humans and machines? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks welcomes psychologist Dr. Joe McDonald to the podcast to explore the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Today’s Computer Chips — Measured in Beard-Seconds

_{Could we use beard-seconds as a measurement? Actually, we could}_{Robert J. Marks
July 16, 2026}

Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on a computer chip doubles about every two years. But Moore’s Law must eventually stop at the Planck length.

Monday Microsofty 87: Are You As Good a Detective As You Think?

_{Here’s a test from the world of codebreaking}_{Robert J. Marks
July 13, 2026}

To solve last week’s puzzle, look up the definition of “calorie.” Are we using the word to mean the same thing?

Monday Micro Softy: Dr. Marks’s Incredible Ice Diet

_{Here’s a breakthrough announcement that will be a blessing to all the people in the world like me who struggle with weight control}_{Robert J. Marks
July 6, 2026}

To solve Micro Softie 85, ask yourself, when would a slightly smaller caliber bullet than the enemy uses be a definite advantage?

Superintelligence? AI’s History vs. the Myth

_{Here is the history in a nutshell outlining how we got to where we are today.}_{Robert J. Marks
July 6, 2026}

The breakthroughs have come from human creativity. Computers have served as powerful tools for implementing innovations, but they did not invent them.

Beyond the Written Word: AI’s Role in Reaching Oral Cultures

_{Robert J. Marks
July 1, 2026}

AI is having impact everywhere. But what about global outreach initiatives? And specifically Christian missions? How are those in the mission field using artificial intelligence? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks and co-host Jonathan Swindell welcome Dr. Don Barger to the show. Barger is the Director of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence at the International Mission Board. Don works with new technology, especially AI, and helps people use it in smart and responsible ways. He thinks a lot about how AI can help in real-life situations, especially in global missions. He also understands the limits of AI and what it cannot do. In this conversation, we’ll discuss how AI is changing the world, how AI should be used responsibly in global outreach initiatives to other cultures and peoples, and what it all means for the future.

Algorithms vs Souls: The Use of AI in Global Missions

_{Dr. Don Barger
July 1, 2026}

ID The Future listeners now get to enjoy two episodes each month from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, all concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. Enjoy today’s offering of Mind Matters News! AI is having impact everywhere. But what about global outreach initiatives? And specifically Christian missions? How are those in the mission field using artificial intelligence? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks and co-host Jonathan Swindell welcome Dr. Don Barger to the show. Barger is the Director of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence at the International Mission Board. Don works with new technology, especially AI, and helps people use it in smart and responsible ways. He thinks a lot about how AI can help in real-life situations, especially in global missions. He also understands the limits of AI and what it cannot do. In this conversation, we'll discuss how AI is changing the world, how AI should be used responsibly in global outreach initiatives to other cultures and peoples, and what it all means for the future.

Monday Micro Softy 85: Are You Up To Caliber?

_{There is a serious question here: Why might small differences in caliber matter?}_{Robert J. Marks
June 29, 2026}

Why would a military force decide to use a slightly different caliber of bullets from the one used by the enemy force?

Monday Micro Softy 84: Meet the Followers

_{What happens when everyone in the swarm is a follower?}_{Robert J. Marks
June 22, 2026}

To solve last week's puzzle, we should picture what must happen when every bug wants to place itself between two other bugs.

Mind Over Models: An Economist’s Take on AI Speculation

_{Robert J. Marks
June 19, 2026}

In this bingecast installment of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks welcomes economics professor and author Gary Smith to discuss the hype around artificial intelligence and its impact on the market. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. Smith argues that generative AI, embodied in services like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, exhibits many characteristics of past market bubbles, including excessive hype, lack of profitability, and unrealistic expectations. Smith holds that generative AI models have limited practical economic value. They may be good at finding statistical patterns but struggle to distinguish meaningful, useful correlations from coincidental ones. Smith describes the fundamental challenge of teaching machines true understanding that goes beyond mere pattern recognition. A number of examples and stories are shared throughout.

The Evaporating Promise of AGI: An Economist’s View

_{Gary Smith
June 19, 2026}

ID The Future listeners now get to enjoy two episodes each month from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, all concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. Enjoy today’s offering of Mind Matters News! In this installment of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks welcomes economics professor and author Gary Smith to discuss the hype around artificial general intelligence (AGI) and AI's impact on the market. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. Smith argues that generative AI, embodied in services like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, exhibits many characteristics of past market bubbles, including excessive hype, lack of profitability, and unrealistic expectations. Smith holds that generative AI models have limited practical economic value. They may be good at finding statistical patterns but struggle to distinguish meaningful, useful correlations from coincidental ones. Smith describes the fundamental challenge of teaching machines true understanding that goes beyond mere pattern recognition. A number of examples and stories are shared throughout.

Monday Micro Softy 83: A Swarm of Cowards?

_{In terms of swarm intelligence, what happens if we have a swarm of cowards instead of peacemakers?}_{Robert J. Marks
June 15, 2026}

We continue to explore the way simple roles followed by unintelligent agents — even dumb bugs — can yield complex behavior.

Monday Micro Softy 82: When Bugs Break Up Fights…

_{A surprising amount of intelligence of use in the computer industry can be learned from watching insects}_{Robert J. Marks
June 8, 2026}

To solve last week's puzzle, keep in mind that every termite is doing the same thing.

Donald Wunsch on the Limits of AI and Why It Matters

_{Robert J. Marks
June 3, 2026}

The hype around AI is reaching fever pitch these days. But never mind predictions of future AI potential. What can it actually do and not do today? On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks welcomes Dr. Donald C. Wunsch II to the show for a long-form, wide-ranging conversation about what AI can actually do today—and the very real risks and responsibilities that come with it.