Metaphysics and modern AI: What is causality?

Metaphysics and modern AI: What is causality?

From The AI Fundamentalists by Dr. Andrew Clark & Dr. Sid Mangalik

January 27, 2026 · 36 min · Season 1 · Episode 41

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of causality in the context of modern AI, distinguishing between correlation and causation.

In this episode of our series about Metaphysics and modern AI, we break causality down to first principles and explain how to tell factual mechanisms from convincing correlations. From gold-standard Randomized Control Trials (RCT) to natural experiments and counterfactuals, we map the tools that build trustworthy models and safer AI. Defining causes, effects, and common causal structuresGestalt theory: Why correlation misleads and how pattern-seeking tricks usStatistical association vs causal...

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Andrew Clark, Dr. Sid Mangalik

Topics covered

  • causality
  • metaphysics
  • AI
  • correlation
  • statistical methods
  • modeling

Keywords

  • causality
  • Randomized Control Trials
  • natural experiments
  • counterfactuals
  • statistical association

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Metaphysics and modern AI

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