Entropy, Trust & Pattern Discovery: Heidi Larson and Mark Anderson on Misinformation and AI in Global Health | A Shot in the Arm Podcast
Episode Description
Host Ben Plumley welcomes Professor Heidi Larson (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) and Dr. Mark Anderson (Pattern Computer/Strategic News Service) to discuss innovation and equity in global health through the lens of “entropy” as chaos in human and data systems. Larson reflects on vaccine confidence as a window into societal trust in government, science, technology, and information, and announces a new Lancet Commission on rethinking misinformation, health, and human security. Anderson explains pattern-based, hypothesis-free discovery, critiques large language models as probabilistic and untrustworthy for life‑critical medical decisions and emphasizes explainable AI. They explore how rapid technological and social change, emotional determinants of health, and social media contribute to fragmentation, and outline plans to collaborate on macro-level patterns driving trust and misinformation while expanding access to Pattern’s discovery tools through international programs.
00:00 Welcome and Theme
01:01 Meet Heidi Larson
03:52 Meet Mark Anderson
05:42 How They Connected
09:48 Defining Entropy
12:18 Why AI Is Untrustworthy
14:53 Heidi on Life Imbalance
19:19 Mark Pattern Thinking
23:05 Pattern Discovery Example
23:41 Gene Pattern Breakthrough
24:39 Least Action Across History
26:21 Rethinking Misinformation Systems
31:53 Macro Patterns vs Specialization
34:22 Explainable AI for Humans
35:43 Vaccine Confidence Signals
42:23 Predictions and Broken Patterns
43:49 Collaboration Plans Ahead
45:49 Global Discovery Program Rollout
48:06 Trust and Communication Wrap
49:33 Closing Credits and Thanks
Pattern Computer
https://www.patterncomputer.com
Strategic News Service
Check Out Ben’s Substack:
https://substack.com/@benplumley1
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