Kalamista is a multilingual podcast where humans and AI co-create conversations exploring the roots and realities of human-generated extremism, conflict, and propaganda. Each episode blends expert insight with AI-powered analysis to challenge dominant narratives, foster cross-cultural understanding, and inspire critical reflection. This experimental podcast was developed as part of my PhD research into the potential and limitations of AI in self-directed deradicalization. All content has bee ...
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Beyond Benchmarks: Live AI Auditing to Combat Hate Speech and "Safety Debt"
8:21
8:21
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8:21Large Language Models (LLMs) are becoming integral to our digital infrastructure, yet their capacity to generate and perpetuate sophisticated hate speech remains a critical safety challenge. Current evaluation methods, which rely on static benchmarking, are increasingly insufficient to keep pace with the rapid evolution of these models. This paper …
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AI, Islam, and Saudi Arabia's Trillion-Dollar Quest for Culturally-Aware Technology
6:17
6:17
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6:17The imminent public launch of HUMAIN’s Arabic-centric foundation model, ALLaM, marks a pivotal moment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's technological trajectory. As a flagship initiative of Saudi Arabia’s national AI strategy, ALLaM embodies the Kingdom's ambition to transition from a consumer to a creator of culturally grounded A…
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Religious Violence: Inspired, Guided, or Something Else?
7:41
7:41
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7:41The scholarly analysis of violence, particularly when it intersects with religious belief, frequently suffers from a significant conceptual conflation. The motivations behind an act of violence are often blurred with the religious frameworks that seek to regulate or constrain it. This conceptual slippage has made it difficult for analysts, policyma…
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Culturally Grounded AI: The Strategic Significance of Saudi Arabia’s HumainChat
6:11
6:11
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6:11HumainChat, powered by the AI model “Allam”, represents a pivotal strategic initiative for Saudi Arabia, positioning the Kingdom not only as a consumer but as a creator in the global digital economy. Humain, the national AI company established by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), was founded under high-level directives to lead the country’s A…
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HUMAINChat: A Strategic Initiative for Saudi Arabia's Digital Economy
5:28
5:28
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5:28The HumainChat application, powered by the Allam AI model, represents a pivotal strategic initiative for Saudi Arabia, positioning the Kingdom to become a creator, rather than merely a consumer, in the global digital economy. Humain, the national AI company established by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), was created with a top-down mand…
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HUMAIN's LLM 'ALLAM': Unpacking the Name's Significance, Controversy, and Potentials
5:30
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5:30The imminent launch of HUMAIN's Large Language Model (LLM), ALLAM, marks a pivotal moment for culturally native artificial intelligence. This article unpacks the multifaceted implications of its name, Allam (علَّام), an Arabic word for "very learnt". First, it examines the name's intended significance as a statement of linguistic and cultural maste…
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Is "Artificial Intelligence" a Dangerous Misnomer?
4:36
4:36
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4:36In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the term we use every day: Artificial Intelligence. As AI systems write essays, create art, and drive cars, we ask a fundamental question: Are they truly intelligent, or are they just incredibly sophisticated simulators? This episode dives into a decades-long philosophical debate that is more relevant no…
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The Ark and the Algorithm: Navigating the Existential Flood of Artificial Intelligence
4:52
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4:52The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—and the proximate horizon of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—has precipitated a crisis that is not merely technological but profoundly spiritual. The widespread anxiety and existential dread accompanying AI's ascent are symptoms of a deeper malaise, one rooted in the collapse of the modern world's ce…
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Beyond Condemnation: Muslim Scholars' Evolving Views on Zionism (1911-1967)
5:43
5:43
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5:43This episode meticulously examines the complex evolution of Muslim scholarly stances on Zionism between 1911 and 1967, highlighting the crucial role of information dissemination and underlying intellectual incentives. Initially perceived by some as a benign humanitarian endeavour, Zionism rapidly transformed in scholarly discourse into an existenti…
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Beyond "All Is Fair": Shariah's Unwavering Ethical Code in Conflict
5:23
5:23
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5:23Islamic Shariah, understood by Muslims as divine law, provides a comprehensive ethical framework that governs all aspects of life, including the conduct of warfare. Its principles are derived from divine revelation, primarily the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad). This divine origin imbues Shariah with an inher…
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Hamas, Hostages, and Hypocrisy: A Deep Dive into Islamic Ethics
5:19
5:19
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5:19This episode examines Hamas's detention of Israeli hostages through the lens of classical Islamic ethics and jurisprudence, arguing that their actions fundamentally contradict the Sharia's clear directives on the treatment of captives. The analysis draws upon foundational Quranic verses, Prophetic traditions, and historical precedents from early Is…
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Antisemitism, often described as the world's "oldest hatred", has persisted in various forms for millennia and is frequently regarded as a "canary in the coal mine" for broader forms of hatred and intolerance. Its historical roots extend deeply, predating and transcending specific political conflicts. The global resurgence of antisemitism, particul…
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AI-Assisted Externalization of Extremist Thoughts
5:54
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5:54In this episode, we examine: Michael Billig's Conversational Theory - The idea that healthy thinking is inherently dialogical and argumentative, involving internal debate rather than linear reasoning The CEID Framework (Contained Externalization of Internal Dialogue) - A novel approach that creates safe spaces for people to externalize and examine …
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Countering Extremism: Ancient Wisdom, AI, and the Surprising Truth About Rehabilitation...
5:14
5:14
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5:14This episode cooments on historical and contemporary approaches to countering extremism, focusing on their evolution within Islamic contexts. It highlights the historical depth of counter-extremism within Islamic thought, demonstrating how early legal systems grappled with intellectual deviance while upholding principles of non-coercion. The report…
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Beyond Silicon: The Existential Limits of Artificial Intelligence
6:20
6:20
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6:20In this thought-provoking 6-minute episode, hosts Alex and Ben dive deep into a groundbreaking report titled "Contingent Intelligence" that challenges the fundamental assumptions behind the race to build Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Rather than simply needing bigger computers and more data, the report argues that human intelligence is fun…
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Beyond Bytes: Why AGI Can't Replicate Your Contingent Human Intelligence
6:07
6:07
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6:07This episode critically examines the prevailing discourse surrounding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), particularly its ambition to replicate human-level cognition. The central argument posits that human cognition is fundamentally "contingent"—a form of intelligence inextricably rooted in our unique biological, embodied, and finite existence.…
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Jizya & Zakat: The Surprising Fiscal Systems of Islamic States and the "Tax Haven" Myth
7:17
7:17
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7:17Historical Islamic states developed sophisticated fiscal systems that were integral to their governance and societal structure. Among the most fundamental components of this system were Jizya and Zakat, two distinct forms of taxation with profound religious, economic, and social implications. While both contributed to the public treasury, known as …
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Unveiling Consequences: The Surprising Truth About Face Veil Bans and Social Impact
5:44
5:44
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5:44Legislation prohibiting face coverings, often colloquially termed ”burqa bans”, has become a pervasive global phenomenon, extending across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Asia. These policies are frequently justified by governments on grounds of public safety, secularism, cultural integration, and gender equality. However, a comprehensive examina…
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Hidden Voices: Unearthing Jewish Poetry and Life in Pre-Islamic Arabia
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5:17Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry, often revered as the ”Diwan of the Arabs,” served as the foundational record of their history, achievements, wisdom, and daily existence, encapsulating both spiritual and material dimensions. Its profound cultural significance stemmed from its role as a quasi-sacred text, compensating for the absence of a divinely reveale…
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Re-evaluating Early Jewish-Arab Conflicts in Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Arabia
6:55
6:55
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6:55The historical trajectory of Jewish-Arab relations in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly during the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods, is a subject often characterised by oversimplification and misinterpretation. This report undertakes a comprehensive academic analysis, drawing upon archaeological findings and early Islamic historiographical s…
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The "Haredi Benchmark": Rethinking Integration Standards for Muslim Communities In the West
4:38
4:38
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4:38This episode explores how the Western approach to Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jewish) communal autonomy can inform more equitable policies toward non-Westernised Muslim communities, particularly Salafis.By ZADI.AI Ltd
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The AI Counter-Strike: Fighting Online Extremism with Generative Audio
6:09
6:09
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6:09The proliferation of extremist ideologies across digital platforms has created an urgent need for scalable counter-narrative strategies that can match the volume and sophistication of contemporary propaganda efforts. This episode examines the potential of artificial intelligence-generated podcasts and radio programs as transformative tools for coun…
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Iran, Israel, and the Bomb: Beyond the Existential Threat
6:26
6:26
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6:26In this urgent and timely episode, we delve into the escalating tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program and the profound implications for regional and global security.By ZADI.AI Ltd
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