Beyond automation: AI as a catalyst for human growth - Richard Nikoley
Episode 492 released 6th March 2025.
This week’s show is with Richard Nikoley. Richard was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, the son of a German immigrant. He attended a private, church-run high school before moving on to Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga for his first year of college. He later transferred to Oregon State University, where he graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, along with minors in mathematics/computer science and naval science. During his time at OSU, he was a member of the NROTC unit and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) in the U.S. Navy upon graduation.
Listen or watch on:
Richard’s naval career began with eight months of training in San Diego, California, followed by a deployment to Yokosuka, Japan. There, he served on the USS REEVES (CG-24) from 1984 to 1987 in various roles, including Assistant Missiles Officer, First Lieutenant, and Electrical Officer. He then joined the U.S. SEVENTH FLEET aboard the USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19) from 1988 to 1989, managing a substantial fuel budget as Assistant Fleet Scheduling Officer and Assistant Logistics Officer.
After five years in Japan, Richard moved to Monterey, California, to study French at the Defense Language Institute. This led to an exchange officer position with the French Navy from 1989 to 1992, where he served as Navigator on the FNS COLBERT (C 611) and FNS DUQUESNE (D 603). He left the Navy in 1992 and returned to the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 1993, Richard founded a company that grew significantly over a 20-year period. Although he was married for much of that time, since 2019, he and his former spouse have maintained a friendly relationship while pursuing separate lifestyles.
Since January 2020, Richard has been living in Thailand as an unintended expat. Initially planning to be digital and nomadic, he decided to settle more permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, he built a house in a rural province and wrote extensively about COVID-19, masks, lockdowns, and global drug trials - earning recognition for his insights.
Currently, Richard manages multiple income streams while engaging in various creative pursuits. He writes, makes videos, takes long walks, swims and snorkels in the tropical ocean, rides a motorcycle without a helmet, and enjoys cooking and eating exquisite food. A self-proclaimed gym junkie and honorary "Bro," Richard is known for his clever and well-crafted writing.
In this show, Richard and Lian explore the intersections of artificial intelligence, truth, and human evolution. They discuss Julian Jaynes’ theory of the bicameral mind, the rapid development of AI, and the deeper question of what it means to be conscious.
Richard shares how his skepticism about AI turned into curiosity. He describes AI as a logic machine - highly intelligent but without awareness or intrinsic values. They examine whether AI’s ability to process vast amounts of information makes it an unlikely yet powerful force for truth.
Together, they reflect on AI’s role in democratising knowledge and the philosophical implications of intelligence without consciousness. Could AI push humanity toward greater awareness, or does it merely highlight our limitations? As technology continues to evolve, this episode challenges listeners to consider: what does it mean to be truly intelligent, and what does it take to be conscious?
We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
AI operates as a logic machine, not a conscious entity. While AI can simulate human intelligence, it lacks self-awareness, emotions, and personal values. However, its ability to analyze information might make it one of the most effective truth-seeking tools we’ve ever created.
Intelligence and consciousness do not always go hand in hand. Drawing from Julian Jaynes' theory, Richard and Lian discuss how past civilisations perhaps functioned without the kind of self-awareness we assume is universal. AI, like early humans, can operate with intelligence but without a conscious inner world.
AI could redefine human potential rather than replace it. As AI automates tasks and challenges traditional roles, it may not eliminate jobs so much as shift human focus toward creativity, philosophy, and problem-solving. Rather than competing with AI, humans may need to expand their own awareness.
Resources and stuff spoken about:
Richard’s Free The Animal blog
Richard’s book: Paleo Perfection: How to Lose Weight and Feel Great
Richard’s PDF downloads
Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul’s calling to truly live your myth.
Don’t want to miss a thing?
Subscribe (BTW, it’s absolutely FREE) to the show on your favourite platform or app by clicking the relevant button below… That way you’ll receive each episode automagically straight to your device as soon as it’s released!
Thank you!
Lian & Jonathan