Discovered this ep through Weinsteins twitter.
Your IQ must be above 150 to follow this conversation. I’m only half kidding — the phrases “14 dimensional observerse” and “4D spacetime continuum” were used.
This was an awesome conversation. Lex and Eric were so tuned in to each other for such a high level conversation.
Considers Tom Lehrer (mathematician, comedian, song writer) one of his biggest influences. Thinks a correlation between being a Lehrer fan and being intelligent is strong.
Will AI be a parasitic or symbiotic relationship? Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate the two. Like marriage — you lose some freedom but your kids will have a better life in a two parent household.
Eric worries that talking openly about AI will accelerate uncontrollable progress
Our generation is not aware of the existential threats that exist today. We’ve been living in such a safe time that we aren’t wise enough. Whether we should worry about AGI or nuclear weapons or something else, he does not know. What he knows is that our time is finite. It is not clear that we have a long term future.
Eric criticizes Pinker, who says things are getting better. Pinker doesn’t realize that the bad stuff is now stored as potential energy. [33:40]
When you eat something, you are having a six dimensional experience: heat, saltiness, sweetness, spiciness etc.
If you research in academics you are forced to show loyalty to the consensus, but you’re surrounded by brilliant people. Outside academics you are likely to meet crazy people — its hard to have discipline [44:00]
“academics is as mad as a hatter.” They don’t tolerate dissenting ideas. The stem fields are not immune to it.
Eric asks Lex why he's so interested in him.
Laments that workers who do repetitive things will be displaced by AI. Says we need to stop the idea that work is tied to self worth.
He is for saving capitalism though. Wants HYPER-capitalism. [1:17:00] Read his article on "anthropic capitalism" :
https://www.edge.org/response-detail/26756"Nice is dead. Good has a future"
He says he's had a lifelong relationship with failure and success. Its okay to take a break.