Lex Fridman Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#222 – Jay McClelland: Neural Networks and the Emergence of Cognition Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

Jay McClelland is a cognitive scientist at Stanford. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Paperspace: https://gradient.run/lex to get $15 credit
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– Uprising Food: https://uprisingfood.com/lex to get $10 off 1st starter bundle
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EPISODE LINKS:
Jay’s Website: https://stanford.edu/~jlmcc/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
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YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
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– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:12) – Beauty in neural networks
(11:31) – Darwin and evolution
(17:16) – The origin of intelligence
(23:58) – Explorations in cognition
(30:02) – Learning representations by back-propagating errors
(36:27) – Dave Rumelhart and cognitive modeling
(49:30) – Connectionism
(1:12:23) – Geoffrey Hinton
(1:14:19) – Learning in a neural network
(1:31:11) – Mathematics & reality
(1:38:19) – Modeling intelligence
(1:48:57) – Noam Chomsky and linguistic cognition
(2:03:18) – Advice for young people
(2:14:26) – Psychiatry and exploring the mind
(2:27:04) – Legacy
(2:32:53) – Meaning of life

#221 – Douglas Lenat: Cyc and the Quest to Solve Common Sense Reasoning in AI Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

Douglas Lenat is the founder of Cyc, a 37 year project aiming to solve common-sense knowledge and reasoning in AI. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Squarespace: https://lexfridman.com/squarespace and use code LEX to get 10% off
– BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off
– Stamps.com: https://stamps.com and use code LEX to get free postage & scale
– LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:
Douglas’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cycorpai
Cyc’s Website: https://cyc.com

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:39) – What is Cyc?
(15:45) – How to form a knowledge base of the universe
(26:11) – How to train an AI knowledge base
(30:32) – Global consistency versus local consistency
(54:53) – Automated reasoning
(1:00:33) – Direct uses of AI and machine learning
(1:13:11) – The semantic web
(1:23:44) – Tools to help Cyc interpret data
(1:32:54) – The most beautiful idea about Cyc
(1:38:53) – Love and consciousness in AI
(1:45:52) – The greatness of Marvin Minsky
(1:50:46) – Is Cyc just a beautiful dream?
(1:55:31) – What is OpenCyc and how was it born?
(2:01:21) – The open source community and OpenCyc
(2:11:48) – The inference problem
(2:13:31) – Cyc’s programming language
(2:21:05) – Ontological engineering
(2:28:30) – Do machines think?
(2:37:15) – Death and consciousness
(2:47:16) – What would you say to AI?
(2:51:52) – Advice to young people
(2:53:48) – Mortality

#220 – Niels Jorgensen: New York Firefighters and the Heroes of 9/11 Sep 11, 2021

Show notes

Niels Jorgensen is a former New York firefighter for over 21 years, who was there at Ground Zero on September 11th, 2001. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– MUD\WTR: https://mudwtr.com/lex and use code LEX to get 5% off
– Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and use code LEX to get $5 off
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium

EPISODE LINKS:
Niels’s 20 for 20 Podcast: https://ironlightlabs.org/20-for-20/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:52) – September 11, 2001
(36:48) – Falling man
(40:58) – Ground Zero
(47:17) – 20 for 20
(50:27) – What it means to be a great firefighter
(53:11) – Why did you become a firefighter?
(55:00) – Tally Ho
(57:46) – New view of the world
(1:05:16) – Empathy
(1:09:49) – Leukemia
(1:25:18) – New York City
(1:31:28) – John Feal
(1:44:57) – Conspiracy theories
(1:53:45) – Faith
(1:55:44) – Modern communication
(2:00:11) – Hand written letters
(2:14:02) – Love
(2:25:45) – War in Afghanistan
(2:37:24) – Brave stories from 9/11

#219 – Donald Knuth: Programming, Algorithms, Hard Problems & the Game of Life Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Donald Knuth is a computer scientist, Turing Award winner, father of algorithm analysis, author of The Art of Computer Programming, and creator of TeX. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Coinbase: https://coinbase.com/lex to get $5 in free Bitcoin
– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off
– NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Donald’s Stanford Page: https://profiles.stanford.edu/donald-knuth
Donald’s Books: https://amzn.to/3heyBsC

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:02) – First programs
(30:26) – Literate programming
(33:35) – Beauty in programming
(39:30) – OpenAI
(48:41) – Optimization
(54:46) – Consciousness
(1:03:29) – Conway’s game of life
(1:16:16) – Stable marriage
(1:19:35) – Richard Feynman
(1:30:29) – Knuth-Morris-Pratt Algorithm
(1:40:02) – Hardest problem
(1:57:41) – Open source
(2:02:54) – Favorite symbols
(2:12:27) – Productivity
(2:20:08) – Meaning of life

#218 – Jaron Lanier: Virtual Reality, Social Media & the Future of Humans and AI Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

Jaron Lanier is a computer scientist, composer, artist, author, and founder of the field of virtual reality. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Skiff: https://skiff.org/lex to get early access
– Novo: https://banknovo.com/lex
– Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings

EPISODE LINKS:
Jaron’s Website: http://www.jaronlanier.com/
Jaron’s Books: https://amzn.to/3tlhl9T

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:04) – What is reality?
(12:17) – Turing machines
(13:35) – Simulating our universe
(19:49) – Video games and other immersive experiences
(23:37) – Death and consciousness
(32:08) – Designing human-centric AI
(33:42) – Empathy with robots
(37:33) – Social media incentives
(49:53) – Data dignity
(57:26) – Jack Dorsey and Twitter
(1:09:10) – Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
(1:13:51) – Government overreach and freedom
(1:24:06) – GitHub and TikTok
(1:26:16) – The Autodidactic Universe
(1:31:07) – Humans and the mystery of music
(1:37:17) – Defining moments
(1:48:03) – Mortality
(1:49:56) – The meaning of life

#217 – Rodney Brooks: Robotics Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

Rodney Brooks is a roboticist, former head of CSAIL at MIT, and co-founder of iRobot, Rethink Robotics, and Robust.AI. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Paperspace: https://gradient.run/lex to get $15 credit
– GiveDirectly: https://givedirectly.org/lex to get gift matched up to $300
– BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex and use code LEX to get a free security camera

EPISODE LINKS:
Rodney’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rodneyabrooks
Rodney’s Blog: http://rodneybrooks.com/blog/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:33) – First robots
(28:58) – Brains and computers
(1:01:47) – Self-driving cars
(1:21:57) – Believing in the impossible
(1:32:47) – Predictions
(1:43:49) – iRobot
(2:11:11) – Sharing an office with AI experts
(2:23:21) – Advice for young people
(2:27:07) – Meaning of life

#216 – Vincent Racaniello: Viruses and Vaccines Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

Vincent Racaniello is a virologist, immunologist, and microbiologist at Columbia. He is a co-author of the textbook Principles of Virology and co-host of This Week in Virology podcast. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Privacy: https://privacy.com/lex to get $5 added to your account
– Justworks: https://justworks.com
– Sun Basket: https://sunbasket.com/lex and use code LEX to get $35 off
– The Information: https://theinformation.com/lex to get 75% off first month
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil

EPISODE LINKS:
Vincent’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/profvrr
Vincent’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/vincentracaniello
Vincent’s Podcast: https://www.microbe.tv/
Vincent’s Website: http://www.virology.ws/
Vincent’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profvrr

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(10:24) – Microbiology by numbers
(15:47) – From bacteria to an organism
(23:46) – AlphaFold 2
(27:44) – Simulating an evolutionary arms race
(53:11) – The most terrifying virus
(1:14:54) – SARS-CoV-2
(1:29:38) – Coronaviruses and Influenza. What’s the difference?
(1:35:45) – Vaccines
(1:41:43) – Lex on his reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine shot
(1:47:39) – Modern vaccines
(1:52:39) – How does mRNA vaccine work?
(1:55:26) – Are mRNA vaccines safe?
(2:21:52) – Lex on trust in authority
(2:36:59) – Ivermectin
(2:43:39) – Hydroxychloroquine
(2:48:22) – Variants and mutations
(2:55:20) – Testing
(3:03:27) – How does COVID-19 spread?
(3:06:37) – Masks
(3:15:05) – Bret Weinstein vs Sam Harris
(3:18:39) – This Week in Virology
(3:28:19) – Advice for young people
(3:30:42) – Meaning of life

#215 – Wojciech Zaremba: OpenAI Codex, GPT-3, Robotics, and the Future of AI Aug 29, 2021

Show notes

Wojciech Zaremba is a co-founder of OpenAI. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Paperspace: https://gradient.run/lex to get $15 credit
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– Grammarly: https://grammarly.com/lex to get 20% off premium
– Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings

EPISODE LINKS:
Wojciech’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/woj_zaremba
Wojciech’s Website: https://wojzaremba.com/
OpenAI’s Website: https://openai.com/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:57) – The Fermi paradox
(14:59) – Systems of government
(17:36) – Life, intelligence, and consciousness
(24:49) – GPT language model
(27:02) – Engineering consciousness
(31:19) – Is there an algorithm for intelligence?
(38:41) – Neural networks and deep learning
(51:32) – Human reward functions
(56:26) – Love is part of the human condition
(58:53) – Expanding our circle of empathy
(1:02:58) – Psychedelics and meditation
(1:14:25) – Ilya Sutskever
(1:21:42) – How does GPT work?
(1:31:35) – AI safety
(1:38:21) – OpenAI Codex
(1:51:54) – Robotics
(2:01:11) – Developing self driving cars and robots
(2:12:02) – What is the benchmark for intelligence?
(2:15:04) – Will we spend more time in virtual reality?
(2:17:18) – AI Friendships
(2:26:48) – Sleep
(2:29:22) – Generating good ideas
(2:35:47) – Advice for young people
(2:40:31) – Getting started with machine learning
(2:43:44) – What is beauty?
(2:47:35) – Death
(2:54:23) – Meaning of life

#214 – Jed Buchwald: Isaac Newton and the Philosophy of Science Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

Jed Buchwald is a historian and philosopher of science at Caltech. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– GiveWell: https://www.givewell.org/ and use code LEX to get donation matched up to $1k
– Theragun: https://therabody.com/lex to get 30 day trial
– LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack
– Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/lex
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Jed’s Caltech page: https://bit.ly/38eLLRF
Jed’s Books: https://amzn.to/2WoxGPi

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:34) – How does science progress?
(22:48) – Theory of Everything
(34:40) – Consciousness
(38:15) – Most Beautiful Moments in Science
(46:00) – Isaac Newton
(1:12:13) – Competition in Science
(1:22:47) – Newton’s Career
(1:35:58) – Importance of Data
(1:42:17) – Alchemy
(1:46:31) – Newton and Religion
(1:49:44) – Showing Newton the future
(1:54:28) – Newton and Einstein

#213 – Barry Barish: Gravitational Waves and the Most Precise Device Ever Built Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

Barry Barish is a theoretical physicist at Caltech and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– MUD\WTR: https://mudwtr.com/lex and use code LEX to get 5% off
– GiveDirectly: https://givedirectly.org/lex to get gift matched up to $300
– BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and use code LEX to get $5 off

EPISODE LINKS:
Barry’s Nobel Prize entry: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2017/barish/facts/
Barry’s Caltech profile: https://pma.caltech.edu/people/barry-c-barish
LIGO’s Website: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/
LIGO’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIGO

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:27) – Early Math and Physics questions
(18:02) – Enrico Fermi
(24:34) – Birth of the Nuclear Age
(29:42) – The Fermi Paradox
(34:45) – Gravity
(51:28) – Philosophical Implications of General Relativity
(58:34) – Detecting Gravitational Waves
(1:01:47) – LIGO
(1:34:45) – Nobel Prize
(1:49:34) – Black Holes
(2:01:53) – Space Exploration
(2:09:48) – Books
(2:18:37) – Advice for young people
(2:24:33) – Meaning of life

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