In this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with theoretical physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu. They discuss political polarization in academia, the fertility crisis, AI, and more.
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LINKS
Superfocus: https://superfocus.ai/
Othram: https://othram.com/index.html
Manifold: https://www.manifold1.com/
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X / TWITTER:
@hsu_steve (Steve)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@upstream__pod
@turpentinemedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(02:21) Political polarization in academia
(05:47) The decline of meritocracy in academia
(10:00) Why can't academia change?
(13:27) Truth-seeking in startups
(20:36) Sponsor: Shopify
(23:36) The fertility crisis
(32:11) AI and labor
(41:06) What industries are safe from AI automation?
(44:05) AI Safety vs accelerationism
(47:51) Understanding the rise of China
(58:46) The future of the US/China relationship
(01:00:41) How does Steve allocate his time?
(01:04:41) Steve's suggestions for underexplored opportunities
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co
Producer: Sam Kaufman
Editor: Michelle Poreh
For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co
