#77 – Alex Garland: Ex Machina, Devs, Annihilation, and the Poetry of Science
Mar 3, 2020
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In this fascinating discussion, Alex Garland, the visionary writer and director behind films like Ex Machina and Annihilation, dives deep into the philosophical underpinnings of AI and our perception of reality. He explores whether we're living in a dream, the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence, and the beauty of scientific concepts like quantum mechanics. Garland also reflects on ambition's moral complexities and how classic sci-fi influences our understanding of consciousness, all while celebrating the artistic essence of storytelling.
Science and poetry intertwine in Garland's view of quantum mechanics.
Creating entities like Ava challenges human exceptionalism and fosters humility.
Garland anticipates societal shifts towards wisdom and acceptance post-revelation of deterministic actions.
Deep dives
Understanding the Beauty of Scientific Thinking
Discovering the poetic and lyrical nature of scientific ideas, Alex Garland finds beauty in concepts like entanglement, superpositions, and the delicate nuances of quantum mechanics. He believes science is a form of poetry that reveals profound truths about the universe.
Challenging Human Exceptionalism
Alex Garland hopes that creating entities like Ava will instill humility in humans by challenging their sense of exceptionalism. He believes this experience can help humanity realize the interconnectedness and complexity of consciousness, fostering a greater understanding of our place in the world.
Impact of Determinism on Society
If a machine revealed deterministic nature of actions, Garland anticipates initial disturbance among people about lack of free will. However, he foresees a shift towards wisdom and acceptance, leading to a deeper understanding of meaningful experiences beyond individual control.
Participation in Conversations
Garland aspires to be remembered as someone who engages in conversations rather than making proclamations. He values being part of an exchange of ideas, where his work contributes to a thoughtful dialogue, especially concerning AI, quantum mechanics, and humanity's place in the universe.
Humbling Reflections on Free Will
While Garland believes the universe is deterministic and questions free will, he acknowledges the importance of individual experiences and emotions. He highlights the essence of consciousness and the potential implications of unraveling the mysteries of the mind and the cosmos.
Alex Garland is a writer and director of many imaginative and philosophical films from the dreamlike exploration of human self-destruction in the movie Annihilation to the deep questions of consciousness and intelligence raised in the movie Ex Machina, which to me is one of the greatest movies on artificial intelligence ever made. I’m releasing this podcast to coincide with the release of his new series called Devs that will premiere this Thursday, March 5, on Hulu.
This conversation is part of the Artificial Intelligence podcast. If you would like to get more information about this podcast go to https://lexfridman.com/ai or connect with @lexfridman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, or YouTube where you can watch the video versions of these conversations. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify, or support it on Patreon.
This episode is presented by Cash App. Download it (App Store, Google Play), use code “LexPodcast”.
Here’s the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
OUTLINE:
00:00 – Introduction
03:42 – Are we living in a dream?
07:15 – Aliens
12:34 – Science fiction: imagination becoming reality
17:29 – Artificial intelligence
22:40 – The new “Devs” series and the veneer of virtue in Silicon Valley
31:50 – Ex Machina and 2001: A Space Odyssey
44:58 – Lone genius
49:34 – Drawing inpiration from Elon Musk
51:24 – Space travel
54:03 – Free will
57:35 – Devs and the poetry of science
1:06:38 – What will you be remembered for?
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