The Metagame #40 - Alex Zhu | Rational Spirituality, AI Alignment & Chris Langan's Metaphysics
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Oct 17, 2025 In this episode, guest Alex Zhu, a Math Olympian and entrepreneur, delves into the intersection of spirituality and AI alignment. He recounts a transformative ayahuasca experience that provided profound insights. Alex discusses the concept of 'trapped priors'—rigid beliefs hindering personal growth—and how spirituality can provide deeper healing than therapy. He also explores metaphysical ideas like self-simulation and the significance of love as reality's essence. Additionally, Alex emphasizes practical spiritual practices like forgiveness and humility in everyday life.
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Ayahuasca As A Turning Point
- Alex describes an ayahuasca experience where he perceived a vast, guiding light that felt like 'God'.
- That trip made religious texts like Jesus' sayings suddenly resonate and demanded an explanation beyond his prior worldview.
AI Should Clarify Human Values
- Alex reframes AI alignment as entangled with humans' self-alignment and trapped priors.
- He argues AI should help clarify and update people's values rather than simply optimize pre-existing ones.
Infant Trauma Healed Through Bodywork
- Alex recounts being held and rocked by a bodyworker which released a deep infant trauma and lifted a lifelong weight.
- The experience expanded his felt degrees of freedom and reduced premature overconfidence in reasoning.
