Dwarkesh Patel, a prominent podcaster and co-author of "The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI," dives into the world of AI with captivating insights. He discusses the transformative implications of AI advancements on the economy and human society. Sharing experiences from his interviews, he highlights the necessity for balanced perspectives in understanding technology's evolution. Patel also reflects on his upbringing, the transition from computer science to podcasting, and the vital role of mentorship in shaping voices within the podcasting landscape.
01:10:06
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
AI Horizon Length Doubling
AI models' task-completion time doubles every seven months.
This exponential progress will lead to discontinuous impacts as AI handles longer tasks.
insights INSIGHT
Capability Knowledge Drives AI Progress
Knowing a capability is possible in AI often leads to rapid advancements.
AI labs' approaches seem to be converging, raising questions about future competitive edges.
insights INSIGHT
Race Dynamics in AI
Some believe a significant lead in AI could create an insurmountable advantage.
This lead would create exponential gains, preventing others from catching up.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
West of Eden is a mesmerizing oral history that explores the development of Hollywood and Los Angeles through the stories of five powerful families, including the Warners and the Dohenys. The book offers a glimpse into the lives of Hollywood's elite, revealing both the glamour and the darker aspects of their experiences. Stein's work is praised for its compulsive readability and insightful portrayal of the city's history.
The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI, 2019-2025
None
Gavin Leech
Dwarkesh Patel
This book provides a comprehensive portrait of the AI revolution through in-depth interviews with leading researchers and company founders, including Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, and Ilya Sutskever. It explores technical, economic, philosophical, and safety considerations of creating artificial general intelligence.
We flipped the tables on Dwarkesh Patel this week and turned the podcaster into the podcastee.
Over the past few years, Patel has made a name for himself as a stellar interviewer of interesting people. Whether questioning a scientist, historian or tech engineer, Patel always goes deep with the subject and refuses to dumb things down for any audience. This is a blessing in an era of our attention being seized by 30-second blips and bloops on our phones and social apps.
Patel had done a particularly excellent job on the AI front. He’s interviewed most of the major players in the AI field as large language models have risen to the fore. To that end, this podcast brings news. Patel and his co-author Gavin Leech are putting out a new book on AI through Stripe Press. Called The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI, the book is an oral history of the recent AI era.
You can buy it in digital form now and later in hardback. (Look at that Stripe Press website, publishers. Know what you’re capable of with some effort.) I received an early copy, and it really is a wonderful way to understand current AI technology and its implications.
In this episode, Patel and I, of course, talk AI, but we also delve into his life and sudden rise as a podcasting force. We recorded the program together in Patel’s San Francisco podcasting lair. I enjoyed his beard. You will enjoy the show.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe
Core Memory 
