StarTalk Radio AGI, Immortality, & Visions of the Future with Adam Becker
14 snips
Nov 28, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Adam Becker, a science communicator and author with a PhD in computational cosmology, explores the intersection of technology and society. He delves into the practical challenges of colonizing Mars, critiquing the promises of tech billionaires and the misconceptions around immortality. The discussion covers the limits of exponential tech growth and why many futurist visions may overlook critical resources. Adam also sheds light on how science fiction reflects societal issues, arguing for a responsible approach to innovation.
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Email To Neil Led To A Podcast Invite
- Adam Becker emailed Neil about a plaque error as a grad student and got invited to present his view.
- That exchange led to ongoing contact and later podcast appearances.
Mars Colonies Are Far Harder Than Hype
- Getting people to Mars by 2050 is extremely unlikely due to life‑support, radiation, and mission-duration challenges.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson emphasizes we still lack the practical knowledge to keep humans alive on long Mars missions.
Singularity Relies On Flawed Assumptions
- The singularity idea rests on flawed assumptions like intelligence being a single scalar and Moore's Law as a universal law.
- Adam Becker argues exponential technological trends are not natural laws and therefore singulatiry claims are incoherent.
