Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital and a visionary in venture capital, dives into the fierce competition within American science and the global race for tech supremacy. He explores the balance between individual recognition in research and the essential collaborative spirit behind scientific breakthroughs. Wolfe discusses the transformative power of AI in both science and investment, the importance of cultural dynamics within labs, and the risks involved in funding AI startups. The conversation ultimately highlights fostering a culture of inquiry to inspire future innovations.
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insights INSIGHT
Science as an Institution
Scientific progress isn't about utopian ideals or nihilistic destruction.
It's about the preservation of science as an institution of constant questioning and collaborative competition.
insights INSIGHT
Science and Competitive Advantage
Competition among scientists drives superior science, leading to competitive advantages.
Superior scientific knowledge translates to power and progress in various fields.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Smoother Flights
Advancements in weather modeling have significantly reduced turbulence experienced on flights.
AI now predicts better flight paths, showcasing continuous iteration even on century-old tech.
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Written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 'The Little Prince' tells the story of a young prince who travels from his small home planet to Earth, encountering various characters that symbolize the absurdities and narrow-mindedness of grown-ups. The prince, who deeply loves a rose on his home planet, learns valuable lessons about the importance of human connections and the uniqueness of loved ones through his interactions with a fox and other characters. The story is a poignant reflection on life, human nature, and the importance of seeing with the heart rather than the eyes.
Wind, sand, and stars
John O'Hara Cosgrave
Lewis Galantière
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Wind, Sand and Stars is a memoir by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that explores themes of friendship, death, heroism, and the search for meaning in life. The book recounts his experiences as a pilot, including a dramatic plane crash in the Sahara Desert. It also reflects on the role of technology in expanding human understanding and connection with nature.
When We Cease to Understand the World
None
Benjamín Labatut
The Maniac
Benhamín Labatut
The story of civilization
Will Durant
Ariel Durant
This series, written over a period of 40 years, is a detailed and engaging narrative of human history from prehistoric times to the late 18th century. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of historical events, cultural developments, and the lives of influential individuals. The Durants' approach is characterized by their attention to art, literature, music, and other aspects of culture, making history more accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Despite some criticisms for being Eurocentric and lacking in primary research, the series is praised for its thorough and personable style, making complex historical topics interesting and transparent[2][3][5].
Science is the world’s greatest force for progress, but how are the people and institutions that compose this critical activity performing? More specifically, how well is American science competing as more and more countries focus on sci-tech supremacy as a key aspect of building power? The frontiers of technology are determinative of destiny, and so who is pushing those boundaries furthest is crucial to understand.
Those questions and more are what Lux Capital’s co-founder and managing partnerJosh Wolfe and Riskgaming host Danny Crichton talk about. Riffing on Lux’s most recent LP quarterly letter, which emphasized the tension between the nihilist antihero of V for Vendetta against the collaborative community at the heart of scientific progress, the two debate the promise of greater prosperity against the concerning signals of stagnation that are talked about relentlessly in the press.
Among the other topics the two discuss are why scientists continue to compete so ferociously for recognition; the sins of human nature; why the cultures of labs, schools and nations is so vital for progress; recent capital market changes particularly around interest rates; AI’s influence in the sciences; and finally, how VCs will make money in AI — and how they can also lose tens of billions of dollars as valuations evaporate.
Riskgaming 
