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#782: Legendary Inventor Danny Hillis (Plus Kevin Kelly) — Unorthodox Lessons from 400+ Patents, Solving the Impossible, Real Al vs. “AI”, Hiring Richard Feynman, Working with Steve Jobs, Creating Parallel Computing, and Much More

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Dec 11, 2024

Danny Hillis, a groundbreaking inventor and engineer with over 400 patents, joins Kevin Kelly, the founding editor of WIRED, for a riveting conversation. They explore the intricacies of parallel computing and its revolutionary impact on technology, like AI. Hillis shares his unorthodox hiring practices and innovative journeys in fields like cybersecurity and agriculture, emphasizing curiosity over credentials. They also discuss advancements in medical imaging and the fascinating narrative behind the 10,000-Year Clock in Texas, highlighting the importance of storytelling in innovation.

02:36:07

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ADVICE

Preconditions for Invention

Look for opportunities where preconditions for invention are in place, like puzzle pieces.
Danny Hillis recognized this with parallel computing when multi-core chips and digital sensors emerged.

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ANECDOTE

Getting into the AI Lab

To work with Marvin Minsky, Hillis invented a picture-based programming method for kids.
This secured him an interview and eventually a position at the AI lab.

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ANECDOTE

Richard Feynman and Thinking Machines

Danny Hillis met Richard Feynman and offered him a position at Thinking Machines.
Feynman declined but recommended his son, who started the first quantum computing project there.

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Innovations and Sleep Solutions

01:57 • 8min

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Creative Hiring and Unconventional Journeys

09:54 • 25min

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Unpacking the Complexities and Innovations of Parallel Computing

35:20 • 5min

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Rethinking Cybersecurity: Amdahl's Law and Zero Trust Routing

40:42 • 6min

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Innovative Journeys in AI and Education

46:47 • 19min

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Exploring Agricultural Innovations and Personal Growth

01:06:06 • 19min

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Navigating Complexity: The Interplay of Technology and Nature

01:25:12 • 26min

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Innovative Noise Masking Technology for Open Offices

01:51:16 • 2min

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Innovative Solutions for Neurodegenerative Diseases

01:53:25 • 5min

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Innovating Medical Imaging and Understanding Causality

01:58:05 • 29min

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The 10,000-Year Clock: A Monumental Story

02:27:23 • 3min

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Closing Reflections and Performance Insights

02:30:11 • 6min

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#1173

• Mentioned in 43 episodes

Excellent Advice for Living

Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

Kevin Kelly

Excellent Advice for Living is a compilation of Kevin Kelly's life wisdom, initially written for his young adult children on his 68th birthday. The book features 450 aphorisms that cover a wide range of topics, from setting ambitious goals and optimizing generosity to cultivating compassion and practical advice on career, relationships, parenting, and finances. Kelly's advice is designed to be accessible and applicable to all ages, emphasizing the importance of kindness, decency, and generosity of spirit. The book is praised for its straightforward and memorable guidance, making it an ideal companion for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.

#1835

• Mentioned in 31 episodes

What technology wants

Kevin Kelly

In this book, Kevin Kelly presents a sweeping vision of technology as a living force that is an extension of biological evolution. He introduces the concept of the 'technium,' a global, massively interconnected system of technology that evolves based on its own inherent desires and instincts. Kelly argues that technology is not just a tool but a self-evolving entity that gives our lives greater meaning. He outlines a dozen trajectories for technology in the coming decades and emphasizes the importance of aligning ourselves with technology's agenda to capture its colossal potential. The book is both visionary and optimistic, exploring how technology can expand our individual potential and drive progress in society.

#5487

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Vanishing Asia

A Masterclass on the Past, Present, and Future of Asia

Kevin Kelly

Vanishing Asia is a comprehensive and visually stunning 3-volume set of oversized books that document the rapidly disappearing traditions, costumes, architecture, festivals, and lifestyles of Asia. Over 49 years, Kevin Kelly traveled to the most remote places in 35 Asian countries, capturing 9,000 images on 1,000 uniquely designed pages. The set covers West, Central, and East Asia, showcasing the diverse cultures from Turkey to Japan and from Siberia to Indonesia. This work is an ambitious passion project that highlights the beauty and complexity of Asian cultures as they face the challenges of modernization.

#1399

• Mentioned in 38 episodes

The Inevitable

Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future

Kevin Kelly

In 'The Inevitable,' Kevin Kelly outlines twelve technological forces that will significantly impact how we work, learn, and communicate over the next thirty years. These forces include becoming, cognifying, flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, interacting, tracking, questioning, and beginning. Kelly argues that understanding and embracing these forces will help individuals and businesses navigate the coming changes effectively. The book is praised for its optimistic and insightful view of the future, although some critics note that it lacks a detailed discussion of the potential downsides of these technological advancements.

#114858

The pattern on the stone

The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work

W. Daniel Hillis

In this book, Danny Hillis provides an easy-to-follow explanation of how computers process data, starting from basic logic and simple electrical circuits to advanced concepts like programming languages, algorithms, memory, quantum computing, parallel computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems. Hillis avoids technical jargon and uses colorful anecdotes and simple examples, such as the 'turtle' programs from the Logo computing language, to make the subject accessible to non-technical readers.

#20522

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Pattern on the Stone

The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work

W. Daniel (Danny) Hillis

In this book, Danny Hillis explains the fundamental principles of computer science in an easy-to-follow manner. Starting from basic logic and switches, he describes how these simple components combine to perform complex operations. The book covers programming languages, algorithms, memory, and advanced topics such as quantum computing, parallel computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems. Hillis uses lucid explanations and colorful anecdotes to make the operations of a computer understandable to a broad audience.

Danny Hillis is an inventor, scientist, author, and engineer. While completing his doctorate at MIT, he pioneered the parallel computers that are the basis for the processors used for AI and most high-performance computer chips. He is now a founding partner with Applied Invention, working on new ideas in cybersecurity, medicine, and agriculture.

Kevin Kelly is the founding executive editor of WIRED magazine, the former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review, and a bestselling author of books on technology and culture, including Excellent Advice for Living. Subscribe to Kevin’s newsletter, Recomendo, at recomendo.com.

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Who are Danny Hillis and Kevin Kelly?

[07:56] How Danny and Kevin first met through Stewart Brand.

[09:58] The funniest person who ever opened Danny’s interview box of unusual objects.

[14:01] Danny’s transition to Disney as a Disney Fellow and Vice President of Imagineering.

[19:12] The contrast between engineering and artistic approaches to problem-solving.

[28:56] The development of parallel computing and founding Thinking Machines.

[37:15] The three criteria by which projects are chosen at Applied Invention.

[40:36] Zero-trust packet routing (ZPR) and the future of cybersecurity.

[46:46] Learning by “hanging out” with experts like Seymour Papert, Marvin Minsky, and Richard Feynman.

[59:20] Danny’s work in biotechnology and cancer research with David Agus.

[01:07:44] Staying sustainable with systems-oriented thinking in agriculture — as nature intended.

[01:16:10] Danny’s superpower.

[01:17:48] Homeschooling, education on the move, and the influence of Mrs. Wilner.

[01:22:00] The failure of Thinking Machines and other regrets/surprises.

[01:26:00] The “Entanglement” that blurs natural and technological boundaries.

[01:30:54] The current state of AI versus true intelligence.

[01:34:34] How AI may help humanity better understand its place on the intelligence spectrum.

[01:39:42] What the future looks like to a short-term pessimist/long-term optimist.

[01:50:50] The cone of silence we never heard from again.

[01:53:10] Debugging dementia and other diseases.

[01:58:05] The MRI alternative Danny’s tackling.

[02:00:51] We don’t we have a freezer version of the consumer microwave oven?

[02:01:23] Danny’s place in pinch-to-zoom iPhone innovation history.

[02:04:51] The pros and cons of patents for inventors and society.

[02:08:01] Inventors Danny finds inspiring.

[02:10:04] Danny’s cause-and-effect heresy.

[02:14:47] Quantum computing and its implications.

[02:18:34] The scientific pursuit of understanding consciousness.

[02:23:00] The question Danny asks himself before investing time in a project.

[02:25:26] Danny’s 10,000-year billboard.

[02:29:49] Parting thoughts.

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