The Tim Ferriss Show

#541: Eric Schmidt — The Promises and Perils of AI, the Future of Warfare, Profound Revolutions on the Horizon, and Exploring the Meaning of Life

Oct 26, 2021

Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and co-founder of Schmidt Futures, shares his insights on the transformative power of AI. He discusses the evolution of AI and its ethical implications, particularly in relation to misinformation. The conversation dives into AI's impact on human relationships, drug discovery, and global security. Schmidt also reflects on the necessity of responsible governance amidst technological advancements and offers thought-provoking perspectives on the future of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence.

01:34:57

Episode guests

Eric Schmidt

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Generalized Artificial Intelligence and its Future Potential

01:23

The Role of Computers in Society: More or Less Meaning?

00:32

Ethical considerations in AI decision-making and intelligence consulting

01:48

The development of humans with AI systems

00:35

Intro

4min

Exploring the Intersection of AI and Humanity's Future

2min

Navigating AI and Historical Perspectives

8min

The Evolution and Future of AI

23min

Exploring AI's Impact on Human Connections and Advancement

5min

The AI Paradox: From Relationships to Global Security

33min

Navigating the Digital Landscape

16min

Exploring Insights and Recommendations for a Better Weekend

6min

Eric Schmidt — The Promises and Perils of AI, the Future of Warfare, Profound Revolutions on the Horizon, and Exploring the Meaning of Life | Brought to you by ShipStation shipping software, ButcherBox premium meats delivered to your door, and Pique Tea premium tea crystals (pu’er, etc.). More on all three below.

Eric Schmidt (@ericschmidt) is a technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He joined Google in 2001, helping the company grow from a Silicon Valley startup to a global technological leader. He served as chief executive officer and chairman from 2001 to 2011 and as executive chairman and technical advisor thereafter. Under his leadership, Google dramatically scaled its infrastructure and diversified its product offerings while maintaining a culture of innovation. In 2017, he co-founded Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative that bets early on exceptional people making the world better.

He serves as chair of the Broad Institute and formerly served as chair of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. He is the host of Reimagine with Eric Schmidt, a podcast exploring how society can build a brighter future after the COVID-19 pandemic. Eric has a new book out titled The Age of AI: And Our Human Future, which he coauthored with Henry A. Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher.

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.