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Ken Liu: Art in the Age of AI — #79

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Feb 13, 2025

Guest

Ken Liu

Ken Liu, an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author, discusses the immigrant experience and cultural identity, highlighting feelings of alienation. He delves into the intersection of technology and storytelling, revealing how his background in both programming and law shapes his writing. Liu also explores AI's evolving role in artistic expression, sharing thoughts on its potential and controversies. Additionally, he reflects on the impact of literature on his journey as a writer, emphasizing passion and the significance of creative endeavors.

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ANECDOTE

Third Culture Kid

Ken Liu, born in China, immigrated to the US at 11, giving him a third-culture perspective.
This allows him to see cultural systems from both inside and out, fostering a cosmopolitan view.

insights

INSIGHT

Modern Rootlessness

In the modern world, everyone experiences a form of immigration as they adapt to new environments and expectations.
This constant need to change and learn new systems creates a sense of rootlessness.

insights

INSIGHT

Symbol Manipulation

Ken Liu's diverse career path, from software engineer to lawyer to writer, shares a common thread: manipulating symbols.
Whether it's code, legal arguments, or prose, he views his work as constructing artifacts from abstract symbols.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating Identity in a New Land

01:37 • 8min

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The Influences of Language and Luck on Literary Ambitions

09:22 • 3min

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From Technologist to Storyteller: The Interplay of Law and Technology in Writing

12:32 • 2min

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The Art of Storytelling and Programming

14:46 • 11min

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Exploring Genre Boundaries and the Role of Technology in Storytelling

25:34 • 5min

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The Intersection of AI and Artistry

30:22 • 26min

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Exploring Passion and Literature

56:07 • 11min

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Hillbilly Elegy

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

JD Vance

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

The language of the night

essays on fantasy and science fiction

Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Language of the Night" is a collection of essays exploring the nature of science fiction and fantasy. Le Guin challenges traditional genre boundaries and argues for a more inclusive and nuanced approach to storytelling. She emphasizes the importance of craft and the power of language to shape our understanding of the world. The essays offer insightful critiques of various authors and works, while also reflecting on Le Guin's own creative process. The collection is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the theory and practice of speculative fiction.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell

Published in 1949, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is a cautionary tale set in a future where the world is divided into three totalitarian super-states: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The novel follows Winston Smith, a minor functionary in the Ministry of Truth in Oceania, who begins to question the all-pervasive authority of the Party and its leader, Big Brother. Winston's rebellion, fueled by his forbidden love affair with Julia and his interest in the mysterious Brotherhood, ultimately leads to his capture and brutal reeducation by the Thought Police. The novel explores themes of mass surveillance, censorship, and the manipulation of truth, serving as a powerful warning about the dangers of unaccountable governments and the erosion of individual freedom and dignity.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Philip K. Dick

Published in 1968, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ' is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco after a nuclear war. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with 'retiring' six escaped Nexus-6 androids. The novel delves into profound philosophical questions about the nature of life, empathy, and what defines humanity. It also introduces the concept of Mercerism, a religion that emphasizes empathy and compassion. The book is known for its complex characters, including Deckard's moral dilemmas and the ambiguous line between human and android, which has been a significant influence on science fiction and popular culture, including the film 'Blade Runner'.

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.

Ken Liu (born 1976) is an American author of science fiction and fantasy. Liu has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards for his novel translations and original short fiction. Liu's short story "The Paper Menagerie" is the first work of fiction, of any length, to win all of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. Besides his original work, Liu's translation of Liu Cixin's Chinese language novel The Three-Body Problem (the first in the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy) won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel, making it the first translated novel to have won the award.

He studied English Literature and Computer Science at Harvard College, and graduated from Harvard Law School.

https://kenliu.name/

Steve and Ken discuss:

00:00 Meet Ken Liu: Acclaimed Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writer

04:25 The Immigrant Experience and Cultural Perspectives

09:22 Harvard, MSFT, HLS, Litigation

15:01 The Art of Storytelling and Technology

34:03 Controversy in AI Reasoning

34:31 Technology Outstripping Science

35:22 AI and the Arts

38:30 The Future of AI in Art

42:44 AI's Role in Creative Processes

50:04 Art, Automation, and Society

57:31 Favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy

01:03:06 The Genius of Philip K. Dick

Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.

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Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU. Please send any questions or suggestions to manifold1podcast@gmail.com or Steve on X @hsu_steve.

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