E116: Stuck Academia, US vs China, and Why Startups Work

Feb 8, 2025

Steve Hsu, a physicist and startup founder, discusses the deep ideological biases festering in academia and their impact on intellectual diversity. He explores how AI is reshaping labor markets and the potential opportunities it presents. The conversation highlights China's geopolitical advancements and the critical need for nuanced understanding of its tech landscape. Hsu also touches on global demographic shifts, underpopulation issues, and the evolving roles of women, linking these trends to changes in higher education and societal dynamics.

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INSIGHT

Academia's Leftward Shift

Academia's shift leftward is empirically proven, with few non-left professors in humanities.
This shift hinders viewpoint diversity and challenges meritocracy, impacting research and hiring.

INSIGHT

Impact on Scientific Practices

While science fields are similarly polarized, political views impact research less directly.
However, the shift affects commitment to meritocracy and truth-seeking, impacting practices.

ANECDOTE

Resistance to Challenging Data

Social scientists often avoid data challenging their beliefs, like immigration's social costs.
Researching sensitive topics can draw criticism and accusations of moral corruption.

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Today, we're re-releasing an episode from 2023 where Erik Torenberg sits down with physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu on topics including the ideological shift in academia, the impact of AI on labor, China's technological advancements and geopolitical position, and the global fertility decline.

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RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:

Superfocus: https://superfocus.ai/

Othram: https://othram.com/index.html

Manifold: https://www.manifold1.com/

Eric Kaufman’s works: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EcCc2C4AAAAJ&hl=en

NY Times: Idaho University Murder Investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/10/us/idaho-university-murder-investigation.html#

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X / TWITTER:

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@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Academia has shifted dramatically leftward, with around 90% of professors in social sciences being left-leaning.

• Traditional academic merit-based systems like GRE requirements are being dismantled in favor of DEI initiatives.

• Truth-seeking academics are increasingly moving to industry, particularly tech and innovation sectors.

• The University of Austin represents an attempt to create an alternative academic institution focused on traditional academic values.

• Global fertility decline is linked to fundamental changes in women's roles and societal values around family formation.

• Current demographic challenges in China won't significantly impact their economy for at least 20 years.

• AI is already capable of replacing complex customer service roles, as demonstrated in Philippines' call centers.

• Law firms are reporting 20-30% efficiency gains from current AI implementations.

• The guest views AI as humanity's descendants rather than a separate threatening entity.

• Most Westerners, including tech leaders, are poorly informed about China's actual technological and economic capabilities.

• China has built a comparable or superior tech ecosystem to the US in many areas.

• The US needs to accept a bipolar world order rather than trying to maintain sole hegemony.

• Western concerns about China's demographic collapse are often based on poor understanding of the data.

• The future of AI research should focus more on theoretical understanding rather than just building bigger models.

• The guest's company Othram has revolutionized crime-solving through advanced DNA analysis.

• The guest balances work between deep theoretical physics problems and practical startup applications.