For the end of the year, we're going to repost a few of Nathan's favorite AI scouting episodes from other shows. Today: Samuel Hammond joins the Future of Life Institute podcast to discuss how AGI will transform economies, governments, institutions, and other power structures. If you need an ecommerce platform, check out our sponsor Shopify: https://shopify.com/cognitive for a $1/month trial period.

Samuel Hammond is a Canadian-born, DC-based senior economist for the Foundation for American Innovation, a think tank focused on bridging the cultures of Silicon Valley and DC. This conversation is super wide ranging, covering the most likely default path to AGI, the economic and institutional transformations that AI will beget, the critical distinction between thinking about AI in isolation versus as part of a dynamic system, the proposal for a Manhattan or Apollo like megaproject for AI safety, and lots more.

You can subscribe to Future of Life Institute here: https://futureoflife.org/project/future-of-life-institute-podcast/

You can read Samuel Hammond's blog at https://www.secondbest.ca

---

We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

---

SPONSORS:

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of ALL eCommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries.From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/cognitive

Omneky is an omnichannel creative generation platform that lets you launch hundreds of thousands of ad iterations that actually work customized across all platforms, with a click of a button. Omneky combines generative AI and real-time advertising data. Mention "Cog Rev" for 10% off www.omneky.com

NetSuite has 25 years of providing financial software for all your business needs. More than 36,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/cognitive and download your own customized KPI checklist.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro: End of year and bonus episodes

(04:24) Discussion on AI Timelines

(14:08) Insights from Information Theory

(15:11) Sponsors: Shopify | MasterClass

(32:12) AI Progress and Hard Steps in Evolution

(34:21) Sponsors: NetSuite | Omneky

(39:12) Government Preparedness for Advanced AI

(46:16) The Internet's Role in Mass Mobilization and Erosion of Trust

(01:05:47) The Role of AI in Monitoring and Surveillance

(01:27:18) The Potential Dangers of Open-Sourcing AI

(01:36:24) The Influence of AI on Society and Privacy

(01:42:21) The Future of Government Services in a Techno-Feudalist Society

(01:53:58) The Future of AI in Robotics

(02:15:25) The Role of AI in the Future of Financial Markets

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Why Whatever You Start Doesn’t Matter