AGI is coming. Reid Hoffman just wrote the book on how to prepare.
According to Reid, every major tech breakthrough (the written word, the printing press, the telephone) triggered mass fear. But, contrary to our worries, new technology tends to enhance human agency—even more so, if you know how to use it well.
Reid is the cofounder of LinkedIn, Inflection AI, and Manas AI; a partner at venture capital firm Greylock Partners; an early backer and board member of OpenAI; and an award-winning podcaster
We spent an hour talking about how to develop a compass for navigating AGI. Here are a few takeaways:
Our sense of human agency is not just about external control but an internal stance—how we approach uncertainty & new tech is crucial
In new technology waves, NO blueprint or plan will have the right answers. Instead, adapting to new technology requires broad access, an experimental mindset, and flexibility
In an AGI world most jobs will transform, not disappear—and how you can prepare with hands-on trial and error
How certain social norms and ethics should change as AGI changes the landscape—like individual access to personal data
Why now may be finally be the era where quantified self tools become valuable
…and more, including everything in his new book Superagency, out this week.
It was a pleasure to have him on the show for a second time. This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to help build a more human future with AI.
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Timestamps:
Introduction: 00:01:29
Patterns in how we’ve historically adopted technology: 00:02:50
Why humans have typically been fearful of new technologies: 00:07:02
How Reid developed his own sense of agency: 00:13:25
The way Reid thinks about making investment decisions: 00:20:08
AI as a “techno-humanist” compass: 00:29:40
How to prepare yourself for the way AI will change knowledge work: 00:35:30
Why equitable access to AI is important: 00:41:39
Reid’s take on why private commons will be beneficial for society: 00:45:15
How AI is making Silicon Valley’s conception of the “quantified self” a reality: 00:47:23
The shift from symbolic to sub-symbolic AI mirrors how we understand intelligence: 00:52:14
Reid’s new book, Superagency: 01:03:29
Links to resources mentioned in the episode:
Reid Hoffman: @reidhoffman
Superagency, Reid’s newest book:
AI and I 