Lex Fridman Podcast #380 – Neil Gershenfeld: Self-Replicating Robots and the Future of Fabrication
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May 28, 2023 
Neil Gershenfeld, director of the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, pioneers the fusion of digital and physical worlds through innovative fabrication technologies. He discusses the groundbreaking concept of self-replicating robots, emphasizing their potential to democratize production and reshape creativity. Gershenfeld highlights the transformative impact of local fabrication facilities and sustainable practices, while also exploring the intricate relationship between technology and society. The conversation invites listeners to envision a future where creativity knows no limits.
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Turing's Mistake
- Turing's machine has a fundamental physics mistake: the head is distinct from the tape.
- This separation leads to inefficiencies in modern computers, as they constantly move information between storage and processing.
Unified Computation
- There's no real distinction between the computer and the computation, as it is all computation.
- This understanding is crucial for fields like quantum computing and synthetic life, where hardware and software are inseparable.
Musical Instruments and Computation
- Neil Gershenfeld's interest in the physics of musical instruments led him to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma.
- This collaboration involved instrumenting a cello to extract data and bring it into computational environments.