Founders #92 Ed Thorp and Claude Shannon
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Oct 7, 2019 Dive into the groundbreaking intersection of gambling and investing through the minds of Ed Thorp and Claude Shannon. Discover how Thorp's mathematical genius revolutionized Blackjack and his journey to hedge fund success. Uncover the secretive Project X that enhanced secure communication, while exploring Shannon's pioneering work in information theory. Learn about the volatile nature of markets and risk management, and hear anecdotes about Thorp's meetings with legends like Warren Buffett. A captivating exploration of intellect and strategy!
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Claude Shannon's Diverse Genius
- Claude Shannon, the inventor of information theory, was a polymath with diverse interests.
- From a young age, he compulsively built things, showcasing his problem-solving abilities.
Birth of Information Theory
- Shannon's work on the Differential Analyzer at MIT led to the invention of information theory.
- He realized electrical circuits could compute more efficiently than mechanical linkages, laying the foundation for digital computers.
Project X and Information Theory
- During World War II, Shannon worked on Project X, developing the first digitally scrambled wireless phone (SIGSALI) with Alan Turing.
- This work on concealing messages with random noise influenced his insights in information theory.
