Doom Debates Nobel Prizewinner SWAYED by My AI Doom Argument — Prof. Michael Levitt, Stanford University
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Dec 5, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Michael Levitt, a Nobel Prize-winning computational biologist from Stanford, openly revises his thoughts on AI doom arguments. He explores the evolution of AI and its unpredictable timelines influenced by advances in computing. Levitt debates the potential existential risks of powerful AI, comparing them to nuclear threats and pandemics. He also emphasizes the need for effective regulation and outreach to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, he acknowledges the importance of dialogues like this in shaping future safety measures.
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Open-Minded Update
- Michael Levitt updated his views during the interview and became more convinced of AI risk.
- He said he'll add slides to his lectures based on the discussion.
Nobel Work Started As A Young Programmer
- Levitt described his early career programming for Prof. Lifson and applying the same code to large molecules.
- That multi-scale modeling work later became Nobel-winning decades after initial research.
GPU-Led Leap To Practical AI
- Levitt traces modern AI capability to sudden increases in computer power and GPUs born from gaming demand.
- He calls ChatGPT-3.5's release a turning point that made AI seem genuinely intelligent.
