

Blaise Agüera y Arcas
Senior researcher in AI (Google) and author exploring computation, intelligence, and the intersection of biology and machine learning; discusses AI, computation, and his books on intelligence and life.
Top 5 podcasts with Blaise Agüera y Arcas
Ranked by the Snipd community

111 snips
Aug 19, 2024 • 1h 21min
286 | Blaise Agüera y Arcas on the Emergence of Replication and Computation
Blaise Agüera y Arcas, Vice President of Engineering at Google, discusses the fascinating intersection of AI, computer simulations, and the origins of life. He explores how randomness in computer models can lead to lifelike self-replication. The conversation reveals insights about the minimalist programming language BrainFuck and its implications for understanding intelligence. Agüera y Arcas also delves into the dynamics of life’s emergence, tying together replication, energy, and computational processes, challenging our perspectives on both life and intelligence.

111 snips
Mar 30, 2024 • 56min
128. Are Our Tools Becoming Part of Us?
Blaise Agüera y Arcas, a Google Research Fellow and author of 'Who Are We Now?', shares insights on artificial intelligence and its impact on identity. He recounts designing a groundbreaking algorithm for the U.S. Navy at just 14, revealing how historical innovations like Gutenberg's printing press connect to today's tech landscape. The discussion dives into how AI's evolution raises philosophical questions about consciousness and intelligence, alongside patterns in identity shaped by emerging technologies and social contexts.

56 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 13min
Is AI Our PARTNER or Our ENEMY? Google CTO Blaise Agüera y Arcas
Blaise Agüera y Arcas, a senior researcher at Google and author, and Benjamin Bratton, a philosopher and theorist, dive into the evolving relationship between AI and humanity. They discuss whether AI can truly learn from us or if we’re the ones being trained. The duo explores AI's potential in enhancing education, medicine, and creativity, alongside the ethical implications of its use. They also debate the significance of randomness in human and machine creativity and propose the idea of 'universal basic compute' as a pathway to collective intelligence.

46 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 15min
Blaise Agüera y Arcas: What is Intelligence?
Blaise Agüera y Arcas, VP at Google and founder of Paradigms of Intelligence, explores the essence of intelligence and its connection to symbiogenesis. He discusses how life and computation intertwine, challenging traditional views of technology and humanity's separation. The conversation dives into biological computing, showcasing how DNA embodies computational principles. Agüera y Arcas also highlights the role of collective human intelligence in shaping our world and advocates for a cooperative approach to AI rather than one centered on dominance.

7 snips
Mar 12, 2025 • 1h 10min
Blaise Agüera y Arcas and Michael Levin: The Computational Foundations of Life and Intelligence
Blaise Agüera y Arcas, a Google researcher, and Michael Levin, a Tufts University expert, dive into the fascinating overlap between biology and computation. They reveal how simple rules can produce complex behaviors resembling intelligence, challenging our understanding of life. Levin discusses self-sorting algorithms that mimic adaptive problem-solving, while Agüera y Arcas explores the spontaneous emergence of self-replicating programs. Their groundbreaking insights suggest that information processing is central to both biological and computational systems.


