David Jilk, founder of eCortex and author of the poetic sci-fi epic Epoch, joins the conversation to explore the intricacies of artificial general intelligence. He shares insights from his two-decade journey in AI and neuroscience, emphasizing the importance of understanding human cognition. The discussion dives into the philosophical implications of consciousness and the alignment problem in AI, juxtaposing historical risks like the Manhattan Project with modern AI challenges. Jilk's unique blend of poetry and science offers a fresh perspective on humanity's future with AI.