Ken Liu

Ken Liu, an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author, discusses the immigrant experience and cultural identity, highlighting feelings of alienation. He delves into the intersection of technology and storytelling, revealing how his background in both programming and law shapes his writing. Liu also explores AI's evolving role in artistic expression, sharing thoughts on its potential and controversies. Additionally, he reflects on the impact of literature on his journey as a writer, emphasizing passion and the significance of creative endeavors.

In this engaging conversation, sci-fi author Neal Stephenson discusses his experiences as a co-founder of a startup and reflects on the parallels between AI and the nuclear age. Ken Liu delves into the role of narrative in shaping reality and the potential of AI to enhance creativity. Joscha Bach explores consciousness and AGI, contemplating what it means to be human in a tech-driven world. Investor Cyan Banister emphasizes the importance of spotting trends for future opportunities. Together, they explore how fiction can serve as a roadmap for innovation.

Ken Liu, a celebrated American author known for his speculative fiction, dives deep into the future of AI and creativity. He discusses how AI is not just mimicking humans but actively reshaping our relationships and artistry. Liu explores the tensions between technology and human connection, debating whether AI should accelerate our progress or slow it down. He argues that true innovation comes from co-creation with machines, urging for narratives that reflect diverse human experiences in this evolving landscape.

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning, bestselling author Ken Liu about his epic fantasy series The Dandelion Dynasty, the works of Philip K. Dick and Ursula K. Le Guin, writing and persistence, how technology plays into our lives, writing short stories vs. novels, the relationship between history, modernity and language, how symbolism plays into the creative process, Frankenstein, photography and much more.NOTE: This is part one of a two-part chat with Ken. Stayed tuned next week for his mini-masterclass on Tech-Fi & Technology As Story.SUPPORT THE SHOW:- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (for exclusive bonus episodes, author readings, book giveaways and more)- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (for a selection of tees, tote bags, mugs, notebooks and more)- Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FanFiAddict YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or check us out on ⁠Spotify⁠, where this and every other episode of the show is available in full video- Rate and review SFF Addicts on your platform of choice, and share us with your friendsEMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sffaddictspod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ABOUT OUR GUEST:Ken Liu is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Dandelion Dynasty epic fantasy quartet, along with the short story collections The Paper Menagerie & Other Stories and The Hidden Girl & Other Stories. His latest novel is Speaking Bones, the final book in The Dandelion Dynasty.Find Ken on Twitter, ⁠⁠Amazon, Substack⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠his personal website⁠⁠.ABOUT OUR HOSTS:Adrian M. Gibson is a podcaster, writer and illustrator. His debut novel, Mushroom Blues, is releasing in spring 2024.Find Adrian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his personal website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.M.J. Kuhn is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Among Thieves⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, her debut novel, and its sequel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thick as Thieves⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find M.J. on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠her personal website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FanFiAddict Book Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MUSIC:Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into The Grid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by MellauSFXOutro: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Galactic Synthwave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠” by Divion

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Tech-Fi & Technology As Story with award-winning author Ken Liu. Ken decodes the intricacies of technology fiction, including what tech-fi means, the uses of technology in fantasy, personifying technology, imagining positive impacts of future tech, A.I. and fear mongering, and more.

Ken Liu, an award-winning speculative fiction author renowned for exploring technology and mythology, discusses his new novel, 'All That We See or Seem'. He delves into the life of hacker Julia Z, who uses AI for collective dream experiences, revealing how dreams can serve as knowledge. Liu explains the artistic role of dream-guides and the cultural significance of dreams. He also reflects on how AI impacts human tendencies without creating a dystopia, blending speculative fiction with rich mythology.

Ken Liu, an award-winning science fiction author and former technologist, dives into his new novel, exploring the future of AI and identity. He introduces the concept of 'egolets,' AI entities that embody facets of our identities, and discusses the social dynamics of human-AI relationships. Ken highlights how technology reflects human nature and the importance of collective dreaming. He also delves into the implications of mind uploading, emphasizing the duality of hope and risk involved in AI's potential consciousness.

Craig Silverstein, the showrunner of the animated series Pantheon, and Ken Liu, the author behind its source material, explore the tantalizing concept of a digital afterlife. They discuss how mind uploading challenges our understanding of humanity and identity. The duo dives into the show's journey from a collection of stories to a cohesive narrative. They also shed light on the societal implications of consciousness replication and the emotional complexities tied to digital immortality, raising questions about love, relationships, and what it means to be human.

Ken Liu, a Ph.D. student at Stanford, discusses the concept of machine unlearning in AI models. They explore challenges like removing specific data points effectively, evaluating generative AI models, and linking privacy-preserving ML techniques with unlearning. The conversation delves into the evolution of unlearning techniques, highlighting the need for benchmarks and advanced methods for implementation.

UBS Research experts Sunil Tirumalai and Ken Liu delve into the evolving collaboration between China and the Middle East in the energy sector. They discuss the economic and geopolitical impacts, synergies in energy cooperation, and the transformative influence this partnership has on the global energy sector. Topics include the Beijing accord, oil and gas trade, renewable energy transitions, and the future implications on global energy trade by 2030.