Leonard Susskind is a professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University, and founding director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is widely regarded as one of the fathers of string theory and in general as one of the greatest physicists of our time both as a researcher and an educator. This conversation is part of the Artificial Intelligence podcast. If you would like to get more information about this podcast go to https://lexfridman.com/ai or connect with @lexfridman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, or YouTube where you can watch the video versions of these conversations. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it 5 stars on iTunes or support it on Patreon. Here’s the outline with timestamps for this episode (on some players you can click on the timestamp to jump to that point in the episode): 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Richard Feynman 02:09 – Visualization and intuition 06:45 – Ego in Science 09:27 – Academia 11:18 – Developing ideas 12:12 – Quantum computers 21:37 – Universe as an information processing system 26:35 – Machine learning 29:47 – Predicting the future 30:48 – String theory 37:03 – Free will 39:26 – Arrow of time 46:39 – Universe as a computer 49:45 – Big bang 50:50 – Infinity 51:35 – First image of a black hole 54:08 – Questions within the reach of science 55:55 – Questions out of reach of science

Join Leonard Susskind, the "Father of String Theory" and a professor at Stanford University, as he dives into the current crisis in string theory. He critiques its limitations and explores the disconnect between its mathematical beauty and real-world applications. Susskind discusses the challenges of grand unification and inflation in cosmology, while highlighting the intriguing relationship between quantum mechanics and black holes. He also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and independent thinking in the scientific community.

Leonard Susskind and the host tackle the fine-tuning problem in physics, discussing string theory, dark energy, the Higgs boson, the multiverse, eternal inflation, quantum mechanics interpretations, and the future of research in this fascinating episode.

Stephen Hawking, a renowned theoretical physicist famous for his work on black holes, teams up with Leonard Susskind, a Stanford physicist celebrated for his contributions to theoretical physics. They dive into the enigmatic world of black holes and the groundbreaking concept of Hawking radiation, which suggests some particles can escape their grasp. The duo presents the riveting debate on whether information is lost forever in these cosmic enigmas, exploring the 'black hole war' and the implications for our understanding of reality and information preservation.

Get ready for a thrilling interview with Leonard Susskind, the American physicist and professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University. Dive into the black hole information paradox, the string theory landscape, and the multiverse. Discover Susskind's perspective on imposter syndrome, the first image of a black hole, and why there are so many theories of everything. And don't miss the audience questions, discussions on mathematician envy, and what Susskind would put in his ethical will.