
Riskgaming
A podcast by venture capital firm Lux Capital on the opportunities and risks of science, technology, finance and the human condition. Hosted by Danny Crichton from our New York City studios.
Latest episodes

Aug 8, 2024 • 34min
Why engineers are using chaos to make computers more resilient
Delve into the lessons learned from a catastrophic IT incident that exposed the fragility of global systems. Discover how chaos engineering is reshaping resilience in coding and the importance of reliability in product design. Experts discuss the interconnectedness of our digital infrastructure and the complexities it presents. Uncover the evolution of engineering practices as technology grows more intricate. Finally, explore the innovative world of fuzzy processors and their potential to solve real-world challenges.

Aug 2, 2024 • 46min
The Orthogonal Bet: Building a Fractal Combinatorial Trope Machine
Hilary Mason, co-founder and CEO of Hidden Door, shares her extensive expertise in interactive storytelling and machine learning. She discusses the innovation behind merging technology and narrative, emphasizing the importance of player choice and AI's thoughtful integration into gaming experiences. Hilary also explores the creation of a storytelling engine that marries human creativity with AI support. Lastly, she reflects on the challenges and opportunities startups face compared to corporations in harnessing AI technology, advocating for a more deliberate approach to development.

Jul 31, 2024 • 46min
How many trillions in damage would an invasion of Taiwan cost global GDP?
The discussion dives into the staggering potential economic fallout from a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, estimating losses could reach $10 trillion globally. The conversation highlights Taiwan's crucial role in semiconductor supply chains, emphasizing its significance for major economies. It also delves into the complexities of geopolitical tensions, possible sanctions, and intriguing contrasts between South Korea and Taiwan's economic paths. Insights reveal unexpected findings on how interconnected global markets would react to escalating conflicts.

Jul 26, 2024 • 36min
The Orthogonal Bet: Using Computational Biology to Understand How the Brain Works
Host Samuel Arbesman interviews Amy Kuceyeski, a mathematician and biologist from Cornell University. They discuss her groundbreaking research on the human brain, using AI to understand brain processes, and potential applications for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Amy's work explores brain responses to images, compares artificial and biological networks, and delves into the challenges of securing funding for high-risk research projects.

Jul 24, 2024 • 21min
Evolved Technology: Why technology is counter-intuitively pushing us back to natural products in pharma development
Explore the shift from synthetic to natural products in pharmaceutical development, showcasing how nature's evolution outshines man-made compounds. Discover the influence of artificial intelligence in decoding life for medicinal benefits and the paradox of natural products surpassing synthetics in efficacy. Dive into the use of genomics, metabolomics, and machine learning in uncovering the therapeutic potential of natural products for cancer treatment.

Jul 19, 2024 • 10min
The Orthogonal Bet: What the Microsoft Outage Reveals
Delve into the recent CrowdStrike/Microsoft outage through the lens of complexity science. Explore the vulnerability of complex systems to targeted attacks. Learn from system failures and navigate technological complexity to prevent future crises.

Jul 19, 2024 • 33min
The Orthogonal Bet: The Quest to Find the Poetic Web
Curator Kristoffer Tjalve discusses celebrating the 'quiet, odd, and poetic web.' Explore artistic experiments online, intentional navigation, building diverse communities, and the influence of tech on creativity.

Jul 17, 2024 • 25min
Pivoting to the Expert Economy
Explore Medium's journey towards financial stability and a balanced business model under new leadership. Discover the challenges of transitioning to a subscription-based media model and the shift to the expert economy. Dive into the evolving dynamics of writer-driven platforms and the impact of algorithms on content curation on Medium.

Jul 12, 2024 • 35min
The Orthogonal Bet: What AI Can Learn from Human Cognition
Guest Alice Albrecht, CEO of Recollect, talks about AI, human cognition, and the future of artificial intelligence. Topics include transitions from academia to tech, the importance of human models in problem-solving, the relationship between attention, memory, and goals in AI development, limitations of current AI approaches, language manipulation, and the concept of human-machine partnership.

Jul 10, 2024 • 42min
Can we be optimistic about America’s future?
James Pethokoukis discusses fostering optimism in American politics, dividing views into 'up wing' and 'down wing'. They explore the impact of technology and innovation on societal progress, California's challenges, and the importance of risk-taking. The discussion also touches on the role of inventions, failure in science education, and venture capital's influence on biotechnology advancements.
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