The Stephen Wolfram Podcast

Stephen Wolfram answers questions from his viewers about the future of science and technology as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-qaTopics discussed: How alien life would affect science - Probability and the origins of life - Computation, encoded intelligence and simulated models of civilizations - Alien math class

Stephen Wolfram answers questions from his viewers about the history of science and technology as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-qaTopics: Historical insights from Stephen's UK trip - Roger Penrose and the Wolfram Physics Project - Elliott 903 computer

Stephen Wolfram answers questions from his viewers about business, innovation, and managing life as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-business-qaTopics discussed: Innovation, live Demos and leadership - AI Bubble, automation and the future of work - Company building and management - Global technology and development - Computational curiosities and fun ideas

Stephen Wolfram answers questions from his viewers about the future of science and technology as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-qaTopics discussed: AI bubble, trajectory, scaling & hardware - Tech reliability, control & agency - Pace of progress & our ability to keep up - AI in math & research practice

Stephen Wolfram dives into the origins of computation, linking early algorithms to ancient devices like the Antikythera. He explores the evolution of logic from Aristotle to modern formalization, highlighting figures like Babbage and Lovelace. The podcast touches on the skepticism around applying computation to physical realms and contrasts biology's acceptance of digital models with physics' resistance. Wolfram also discusses automata history and how scientists are remembered, weaving narratives of innovation and inquiry throughout.

In an engaging Q&A, insights from Stephen Wolfram's life unfold like chapters from a personal epic. He reflects on his early ambitions shaped by sci-fi dreams and the pivotal choices between saying yes to intriguing projects versus profit. Memories of MacArthur gatherings highlight the richness found in cross-disciplinary encounters. He shares fond anecdotes, from rediscovering half-finished ideas to various quirks at lectures. Through his journey, Wolfram reveals how personal and technological evolution intertwines, sparking deeper thoughts on fame and friendships.

Dive into Stephen Wolfram's fascinating life stories, where he shares the challenges of building long-lived platforms like Mathematica and navigating a decade-long journey with his New Kind of Science. He opens up about dealing with intellectual theft, the mixed reactions from the scientific community, and the unexpected success of his book. From launching Wolfram|Alpha to exploring artistic uses of cellular automata, Stephen underscores the importance of making knowledge computable and envisioning a future where computation drives scientific progress.

Dive into a fascinating journey as Stephen shares anecdotes from his early research days and the birth of cellular automata tools. He details his vision behind complex systems at the University of Illinois and his pioneering work on Mathematica. You'll hear about his memorable meeting with Steve Jobs, the evolution of a unified computational system, and mishaps during international demos. Additionally, experience insights into his solitary research years and the intriguing stories behind notable early employees and interns.

By popular demand, Stephen Wolfram explores anecdotes and stories from his life.Watch the original livestream on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eW7yp6x1jC0

Explore the intriguing world of avocational science and its challenges. Learn why common amateur theories about physics often fall short. Discover what truly captivates scientists in unsolicited submissions. Delve into Ramanujan's cautionary tale about intuition in experimental mathematics. Discuss AI's potential to evaluate novel contributions and whether it needs to critique itself. Finally, ponder the value of impossibility theorems while encouraging a deeper understanding of ruleology for aspiring scientists.