Exponential Wisdom

Peter and Dan discuss the benefits of fostering a Longevity Mindset. Now more than ever -- during a new age of exponential medicine -- many will no longer have to accept the cards we’re dealt. Technologies like genome sequencing, RNA transcriptomics, Wnt pathway modifiers, novel vaccines, CRISPR, liquid biopsies, CAR-T cells, gene therapy, exosomes, and stem cells are just some of the innovations under development. In this episode: Peter reframes aging as a disease, one that many are beginning to believe can be slowed, stopped and perhaps even reversed. Dan and Peter compare the process of vaccine creation today to methodologies used 10 years ago, exploring how COVID-19 has sped up all parts of the process.  Peter explains why the best thing you can do for your longevity is to optimize sleep, diet and exercise, and to “not die from something stupid.”

Peter and Dan explore the benefits of cultivating an "Exponential Mindset,” an understanding that computation and derivative technologies (AI, VR, 3D Printing, etc.) are growing exponentially. Thirty doublings drive a billion-fold improvement that the human (linear) brain finds difficult to grasp. In this episode: Peter discusses how humans evolved to be linear thinkers, yet the power of our technology has long been doubling every 18 months. And the power of exponential doublings can be extraordinarily hard to wrap our heads around: 10 doublings = ~1,000x growth… 20 doublings = ~1,000,000x growth…  30 doublings = ~1,000,000,000x growth. Dan covers the history of the steam engine, examining how this specific innovation saw an exponential boom in global mobility. Peter outlines how exponential technologies are converging, disrupting, and transforming business models and industries, enabling even small teams to compete successfully with large corporations.

Peter and Dan discuss the benefits of cultivating an “Abundance Mindset,” through which we more readily see how exponential technologies -- computation, AI, 3D printing, robotics, VR, and others -- can dematerialize, demonetize, and democratize products and services. What was once available only to the richest and most elite, is increasingly accessible to almost anyone on the planet. In this episode: Peter talks about growing up with a “Scarcity Mindset.” In a world of scarcity, we entertain the paradigm of a finite pie. If your neighbor gets a slice, you necessarily get a smaller slice. This is a perceived world of limited resources and fierce competition. When geared with an Abundance mindset, however, rather than slicing the pie into thinner and thinner pieces, we simply bake more pies… millions more pies.  Dan talks about the importance of a positive mindset and how he trains his by cutting out TV (a cognitive “fast” he has now sustained for 3 years) and carefully selecting the news he follows online. Peter talks about looking at the positive possibilities in every scenario and challenge, illustrating ways in which you might use the pandemic to transform your business and lifestyle.

Peter and Dan discuss the abundance of capital and growth of the global economy, including crowdfunding, venture funding, and SPACs. In this Episode: Peter talks about global venture funding hitting an all-time record high, despite the pandemic.  With all this investment, the seeds have been planted and he expects successful new startups in 2022 or 2023.  Peter and Dan discuss the phenomenon of special-purpose acquisition company (SPACs) and how more and more companies are going public using new methods.  Dan talks about the mindset shift he saw during the last year of the pandemic, where people are experimenting more and more.

Peter and Dan discuss the now-booming world of blockchain and the latest phenomenon of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In this episode:  Peter makes the case for his belief that blockchain will play a key role in detecting deepfakes, a growing concern recently fueled by Tom Cruise deepfake videos that have gone viral on TikTok. Dan envisions the role that blockchain will play during the next election cycle, projecting how it will interact with voting systems and help detect inaccurate news.  Peter and Dan talk about the recent NFT craze and why people are willing to pay millions for these new digital art forms.

Peter and Dan explore the technology of AI avatars. Diving into a fun conversation about intelligent digital humans that are now surfacing in certain industries, Peter and Dan envision how these AI avatars might also influence human interactions in business. In this episode: Peter talks about his experiments with three companies he's excited about in the AI avatar space, namely LifeKind, HourOne, and Futureloop. Having fed his own blogs, books and podcast episodes into such AIs as training data, Peter talks about the successes of these experiments, which have surprised him with extraordinarily lifelike audio and visuals.  Dan talks about how the pandemic and its accompanying work-from-home Zoom culture will accelerate people's willingness to use and interact with virtual avatars, particularly as meetings continue to remain virtual. Peter and Dan discuss AI avatars used in filmmaking, and how these might serve to immortalize deceased actors and singers. For instance, digital avatars with the likeness of Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley could one day even converse with live audiences.

Peter and Dan discuss recent breakthroughs in the commercial space industry, highlighting a slew of new startups entering the marketplace, whether in analytics or rocket engineering. As we witness the shift from a heavily government-funded space industry to one propelled by privately funded companies, the world will soon see more and more access to space. In this episode: Peter gives an update on the commercial space industry, as well as the challenges and opportunities of mining precious metals and rocket fuels on asteroids and the Moon. Dan narrates the story of two great historical inventions that allowed for deep water navigation: the sextant and chronometer, which enabled accurate measurements of latitude and longitude, respectively. These tools were critical to expanding the reach of human exploration across our largely water-coated planet. Fast-forward roughly 250 years, and Peter shows how they serve as a useful analogue for some of today’s pioneering commercial space rockets. Peter demonstrates how pioneering companies’ opening of the space frontier is unlocking a new abundance mindset in the commercial space sector… One in which we’re now witnessing a surge in capabilities and new opportunities.

Peter and Dan discuss the record-breaking speed of technological change and why the pandemic has accelerated rates of innovation. They also showcase the critical importance of honing your mindset during this time, as the pandemic continues to shape our industries, requiring us to adapt. In this episode: Peter shares one of his biggest lessons learned over the past year: to “never let a good crisis go to waste.” He explains why now is the most opportune moment to make changes in your organization, to internalize that we are not returning to “normal,” but must rather propel our businesses towards a future of new paradigms and novel markets.  Dan talks about the concept of being a hero to others during times of crisis, explaining why entrepreneurs naturally think this way, and why such an instinct is more relevant than ever. Peter emphasizes the increased velocity of communications and deal-making in a business world of virtual meetings, decimating the time previously needed to fly and meet face-to-face. Dan further highlights the value of virtual events and environments to help more people and collaborate more quickly on ideas.

Peter and Dan discuss how the pandemic has changed our educational system forever. As countless schools have turned to fully online curriculums, entrepreneurs and educators are experimenting with a “new normal,” innovating novel platforms for learning from home. In this episode: Peter gives an update on being a parent as his kids attend school online. Dan explains why the school system must increasingly accommodate the individual, and Peter outlines the need for educational platforms to help children find their passions. Dan remarks that this is the first time in 50 years that most children know what their parents do for a living. As a result, children are interacting in the domain of working adults more than ever before. Exploring implications, Peter elaborates on the real-time education now afforded to children through exposure to their parents’ day-to-day working lives. Peter and Dan illustrate why skills are the most pivotal asset for getting hired in today’s job market. Where you went to school is ultimately far less important than being equipped with the skills required for a given task or position. Emphasizing this phenomenon and its application to the gaming world, Peter highlights the rate at which his (and other) kids can learn a game and become experts.

Peter and Dan discuss transformations in healthcare as a result of the pandemic and consequent stay-at-home orders. Peter envisions a future wherein people don’t go to the hospital when they get sick, but instead have a hospital at their fingertips thanks to sensors, wearables, and an abundance of personalized medical data. In this episode: Peter gives an update on COVAXX and a number of other vaccines developed for COVID-19.  Dan delves into tele-health transformations within our modern-day healthcare system.  Peter and Dan discuss why they believe the pandemic will speed up healthcare transformations, including: AI collaboration with physicians; drugs customized and designed for the individual; and rapid improvements in wearable hardware and commercial viability.