The Orthogonal Bet

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Kenneth Stanley, a renowned computer scientist and AI researcher whose career spans academia, industry, and startup innovation. Stanley has been a professor, a cofounder of multiple companies, and a researcher at both OpenAI and Uber. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Open-Endedness at Lila Sciences. He is also the coauthor of Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective, a widely praised book exploring the nature of creativity and discovery.Arbesman and Stanley discuss the nuances of conducting research across a variety of organizational structures. Their conversation delves into the tradeoffs between traditional and novel research institutions, how to carve out space for exploratory or “weird” work within large organizations, and how research itself can serve as a tool for navigating disruption. The episode also explores the evolving role of open-endedness in AI research and what it reveals about the future of scientific and technological progress.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with journalist and author Clive Thompson. Known for his thoughtful writing on science and technology—particularly in the realms of computing and programming—Clive contributes to Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and more. He is also the author of Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World (2019).With the rise of generative AI and the emergence of “vibe coding,” their conversation turns to the evolving nature of programming and how Clive makes sense of it. They explore his early experiences with computers in the 1970s and ’80s, his temporary departure from coding, and his eventual return. The discussion ranges from creative coding and AI-assisted programming to computational thinking, the literary nature of code, and the future of coding education.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman sits down with Alec Nevala-Lee, author of numerous books, including Inventor of the Future, a definitive biography of Buckminster Fuller.Buckminster Fuller was an architect, designer, and public intellectual whose influence stretched far beyond blueprints and prototypes. Later in life, he became a lodestar for the counterculture, inspiring the pages of the Whole Earth Catalog and leaving fingerprints all over what would become Silicon Valley’s ethos.In his biography, Nevala-Lee unravels Fuller’s contradictions — a visionary who struggled to succeed yet profoundly shaped culture, and who in many ways anticipated the archetype of the modern startup founder before such a figure existed.Samuel and Alec explore Fuller’s radical ideas in design, the curious saga of the geodesic dome, the “virtual corporation” Fuller orchestrated around himself, his sway over the tech world’s imagination, and how he played the role of a mystical, almost messianic presence amid the polished suits of the Mad Men era — and so much more.

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman welcomes back return guest Eliot Peper. Eliot is a science fiction writer and the author of numerous books, and is currently collaborating with the tech company Portola, which is developing Tolans — AI friends and companions that blur the line between lore and code.Samuel and Eliot delve into how Eliot found himself shaping the mythos behind these AI agents, exploring how crafting lore for artificial minds differs from telling stories for human ones. Their conversation expands into the nature of narrative itself: what humans uniquely bring to creativity, what AI can augment, and how these two forces might dance together. They also touch on Eliot’s Cozy Little Internet Bookstore and his ideas for building deeper, more intimate connections with readers in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Anna Gat, founder and CEO of Interintellect. Described as “a curated marketplace of high-quality events hosted by intellectual seekers from all walks of life,” Interintellect is reimagining the salon for the digital age.Arbesman and Gat discuss the origins and evolution of Interintellect, as well as the deeper nature of conversation itself—what makes for an ideal dialogue, and how structured discourse can foster intellectual curiosity and community. Their conversation also touches on themes of rebelliousness, the future of education, and the power of bringing thoughtful people together in new ways.

It’s not every day that we get to fete the launch of a new book by one of our colleagues at Lux Capital, so today is a very special day. Lux’s scientist-in-residence, ⁠Samuel Arbesman⁠, just published his new book,⁠ “The Magic of Code: How Digital Language Created and Connects Our World―and Shapes Our Future.”⁠ It’s a deep dive into the wonderful conjuring that comes from coding computers, and Sam explores programming languages, spreadsheets, and how code bends reality all in a taut narrative. At its center, Sam is looking to bring the human back into the machine, and create a better computing environment for the future.Joining Editor-in-Chief of ⁠Riskgaming⁠ ⁠Danny Crichton⁠ and Riskgaming director of programming ⁠Laurence Pevsner⁠, the three talk about the new book and its major themes, the writing, editing and publishing process, as well as also how Sam is feeling about the science and venture world after nearly a decade with Lux.This episode will be published on both the Riskgaming and The Orthogonal Bet podcast feeds.

Michael Rosen, a lawyer at the American Enterprise Institute and author of "Like Silicon from Clay," joins for a fascinating discussion on AI through the lens of ancient Jewish wisdom. He explores how folklore figures like the Golem provide lessons on ethical responsibilities in technology creation. The conversation touches on the spectrum of AI perspectives, historical connections to early computing, and the complexities of human behavior represented by the Dybbuk and Magid. Rosen advocates for a balanced approach to AI ethics that embraces innovation while ensuring safety.

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Nick Bowden, CEO of Replica—a company that models mobility in urban environments through a blend of data and simulation. Think of it as a real-world version of SimCity.Arbesman and Bowden explore Nick’s journey from urban planning into the world of public-sector technology. Their conversation spans the inherent messiness of building software for government, how transportation simulations actually work, and the nature of cities as complex systems. They also dive into the importance of long-term thinking in public infrastructure—and yes, they talk about SimCity too.

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Lu Wilson, a programmer and creative coder who also works as a software engineer at tldraw, a Lux Capital portfolio company. Lu’s creative work is broad, strange, and delightful in all the best ways—perhaps best exemplified by the Todepond videos, a mindbending series that reimagines computing through playful, experimental lenses.Together, Samuel and Lu explore the world of Todepond, the ethos of creative coding, and Lu’s unconventional path through education. Their conversation spans topics like cellular automata, the programming language Logo, the history of computing, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence. They also dive into Lu’s work at tldraw, collaborative software, and the importance of cultivating community in tech.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Sara Imari Walker, a theoretical physicist and astrobiologist at Arizona State University. Walker is the author of Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life’s Emergence, a book that explores the nature of life through the lens of physics and highlights her pioneering contributions at the frontier of this field.Their conversation delves into how Walker became fascinated by the nature of life, how to distinguish life from non-life, and how physics can offer new insights into some of the universe’s most fundamental questions. Along the way, they touch on topics ranging from astrobiology and SETI to the philosophy of science and her work in assembly theory.