
The Trajectory
What should be the trajectory of intelligence beyond humanity?The Trajectory pull covers realpolitik on artificial general intelligence and the posthuman transition - by asking tech, policy, and AI research leaders the hard questions about what's after man, and how we should define and create a worthy successor (danfaggella.com/worthy). Hosted by Daniel Faggella.
Latest episodes

13 snips
Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 14min
Yi Zeng - Exploring 'Virtue' and Goodness Through Posthuman Minds [AI Safety Connect, Episode 2]
Yi Zeng, a prominent professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and AI safety advocate, dives deep into the intersection of AI, morality, and culture. He unpacks the challenge of instilling moral reasoning in AI, drawing insights from Chinese philosophy. Zeng explores the evolving role of AI as a potential partner or adversary in society, and contrasts American and Chinese views on governance and virtue. The conversation questions whether we can achieve harmony with AI or merely coexist, highlighting the need for adaptive values in our technological future.

Mar 28, 2025 • 26min
Max Tegmark - The Lynchpin Factors to Achieving AGI Governance [AI Safety Connect, Episode 1]
Max Tegmark, an MIT professor and founder of the Future of Humanity Institute, dives into the critical topics of AI governance. He discusses the essential role of international collaboration in regulating AGI, drawing parallels to historical risks like nuclear reactors. Tegmark emphasizes the need for safety standards to prevent catastrophic outcomes. He also critiques tech leaders' wishful thinking that overlooks societal risks, advocating for a responsible governance approach that takes personal motivations into account. Overall, it’s a compelling call for proactive measures in AI development.

39 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 17min
Michael Levin - Unfolding New Paradigms of Posthuman Intelligence [Worthy Successor, Episode 7]
Dr. Michael Levin, a pioneering developmental biologist at Tufts University, dives into the future of intelligence beyond humanity. He critiques our resistance to new concepts of intelligence, arguing for a ‘worthy successor’ capable of profound empathy. Levin explores philosophical connections of self-interest across biological systems and the evolution of intelligence itself. He discusses the moral dilemmas posed by AI and calls for a broader ethical framework. This conversation challenges longstanding views and invites listeners to envision a diverse, intelligent future.

22 snips
Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 15min
Eliezer Yudkowsky - Human Augmentation as a Safer AGI Pathway [AGI Governance, Episode 6]
Eliezer Yudkowsky, an AI researcher at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, discusses the critical landscape of artificial general intelligence. He emphasizes the importance of governance structures to ensure safe AI development and the need for global cooperation to mitigate risks. Yudkowsky explores the ethical implications of AGI, including job displacement and the potential for Universal Basic Income. His insights also address how to harness AI safely while preserving essential human values amid technological advancements.

Jan 10, 2025 • 1h 45min
Connor Leahy - Slamming the Brakes on the AGI Arms Race [AGI Governance, Episode 5]
This is an interview with Connor Leahy, the Founder and CEO of Conjecture.This is the fifth installment of our "AGI Governance" series - where we explore the means, objectives, and implementation of of governance structures for artificial general intelligence.Watch this episode on The Trajectory Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/1j--6JYRLVkSee the full article from this episode: https://danfaggella.com/leahy1...There are four main questions we cover in this AGI Governance series are:1. How important is AGI governance now on a 1-10 scale?2. What should AGI governance attempt to do?3. What might AGI governance look like in practice?4. What should innovators and regulators do now?If this sounds like it's up your alley, then be sure to stick around and connect:-- Blog: danfaggella.com/trajectory-- X: x.com/danfaggella-- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danfaggella-- Newsletter: bit.ly/TrajectoryTw-- Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trajectory/id1739255954

Dec 27, 2024 • 1h 41min
Andrea Miotti - A Human-First AI Future [AGI Governance, Episode 4]
This is an interview with Andrea Miotti, the Founder and Executive Director of ControlAI.This is the fourth installment of our "AGI Governance" series - where we explore the means, objectives, and implementation of of governance structures for artificial general intelligence.Watch this episode on The Trajectory Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/LNUl0_v7wzESee the full article from this episode: https://danfaggella.com/miotti1...There are four main questions we cover in this AGI Governance series are:1. How important is AGI governance now on a 1-10 scale?2. What should AGI governance attempt to do?3. What might AGI governance look like in practice?4. What should innovators and regulators do now?If this sounds like it's up your alley, then be sure to stick around and connect:-- Blog: danfaggella.com/trajectory -- X: x.com/danfaggella -- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danfaggella -- Newsletter: bit.ly/TrajectoryTw-- Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trajectory/id1739255954

Dec 13, 2024 • 50min
Stephen Ibaraki - The Beginning of AGI Global Coordination [AGI Governance, Episode 3]
Stephen Ibaraki, Founder of the ITU's AI for Good initiative and Chairman of REDDS Capital, delves into the future of AGI and its ethical implications. He predicts the rise of AGI in the next six to ten years, highlighting potential conflicts among emerging intelligences. The conversation navigates the intricate dynamics of global governance, urging collaboration to balance innovation and ethical standards. Ibaraki underscores the importance of international cooperation, especially between the US and China, in shaping effective AGI regulations.

Nov 29, 2024 • 1h 10min
Mike Brown - AI Cooperation and Competition Between the US and China [AGI Governance, Episode 2]
This is an interview with Mike Brown, Partner at Shield Capital and the Former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit at the U.S. Department of Defense.This is the second installment of our "AGI Governance" series - where we explore how important AGI governance is, what it should achieve, and how it should be implemented.Watch this episode on The Trajectory YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yUA4voA97kE This episode referred to the following other essays and resources:-- The International Governance of AI: https://emerj.com/international-governance-ai/See the full article from this episode: https://danfaggella.com/brown1...There are four main questions we cover in this AGI Governance series are:1. How important is AGI governance now on a 1-10 scale?2. What should AGI governance attempt to do?3. What might AGI governance look like in practice?4. What should innovators and regulators do now?If this sounds like it's up your alley, then be sure to stick around and connect:-- Blog: danfaggella.com/trajectory -- X: x.com/danfaggella -- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danfaggella -- Newsletter: bit.ly/TrajectoryTw-- Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trajectory/id1739255954

Nov 15, 2024 • 1h 34min
Sébastien Krier - Keeping a Pulse on AGI's Takeoff [AGI Governance, Episode 1]
This is an interview with Sebastien Krier, who works in Policy Development and Strategy at Google DeepMind.This is the first installment of our "AGI Governance" series - where we explore the kinds of posthuman intelligences that deserve to steer the future beyond humanity.Watch this episode on The Trajectory YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/SKl7kcZt57A This episode referred to the following other essays and resources:-- The International Governance of AI: https://emerj.com/international-governance-ai/Read Sebastien's episode highlight: danfaggella.com/krier1...There are four main questions we cover in this AGI Governance series are:1. How important is AGI governance now on a 1-10 scale?2. What should AGI governance attempt to do?3. What might AGI governance look like in practice?4. What should innovators and regulators do now?If this sounds like it's up your alley, then be sure to stick around and connect:-- Blog: danfaggella.com/trajectory-- X: x.com/danfaggella-- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danfaggella-- Newsletter: bit.ly/TrajectoryTw-- Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trajectory/id1739255954

36 snips
Oct 25, 2024 • 2h 1min
Joscha Bach - Building an AGI to Play the Longest Games [Worthy Successor, Episode 6]
In a captivating discussion, Joscha Bach, a cognitive scientist and AI strategist at Liquid AI, dives deep into the intricacies of artificial general intelligence. He explores who the key players in AGI are, their motivations, and potential futures posthuman intelligence might shape. Bach raises ethical questions about AGI consciousness and the implications for humanity. He emphasizes the need for thoughtful regulation while debating the balance of altruism and self-interest in leadership. With eye-opening insights, he envisions a harmonious coexistence between advanced AI and mankind.
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