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Dwarkesh Podcast

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1,503 snips
May 29, 2025 • 1h 29min

Xi Jinping’s paranoid approach to AGI, debt crisis, & Politburo politics — Victor Shih

Victor Shih, an expert on China's political and banking systems from UC San Diego, dives into the intricacies of Chinese governance and the implications of Xi Jinping's leadership. He discusses the CCP's unique approach to AI and the central role of a key Politburo figure in its regulation. The conversation also addresses China's staggering local debt crisis, highlighting how corruption has fueled overbuilding. Shih provides insights into Xi's strategies and the potential ramifications for Taiwan, painting a complex picture of China's future.
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2,402 snips
May 22, 2025 • 2h 24min

How Does Claude 4 Think? — Sholto Douglas & Trenton Bricken

In a fascinating conversation, Sholto Douglas, a reinforcement learning researcher at Anthropic, and Trenton Bricken, an expert in mechanistic interpretability, dive deep into the evolving landscape of AI. They discuss the latest advancements in reinforcement learning and the implications of AI achieving human-level tasks. The duo explores how to trace AI models' thought processes and the challenges of aligning AI with human values. They also address the future of AI in workplaces, emphasizing the need for individuals to adapt and engage with these transformative technologies.
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550 snips
May 1, 2025 • 10min

The Last Human CEO

Dive into the future of work where Artificial General Intelligence transforms the workforce into unlimited employees. Discover how AI is set to revolutionize knowledge sharing and change leadership dynamics for CEOs. Explore the evolution of corporations, from human-run to fully automated entities, and understand the potential of AI in replicating human skills with superhuman efficiency. Also, learn about Google's cutting-edge VO2 video generation model, showcasing innovation in content creation.
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2,397 snips
Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 15min

Mark Zuckerberg — Meta's AGI Plan

In this discussion, Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta, reveals insights into the latest Llama 4 model and its potential influence on the AI landscape. He delves into the concept of an intelligence explosion and the intricacies of AI business models, tackling challenges like reward-hacking. Zuckerberg also emphasizes the importance of AI safety and navigating the technological nuances in human-AI relationships. Moreover, the conversation touches on the competitive dynamics in AI, particularly with China and the implications of augmented reality on social experiences.
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964 snips
Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 23min

Why Rome Actually Fell: Plagues, Slavery, & Ice Age — Kyle Harper

Kyle Harper, professor and author, explores the downfall of Rome caused by devastating plagues and volcanic eruptions leading to famine. He discusses the brutal reliance on slavery within the Roman economy and how it shaped societal hierarchies. Harper notes the vulnerability of humans to diseases compared to other animals and shares insights on how agriculture influenced our physical development. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the historical impact of mobility, nutrition, and the interplay of disease in human advancement.
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1,610 snips
Apr 17, 2025 • 3h 8min

AGI is Still 30 Years Away — Ege Erdil & Tamay Besiroglu

Ege Erdil and Tamay Besiroglu, co-founders of Mechanize and former AI forecasters at Epoch AI, discuss the future of artificial intelligence and automation. They challenge the notion of an imminent intelligence explosion, proposing instead that economic growth will surge over the coming decades. The conversation explores the complexities of AI reasoning, the importance of innovative thinking in research, and the dual pathways of AI and economic development, emphasizing that societal values and human creativity will be vital in shaping this evolution.
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2,377 snips
Apr 3, 2025 • 3h 4min

2027 Intelligence Explosion: Month-by-Month Model — Scott Alexander & Daniel Kokotajlo

Scott Alexander, author of popular blogs on AI and culture, joins Daniel Kokotajlo, director of the AI Futures Project, to explore the AI landscape leading up to 2027. They dive into the concept of an intelligence explosion, discussing potential scenarios and exploring the societal implications of superintelligent AI. The conversation covers the challenges of aligning AI developments with human values, the competitive race in AI technology between the U.S. and China, and the transformative potential of AI in fields like manufacturing and biomedicine.
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904 snips
Mar 25, 2025 • 50min

AMA ft. Sholto & Trenton: New Book, Career Advice Given AGI, How I'd Start From Scratch

Join AI researchers Sholto Douglas and Trenton Bricken for an engaging discussion on the intricacies of artificial intelligence. They dive into the challenges AI faces in connecting ideas and the implications for tech careers. Sholto reveals insights from his new book on AI’s evolution, while Trenton shares unique career advice inspired by AGI. The conversation meanders through humorous takes on podcast guest selection, and the qualities needed to lead an AI lab, all served with a side of beard maintenance tips!
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1,176 snips
Mar 12, 2025 • 1h 53min

Joseph Henrich – Why Humans Survived and Smarter Species Didn't

Joseph Henrich, a Harvard Professor and author, dives into why humans survived when smarter species didn’t. He discusses how cultural evolution, rather than raw intelligence, played a pivotal role in our success. Henrich reveals intriguing insights on the Catholic Church's unintended impact on the Industrial Revolution by altering kinship systems. Additionally, he explains the decline in human brain size over millennia, linked to our reliance on collective knowledge. Explore how these cultural dynamics shaped human history and innovation!
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645 snips
Mar 5, 2025 • 20min

Notes on China

Dive into China's urban landscape and see how its rapid development contrasts with the U.S. Learn about the societal pressures young people face and the critiques around technology and AI. Discover how travel enriches your understanding of Chinese political dynamics, while emphasizing the necessity of stepping back from routine. This exploration is filled with personal anecdotes and compelling insights that inspire fresh questions about a country in constant motion.

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