Into the Bytecode

Michael Nielsen, a scientist and research fellow at the Astera Institute, shares his insights on maintaining optimism amid existential risks in science and technology. He discusses the concept of asymmetric leverage and questions the feasibility of unbiased models in AI. The conversation highlights the evolving role of AI in scientific methods and the ethical implications of military applications. Nielsen also explores the intricacies of human-AI interaction and the importance of crafting a moral framework for a future with advanced AI.

In this engaging conversation, Jeffrey Quesnelle, cofounder of Nous Research and an expert on large language models, shares insights into the intersection of AI and human cognition. He discusses the historical evolution of neural networks and how they parallel human reasoning. The dialogue explores the philosophical implications of AI consciousness and the importance of decentralized systems in technology. Quesnelle also emphasizes the balance between computational advancements and human creativity, revealing how meditation and artistic expression relate to AI's development.

This is my conversation with Alexander Long, Founder & CEO of Pluralis Research.Timestamps:- (00:00:00) intro- (00:00:55) collaborative training- (00:09:49) economics of training- (00:13:10) what is protocol learning? - (00:20:48) protocol learning design and politics- (00:33:39) sponsor: Splits- (00:34:22) hardware requirements- (00:41:53) adapting to the landscape- (00:49:53) open and closed models- (00:52:52) market structure with fully open models- (00:56:34) research and risks- (01:02:19) labor and national security- (01:10:58) looking to the future- (01:14:20) outroLinks:- Alexander on X: https://x.com/_alexanderlong- Alexander on Github: https://github.com/AlexanderJLong- Article 2: Protocol Learning, Protocol Models and the Great Convergence: https://www.pluralisresearch.com/p/article-2-protocol-learning-protocol- Decentralized Training Looms: https://www.pluralisresearch.com/p/decentralized-ai-loomsThank you to our sponsor for making this podcast possible:- Splits: https://splits.orgInto the Bytecode:- Sina Habibian on X: https://twitter.com/sinahab- Sina Habibian on Farcaster - https://warpcast.com/sinahab- Into the Bytecode: https://intothebytecode.comDisclaimer: this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice nor a recommendation to buy or sell securities. The host and guests may hold positions in the projects discussed.

In this engaging discussion, Jim Posen, Co-founder and CTO at Irreducible and cryptography expert, shares his insights on cryptographic acceleration. He dives into the revival of binary fields and their significance in creating a verifiable internet. Jim explores innovative chip designs aimed at enhancing cryptographic applications and the challenges of proof generation. He also highlights the importance of decentralized systems and digital identities while sharing his journey through the evolution of cryptographic protocols, laying out a vision for the future of secure online interactions.

In this conversation, Michael Bentley, co-founder and CEO of Euler Finance, shares his insights from his background in dynamical systems at Oxford to revolutionizing DeFi. He reflects on the 2008 financial crisis and its impact on innovations in decentralized finance. Bentley discusses interest rate design using control theory, the critical role of credit in economic systems, and the unique features of the Euler protocol. He also draws parallels between natural selection and the evolution of lending protocols, highlighting the importance of cooperation in both finance and biology.

Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant and a crypto regulation expert, dives deep into the evolving regulatory landscape in this engaging chat. He simplifies the U.S. government structure and discusses the implications of recent regulations on tech founders. The conversation shifts to the clash between centralized authority and decentralized governance, exploring the regulatory challenges facing cryptocurrencies. Chervinsky also emphasizes the importance of understanding legal frameworks for crypto founders and the need for optimism amidst ongoing technological advancements.

This is my conversation with Andrew Miller who is working on product at Teleport, and is also Associate Director at IC3 and Board Member at the Zcash Foundation.Timestamps:- (00:00:00) intro- (00:00:59) from bitcoin research to privacy, ZKPs, and MPC- (00:13:23) trust models and threat vectors to TEEs- (00:21:16) what is possible with trustless TEEs?- (00:38:37) TEEs-based internet agents- (00:45:41) Dstack, a p2p architecture for TEEs- (00:52:50) learnings as a researcher- (00:58:42) sponsor: Splits- (00:59:25) pathfinding in research- (01:06:11) 2011 bitcoin unboxing and the early bitcoin ecosystem- (01:17:54) vision for the future - (01:21:22) outroLinks:- Andrew on X: https://x.com/socrates1024- Andrew on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Socrates1024- Andrew's research: https://soc1024.ece.illinois.edu- Personal site: https://soc1024.com- Zero Trust Execution Environments paper: https://writings.flashbots.net/ZTEE- Zcash Foundation: https://zfnd.org- IC3: https://www.ic3.govThank you to our sponsor for making this podcast possible:- Splits: https://splits.orgInto the Bytecode:- Sina Habibian on X: https://twitter.com/sinahab- Sina Habibian on Farcaster - https://warpcast.com/sinahab- Into the Bytecode: https://intothebytecode.com Disclaimer: this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice nor a recommendation to buy or sell securities. The host and guests may hold positions in the projects discussed.

Quintus Kilbourn, a researcher at Flashbots specializing in Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and secure hardware, shares insights into the world of secure tech. He delves into the fascinating use cases of TEEs, such as one-shot transactions and safeguarding AI agents. Quintus highlights the significance of unbreakable hardware enclaves and the threats posed by physical hardware access. The discussion also covers defending against supply chain attacks and the innovative techniques needed to secure sensitive data effectively.

Markus Haas, co-founder and CEO of Freedom Factory, shares his journey in creating ethOS, a crypto-native device. He delves into the need for alternatives to conventional systems like iOS and Android, advocating for open-source solutions. The conversation highlights the importance of user control and security through GrapheneOS. Markus also discusses innovative wallet designs within ethOS and the playful aspects of engaging with crypto. He further explores the challenges of securing funding for such ambitious, capital-intensive projects.

Uma Roy, Cofounder and CEO of Succinct, shares insights on the cutting-edge SP1 zero-knowledge virtual machine. She explains how SP1 simplifies zero-knowledge proofs by allowing developers to use standard Rust. The chat dives into the transition from optimistic to zk rollups, highlighting their advantages like enhanced scalability and efficiency. Uma also discusses the importance of security in virtual machine architectures and the co-development of software and hardware for advancing zero-knowledge systems, emphasizing innovation and community involvement.