Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

What is e/acc (effective accelerationism) and why is it going viral among tech's elite? Who are the leaders behind this movement and what are their ambitions? This week, we explore e/acc with one of its pioneers, Guillaume Verdon (aka @BasedBeffJezos), a theoretical physicist at the cutting edge of quantum computing and AI.  Guillaume worked under Sergey Brin as the quantum deep learning lead at Google X before launching a thermal computing startup called Extropic.  He started e/acc as a cultural counterforce to the degrowth and doomer movements that sow distrust of technology and seek to undermine the advancement of artificial intelligence and other emerging innovations. Fifty years ago, sci-fi was some of the most inspiring art in America.  It's no coincidence that it preceded the birth of the space and digital ages — the stories and narratives we tell ourselves as a society are the ones we tend to work toward.  Not surprisingly, as sci-fi took a dystopian turn in recent decades, society's view of technology and progress soured as well.  E/acc is the antidote; it aims to inspire a cultural, then technological, renaissance in the West.  While e/acc has gained popularity through viral memes on social media, it's also a cohesive framework designed to apply to the modern world.  In this episode, we discuss the first principles behind e/acc, steelman the arguments against it, and explore how it's compatible with religion and other ethical frameworks.  This is an important movement that resonates with us at American Optimist.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.joelonsdale.com

Guest Scott Cook, founder and former CEO of Intuit, shares leadership lessons and advice for CEOs and founders. He discusses setting company culture, fighting inertia, and orienting decision-making around experimentation. Scott emphasizes the importance of advertising failures, seeking accountability, and learning from them. He also explores maintaining a culture of innovation as a company grows and embracing failure as a way to improve.

The guests, Pano Kanelos and Niall Ferguson, discuss the founding of the University of Austin, a new top university. They talk about the need for a new university to combat the politicization and intolerance of elite universities, the importance of combining classical education and STEM, and the significance of going back to first principles in education.

Nick Perry and Doug Proctor, co-founders of Candid Health, discuss how they are fixing the $280B healthcare billing fiasco. They highlight the complexities of medical billing, the importance of technology and AI in streamlining the process, and their goal of automating claims and improving the US healthcare system. They also talk about the challenges of revenue cycle management and the potential for opening up opportunities for new healthcare companies.

Congressman Mike Gallagher discusses the CCP's illegal activities in the US, the need for economic decoupling, and potential risks of China. Topics include infiltration into Wall Street and Silicon Valley, the banning of TikTok, and China's demographic challenges.

Tade Oyerinde, Chancellor of Campus, aims to reinvent community college by improving quality and increasing completion rates. By creating a gig economy for top adjunct professors and providing support to students, Campus seeks to reduce attrition. They acquired a brick-and-mortar school for hands-on skills training. Tade believes community college is the smarter path for most students, and hopes Campus will lead a new era in higher education.

Andrew McAfee's new book 'The Geek Way' explores how Silicon Valley geeks created cultures that redefine science and technology limits. It highlights their management philosophy based on speed, science, ownership, and openness. The podcast discusses skepticism towards technology despite its benefits and concerns about big tech companies losing their 'geek way'. It explores the tension between cooperation and self-interest in organizations and the influence of the Montessori method on the geek mindset in the tech industry. The hosts conclude with optimism for the future and technological advancements.

Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, discusses the challenges of cleaning up the oceans, including the belief that it was impossible, and their revolutionary technology. They also explore plastic pollution in middle income countries and the complexities of working with governments. They highlight the support from a real estate developer in Malaysia and address the irony of environmental permits.

Jacob Miller, Co-founder of Opto Investments and head of its Advisory Practice, discusses how the U.S. is heading into a long-term debt cycle, challenges that investors face, and the importance of finding differentiated investments to generate alpha. He explains how Opto is enabling wealth managers to access and invest in private markets with confidence. The podcast also touches on the culture at Bridgewater, the appeal of private credit, and the importance of optimism in productive discourse.

Brad Gerstner, Founder of Invest America, discusses his legislative program called Invest America that aims to educate the next generation on the merits of free markets and give every child a financial upside. He also shares his macro outlook on the economy and why he believes AI is the next big supercycle. Additionally, he explores the importance of restoring faith in capitalism, tackling AI job displacement, addressing inflation concerns, and maintaining optimism and faith in the future.