#52 – Michael Nielsen on being a wise optimist about science and technology

Into the Bytecode

This is my conversation with Michael Nielsen, scientist, author, and research fellow at the Astera Institute.

Timestamps:
- (00:00:00) intro
- (00:01:06) cultivating optimism amid existential risks
- (00:07:16) asymmetric leverage
- (00:12:09) are "unbiased" models even feasible?
- (00:18:44) AI and the scientific method
- (00:23:23) unlocking AI's full power through better interfaces
- (00:30:33) sponsor: Splits
- (00:31:18) AIs, independent agents or intelligent tools?
- (00:35:47) autonomous military and weapons
- (00:42:14) finding alignment
- (00:48:28) aiming for specific moral outcomes with AI?
- (00:54:42) freedom/progress vs safety
- (00:57:46) provable beneficiary surveillance
- (01:04:16) psychological costs
- (01:12:40) the ingenuity gap

Links:
- Michael Nielsen: https://michaelnielsen.org/
- Michael Nielsen on X: https://x.com/michael_nielsen
- Michael's essay on being a wise optimist about science and technology: https://michaelnotebook.com/optimism/
- Michael's Blog: https://michaelnotebook.com/
- The Ingenuity Gap (Tad Homer-Dixon): https://homerdixon.com/books/the-ingenuity-gap/

Thank you to our sponsor for making this podcast possible:
- Splits: https://splits.org

Into 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.