Stephen Wolfram: Complexity and the Fabric of Reality | Lex Fridman Podcast #234

Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, mathematician, and theoretical physicist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

EPISODE LINKS:

PODCAST INFO:

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
0:57 - What is complexity
13:58 - Randomness in the universe
18:19 - The Wolfram Physics Project
30:21 - Space and time are discrete
42:26 - Quantum mechanics and hypergraphs
51:40 - What is intelligence
1:02:23 - Computational equivalence
1:10:43 - What it is like to be a cellular automata
1:25:07 - Making prediction vs explanations
1:38:27 - Why does the universe exist
1:44:08 - The universe and rulial space
1:52:51 - Does an atom have consciousness
2:03:17 - Why does our universe exist
2:11:48 - What is outside the ruliad
2:22:22 - Automated proof systems
2:38:17 - Multicomputation for biology
2:56:48 - Cardano NFT collaboration with Wolfram Alpha
3:03:48 - Global theory of economics

SOCIAL:

[lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast.
0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
0:57 - What is complexity
13:58 - Randomness in the universe
18:19 - The Wolfram Physics Project
30:21 - Space and time are discrete
42:26 - Quantum mechanics and hypergraphs
51:40 - What is intelligence
1:02:23 - Computational equivalence
1:10:43 - What it is like to be a cellular automata
1:25:07 - Making prediction vs explanations
1:38:27 - Why does the universe exist
1:44:08 - The universe and rulial space
1:52:51 - Does an atom have consciousness
2:03:17 - Why does our universe exist
2:11:48 - What is outside the ruliad
2:22:22 - Automated proof systems
2:38:17 - Multicomputation for biology
2:56:48 - Cardano NFT collaboration with Wolfram Alpha
3:03:48 - Global theory of economics

[Custodian]

You know you are living in a golden age when you can gain exposure, for zero cost, at any moment (in my case before bed in my boxers), to the highest quality people in the world. Thank you Lex, you have exposed me to the most amazing people on the planet.

[Ocodo]

I feel that Stephen Wolfram is one step away from getting out of the matrix.

[benjamincastro]

Lex I don’t think you understand the impact you’re having in the world wide intellectual community. Your podcast is an oasis in the dumpster that internet content has become. Thank you.

[nickgreene]

Thank you Lex so much for never dumbing down your conversations this is one of the few places on YouTube I can come to get the as full as possible picture of real theories, not some almost for children over-simplification. Did I understand everything discussed here? Not fully, but I really appreciate the chance to try and see where the gaps in my knowledge are. Keep up the great podcast man!

[JD-evpo]

Amazing! Lex is literally giving us doctoral classes from the finest professors from around the world. Thank you, Lex!

[spiral]

This type of interview is exactly why Lex is the best.

[paulmeloche]

Listening to Wolfram speak is like trying to drink out of a firehose. Great interview.

[furbs]

Can we please take a moment to appreciate just what a fantastic interviwer Lex is? Great questions, great follow up questions and always giving the guest the time and room to fully anwser. Bravo Lex.

[inthefade]

I'm on my fourth listen of this podcast. The other two episodes with Wolfram I listened to 3 times each. What fantastic conversations.

[SB-lcvd]

Stephen Wolfram is practically a reincarnation of Nikola Tesla. IMO, This is the greatest compliment a scientist can have. Thank you Lex for creating this podcast. Even with degrees MechEng/Physics/Anesthesia, I find myself trying to keep up with the speakers !!

[edan]

My mind just about explodes with insight every time Wolfram makes a point.

[astilen]

I cant multitask and listen to Stephen, i miss one second and he's a multiverse away

[louispare]

Stephen is on another level. I could probably listen to this specific podcast everyday and still learn something new each time. Lots of wiki pages to go through too.
Thanks Lex!

[kezzla]

I listen to these to go to sleep, then have wild dreams. With conversations like this, I can never tell how much is dream and how much is the conversation.

[teliwandaand]

Lex's interviewing skills are underrated. Very few questions, but each one is bang on target. What we are underrating is how much work went into it from Lex's end. He has spend a lifetime to be in a position to understand the things in the way that he does and he has the presence of mind and humility to keep it simple. I think very few people would be able to extract the same kind of richness even if they were to spend four hours talking to Wolfram. Even fewer in a manner that is accessible.

[biosurveillance]

Glad to see Stephen on again! Throughly enjoyed the previous conversation.

[wulfmountainpath]

Great thinker, fascinating communicator and guest. Excellent questions posed. Gratitude Lex.

[aidanmargarson]

So if you have that person in your life who thinks they know everything .. this is the one show you send them the link to

[vootman]

I always enjoy hearing Stephen, It's amazing how he can deliver an onslaught of complicated ideas in very comprehensive ways.