Ray Kurzweil: Singularity, Superintelligence, and Immortality | Lex Fridman Podcast #321

Ray Kurzweil is an author, inventor, and futurist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

EPISODE LINKS:
Ray's Books:

PODCAST INFO:

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
1:06 - Turing test
14:51 - Brain–computer interfaces
26:31 - Singularity
32:51 - Virtual reality
35:31 - Evolution of information processing
41:57 - Automation
51:57 - Nanotechnology
53:51 - Nuclear war
55:57 - Uploading minds
1:03:38 - How to think
1:10:08 - Digital afterlife
1:19:28 - Intelligent alien life
1:22:18 - Simulation hypothesis
1:26:31 - Mortality
1:34:10 - Meaning of life

SOCIAL:

[lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast.
0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
1:06 - Turing test
14:51 - Brain–computer interfaces
26:31 - Singularity
32:51 - Virtual reality
35:31 - Evolution of information processing
41:57 - Automation
51:57 - Nanotechnology
53:51 - Nuclear war
55:57 - Uploading minds
1:03:38 - How to think
1:10:08 - Digital afterlife
1:19:28 - Intelligent alien life
1:22:18 - Simulation hypothesis
1:26:31 - Mortality
1:34:10 - Meaning of life

[AdamChalmers]

Lex, you are the goat of week-to-week, even day-to-day, epic guest bookings! Most remarkable, also, is the way you, comfortably, intelligently, respectfully, and even playfully, engage with each guest. Keep it up brother!

[Leshpngo]

For the longest time I wanted this conversation, wondering if Ray would come back from his silence with this podcast…and he did. Can’t wait to listen!!!

[Johnnynyny]

So lovely Ray how you've honored and preserved the memory of your dad. Serendipity while I was listening to the podcast, my 85 yr old father walked by and stopped to ask me what and who I was listening to. When I told him Ray Kurzweil, he shared his fond memories of visiting your father (his college music professor) on Hartland Ave in Queens Village while you were a small boy... Thanks for the episode!

[leoniebachmann]

Ray Kurzweil on a podcast - wow, only Lex can do it. Thanks so much for your great work, Lex.

[TheListeningParty_TLP]

Lex, this is the best your podcast has looked and sounded. Beautiful image quality and lighting.

[Satanica]

This is the first time I hear you, Lex, and you are an impressive, thoughtful and educated foil for Ray Kurzweil, whom I have followed for decades. You are both respectfully reserved in your questions to Ray and his ideas, while pushing against sensitive barriers we humans naturally have - bravo on that balance. While I have totally lost respect for most main stream journalists and media, I am thrilled to see a glimmer of non-sensational, non politicized integrity here. Please keep up this level of integrity, to do otherwise diminishes us all. Thank you so much for this work.

[lookaze]

I love that the episode number is #321, like a countdown to the singularity.

[johnnyringo]

When Singularity is Near came out in 2005 (and for many years later), Ray's ideas seemed fringe, if not absurd to most people, including computer scientists. I always admired his optimism though and wished that his predictions were fulfilled. Now, with the phenomenal advances in AI, the more advanced it gets, the more respected is Ray, because he was right from the beginning. It seems that now not so many people are ready to laugh off Ray's predictions... Glad to see he's getting the credit he deserves.

[WAVEFUNCTION_TV]

I'm always fascinated by the loosening up of the guests during that first 60 min. The answers get more lengthy and articulate. And the guest gradually becomes more engaged and lively. That's gotta be a big part of your success lex.

[PhillipHilton]

It became very evident to me listening to Ray speak that a lot of his motivation and interest in the Singularity seems to be driven not by a fear of mortality but by personal loss. He hopes to manifest a future that will save others from that pain and suffering by restoring or preserving some form those loved ones. A noble motivation indeed.

[DoctorSlothMD]

Kurzweil's track record and optimism is inspiring - solve 1% of a problem and progress becomes exponential

[roundedges]

This guy was my cutting edge expert for a masters computer college paper on voice recognition over 30 years ago--and here he is STILL doing this stuff.

[RomanStepanovTV]

Lex Thank you for what you are doing! These are some of my most favorite topics. I too was born in USSR, and grew up there until its collapse. Love your podcast brother! Спасибо от души и сердца.

[iamatlantis]

This is possibly my favorite episode so far, I listened to the entire thing and was left wishing it was twice as long. Definitely in my top 3.

[denzilstudios]

Ray Kurzweil is one of the best visionaries & futurologists of our time. He even founded Kurzweil Music Systems together with Stevie Wonder & built one of the first digital synthesizers in the 80's.

[jacksandford]

Lex has a beautiful mind and deep intuition into human thought and behavior as well as emotion. It allows him to be a most perceptive interviewer. Ray has an exceptional ability to reason and project the answers to those questions out into eternity. Beautiful! When asked the most important thing, he answered, “Love”. John Lennon said, “all you need is Love”. Christ said, “ In the end, these three remain, ( indicating perpetually) Faith, Hope, and Love, the greatest of these is Love.” I think the content of the above interview is the most enduringly important content I’ve ever heard on the meaning of life. My hat is off to Lex and Ray!!!!

[Category]

I love this podcast because it helps me learn. Not in the sense that I regurgitate the ideas expressed, but in the sense that many ideas are fuel for two, three hour think sessions where I introspect and ask myself questions. In my attempts to answer my curiosities I find more intriguing questions and thought pathways to explore and grow. For my birthday I would like to have an open philosophy session with Lex. Could be about time travel, the meaning of life, the future of technology, the existence and presence of God, the past as a blueprint for the future, anything. Since becoming a parent, watching my son fight cancer at 4, and my life changing overnight multiple times I have learned that there are very few people who wish to explore the beauty and horror beyond the mundane aspects of life. Lex, you do that in this podcast and I am glad to have found it! Progress is the fruit of curiosity, not of the mere passing of knowledge.

[TheJaYSolo]

I cannot even express in words articulate enough to convey how grateful I am to Lex Fridman for his DECISION to create this channel. Brother, you filled a void in me that I couldn't even fathom I had but only through hind sight after every single episode as you and your guest leave me smiling and left wanting more! Best time spent on youtube BY FAR is on your channel and I will do so as a loyal fan for the rest of my LIFE!!! THANK YOU LEX!!!

[nathanphillips]

@lexfridman your interview style shows so much respect and care for your guest work and life. WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN THIS WORLD! we appreciate you brother!--- np