Lex Fridman Podcast

You are onto something with your observation of the link between freedom of speech and thought. This is the incubator for innovation because of a conservation of energy reality. The mind can only track so many things at once and greatness requires full subject attention. When the mind is distracted by unproductive thoughts like speech codes especially when there are real world consequences to those banned thoughts being expressed, the mind isn’t completely free - energy isn’t free to explore and expand understanding. It becomes trapped in a cage of worry and fear. This inhibits innovation. The mind, like a pie, becomes carved up to the extent that a lesser percentage can focus on one’s natural interests and passions and with it the expression of intelligence is compromised. I hope this makes sense.

Deeply insightful interviews that are evolving our collective understanding of science, technology, and AI. I hope he will interview Frederico Faggin, the inventor of the first microprocessor and the clearest thinker I have ever encountered on the nature of consciousness, AI, and why machines can never be conscious. Truly remarkable insights. If you listen to him carefully (or read Irreducible) you will never be the same again, in the best sense! An intellectual journey to the farthest frontier but grounded in experience, insightful and deep thinking, and sound science. Frederico Faggin.

Someone sent me a link to a Lex podcast, it took me 2-3 months to finally listen to it because I didn’t know who he was and it was a couple of hours long. But over time I started listening more regularly and have grown to really appreciate his unemotional but intelligent style - and a few choice words along the way. I’m an ME by education/profession and am used to thinking things through, not having emotional reactions. Here I get that too but about subjects I don’t much about but know are important.

I think this guy may be genuine but boy is he out of his depth in some of these. It sort of works with Rogan who can always play the ‘I’m just a comedian card’. Feels less okay here when Fridman plays up the (seemingly not very strong) MIT connection as a crutch of credibility. At what point are you just a useful idiot for the powerful?