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

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 gapLinks:- 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.orgInto the Bytecode:- Sina Habibian on X: https://twitter.com/sinahab- Sina Habibian on Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/sinahab- Into the Bytecode: https://intothebytecode.comDisclaimer: 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.