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

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0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
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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

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.

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.

Had chills the other day remembering this guys predictions and catching up on the latest in AI development recently. No matter how otherworldly his predictions seemed I now believe he is underestimating how quickly this change is going to hit us.

What if Ray is from the future and is actually the sentient AI?😅 sometimes his voice sounds like that a little bit. Loved this episode so much. Thank you Lex! You are by far the best now.

I love Ray. I watched everything with him, and have seen him repeat himself a lot. His work is amazing, but he tends to do that. This interview really brought out a lot of interesting ideas and aspects to his thinking that I have never heard. Thanks a bunch Lex, you are the best. Literally, the best podcast.

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

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.

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!

Read his book at 17 when it came out. Even though I can't fully agree with this almost religious form of transhumanism, I can't deny that Ray's book has been quite influential for me and the way to think about the future of humanity.
Thanks for all the interesting guests, Lex!

I love Ray, he's brilliant and always seems straight up!! Definitely someone on a short list I look up too

Good one Lex! I’ve been aware of Mr. Kurzweil since the 80’s, played his instruments and read his books. Thank you for being you and doing such thoughtful interviews!

This is 96 minutes of Lex trying to get Ray to laugh...and I love it. I watch these podcasts pretty much in order, but this one warranted a skip ahead. Thank you Lex and Ray!

Lex, thank you for this excellent piece. Full of humanity, empathy, and great values.

I appreciate Ray and his long standing and so far accurate predictions, and also for his optimism.
I've been following Ray for at least 15 years and I'm really interested to learn what he considers to be "dangerous misinformation" in the age of Covid-19.
Interesting interview, but I didn't learn much that wasn't already discussed by Ray and others back in 2013 at the Global Future 2045 conference in NYC. I think Lex missed an opportunity to get into important specifics like the potential for AI to concentrate power, to disrupt "democracy" (more on that later), and for example to discuss dystopian scenarios being pondered right now like perhaps the elite could dispose of most of the populace and have AI/robots and genetically engineered mentally limited slave labor become their new servants (feels like that might already be in the works now). He also didn't touch on consciousness, regarding the uploading/downloading of one's brain or simulating a human being from a library of their interactions and writings.
Regarding "democracy" (government by the people especially : rule of the majority) otherwise known as "mob rule", perhaps they meant something along the lines of our "constitutional republic" where the rights of the individual are paramount and they were simply conflating that to the simple word "democracy" but I'd expect more exacting language from two people of very high intelligence.
I'm left feeling this interview was sadly a bit superficial, at least for those of us that have already followed Ray and others on these subjects, though maybe a good primer for those who have not. Maybe there will be a follow up where Lex and Ray can get into more of the meat?
Finally, since Ray is working with Google, I'm surprised there weren't any questions about privacy, the perils of multinational multi-billion dollar corporations, big-data, and a discussion of the cons - for example such companies working in coordination with totalitarian states like the CCP, to monitor and control their populations and the ethics of such.
Thanks for reading and considering my comments.

Lex your podcast is awsome. Your guest are right up my alley, and your ability to conduct an entertaining and deep interview is superb.

I believe I've just had a revelation about the nature of consciousness while listening to this. I would argue that if you could put it on a tier list that the first stage is consciousness, then sentience, then self awareness. Maybe both self awareness and sentience at the same time in differing scales. I believe the nature of consciousness is simply the ability to give a response. It doesn't have to be intelligible it just needs to be a response. So a rock might have a low level of intelligence if you touch it you're given feedback and information about it. It's rough, its hard, maybe cold. That may be questionable but i would put forward the idea that even a person who is babbling nonsensically would be considered conscious even if not necessarily self aware of their actions. Sentience, i would propose is the ability to self-initiate without being prompted to respond with a question first. Self awareness is the ability to identify oneself. Pretty self explanatory.

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!

I''ve read most of Ray's books and just watching this, I'm learning so much more. Incredible!!

I have really enjoyed both of these people for many years. Ray is in some serious physical decline. I hope that changes for him. Longer life needs some more progress and I hope the current research can help Ray. With all that said he's not wrong. I just hope he makes it.

@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

Hey lex, I know you know this, but excellent interview! I could relisten to it quite a few more times, and it baffles me how you can consolidate so many informed questions in a tight conversation like this.

I hope Ray can make it to the Singularity. What a great mind.

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.

Lex, I wanted to comment that your conversations, especially prescient on AI, are good because you know how to listen and gently push conversants.
The pods are immensely useful seeding much needed public grasp of what the hell is going on with the major social AI tech edge NOW.
It matters. A lot.
Grazie mille.

Excellent interview - both of you were tremendously interesting - many many thanks!!! I have a Kurzweil K2500 keyboard that has been part of my music since I bought it when it first came out. I didn't have a computer, so I programmed it using its buttons and small screen - so much, that I had to have the circuits eventually replaced - I had over worked them. But the most amazing thing was that I often felt that the keyboard anticipated and executed the moves I wanted - I wonder if Ray had built some AI into that magical instrument. I have read two of his books, and will read the next one when I can find it.

My biggest fear is that the "merger" is going to be fueled by hardware stamped with corporate logos. The trust of giving someone the kind of direct access to your personal information is terrifying without some degree of certainty or guarantee of control.

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.

Incredible insights and perspectives from Mr. Kurzweil, There is hope for being human albeit enhanced. Great interview.

Lex you’re a legend for bringing this man to a podcast, can’t think of anyone else who could pull this off!

It honestly makes me sad that Ray will probably just miss out on seeing his own ultimate prediction come to pass.

I love Lex so much. Thank you for what you're doing for the humanity, Lex. ❤

This needs to be revisited as AI is advancing faster than it can be reported on almost now.

Lex you are knocking it out of the park !!! Amazing podcast

Amazing video! For me, to be able to listen to great minds about the ways of the world, is truly meaningful.

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.

excellent interview, discussing difficult and subtle concepts, not trivializing any concerns (jobs, disparities, etc.)

I’ve been listening to Kurzweil since I was young. His predictions aren’t always right, but he never fails to get me excited about the future

Lex is a great interviewer. Very interesting and polite.

Always great content!
Best watched at 1.25x speed.

Rather mind blowing interview.
I'm for #ReplicantRights!
So pleased to have just discovered UAclips and this and a few other channels.

The legend himself! Thanks for bringing him on Lex!

Ray is so accurate you kind of wish he would be wrong sometimes.😁

to summarize it all and to add to last words of these great podcast:
The main meaning of life is purpose guided by love. For this time we are living is to love and to be loved.
But if we want to put in one word then it is and it can be only love.
Thank you Lex you are a great man

Ray Kurzweil trailblazed the curiosity of my youth in SciFi turned reality. Awesome guest, Lex.

Great podcast, Lex ! Thank you!

This is the best thing I have seen on UAclips in a long time. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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

Man, Lex was actually able to convince him! Is the the first recorded instance of a bot passing the test with a critical human adjudicator?

In 80s and 90s, "the experts" called him mad.
In 2000s they called him eccentric.
Now in 2023 they are listening and taking notes of his mathematical predictions based on the exponential. I hope he can survive to watch his Singularity💪👊
Or maybe Ray has already come from the future, sounds legit for me haha.

What a great interview. You're on form Lex 🙏❤️

Ray changed my life when I discovered him 15 years ago.

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

That was an amazing conversation.Thank you Lex,your channel is awesome.Cheers from Buenos Aires. Keep up the good work!!

Great conversation as usual, really enjoy this episode.

It’s hard to find anything to say. Wow. I have never been exposed to this type of thing before and found it mind blowing thinking. It’s incredible to know about people like this. Thank you for bringing it to this older man’s attention. Something else to explore. 🇦🇺🇦🇺

Ray really glossed over the economic disparity question. It’s not the lack of dispersion of the technology that causes the economic inequality, it is the ownership of the platforms and data. He answered the question spot on by stating plenty of homeless folks have cell phones.

People believe what they want or fear. We need tools and productivity. Keep work boys. We will deal with this if or when necessary

Truly amazing episodes lately Lex keep up the great work ❤️

Ray has literally been painting the future of humanity / AI and steered it in a direction to go that's a win for mankind. The ultimate projector.

I'd love to hear his thoughts at this length on the LLMs that have burst forth since ChatGPT was released.

Gosh if the disaster of the mRNA experimental gene therapy is anything to go by (it should have been pulled long ago based on the level of serious adverse events reported), then using AI / neural nets to assist in medicine breakthroughs needs urgent regulation..
Also I love Ray, and also curious about what’s behind his avoidance of death - the cycle of grieving is such an important part of living and loving fully.
Great interview thanks.

I’m so curious and excited about it. I hope I can make it to 2029 ! Yeah…
Thank You 🙏🏼 I really enjoy your interview with a lots of peI watched fir years and admired.
Thank You 🙏🏼 Lex!

I loved this conversation... thank you Lex ! And Ray !

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!!!

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

Excellent interview/ video. A great way to “get up to speed” with Ray Kurzweil if you haven’t read his books.

Brilliant interview. Really enjoyed it.

Re: 1:05:00 I used to just think that's how everyone did it but I learned that some people have a very different 'cinema' in their minds - the experiences and expression of creation is a very personal thing. Knowing that now, it has helped me better communicate ideas without as much of a dependency on visuals.

This is an excellent interview. This convinced me to subscribe.

Thank you for making this one. It was well worth the time to listen/watch you and the legendary Ray Kurzweil on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Amazing interview. Pertinent, insightful questions. Love the jokes too 😂 Why does Ray wear a hair system?

The Singularity was probably the most monumental book I ever read. It changed how I looked at the world forever. Awesome interview!

Singularity, super intelligence & immortality comes with the core of life that which one needs to crack it ! ☝️
Thanks 🙏

1:15:07 I can’t express how privileged I feel being allowed to sit in on your conversations Lex. You are a true gift!

I've always been very skeptical about Ray's ideas since I first heard them a decade ago. I still am, but at least I've learned enough about the topic to know that I have no idea what I'm talking about now.

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.

The parallel between Ray's answers and Demis Hassabis' to "Are we alone" and "are we in a simulation" were really cool.

This channel is amazing. Keeping it classy and informative. Great work

What an amazing podcast!!! Ive been a Kurzweil fan since buying one of his keyboards back in the early 90s. That keyboard model still holds a special spot in my heart lol. So to be interviewed by awesome Lex is quite the treat!!! WOW! Thank you so much! and I agree with father Kurzweil... LOVE!

Lex is only going to get better in his interviews. The more of these engaging guests he interacts with, more experience, analysis of past interviews, more engaging topics, I feel like by the year 2029, when AI passes the Turing test, and Ray and some other expert guest on the topic comes along, thats going to be a super super interview ...waiting.😏

The man is a maverick, A Ray of optimism ❤

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.

AmaIng interview. Ask the guy questions, let them speak. Well-done, I need more.

I went to the "Computer Learning Center" in 1999 and spoke to the Dean about wanting to pursue A.I - he immediately , and arrogantly returned "A.I is dead, they tried it in the 70's."... Spot on Arlin, spot on...

Thanks Ray for helping to bring about the end of humanity.

He's a very interesting but essentially bizarre character. His obsession with looking young and being young has always struck me as very weird. But I suppose if that's what drives him fair enough.

I loved this episode!

I'm SO glad to see a new interview with Ray! REALLY hope he stays healthy and get to see this stuff happen.. (same goes for myself lol)
I used to question whether his predictions would just keep shifting further out.. But lately things are seeming even more on track for the 2029 date than I ever thought we would be. We're already seeing AI chatbots nearing the ability to pass the Turing-Test, so by 2029 it'll probably be undeniable. I think there's a VERY good chance the 2030s will be seen as 'the decade of the Singularity'.

That movie, "Multiplicity," comes to mind, and even entertaining such questions as not purely fiction suggests that we are living in a far more nihilistic world than what might be perceived.

30:00 This perfectly explains the crazy fast progress we have been seeing in AI over the last few months.

not sure how his well being is today but he would be an amazing comeback guest with all the ai stuff happening

Whenever I'm feeling negative about the future, I can always depend on Ray Kurzweil and his many charts to remind myself that the data says everything is always getting better ;)

wonderful podcast - thx Lex and Ray

You are such a gem Lex. Thank you for conducting these priceless interviews!

I feel like Lex had more fun with interview than with certain others.

I feel like Lex really connected with Ray in this interview...especially when he asked him if he missed his father etc...a very nice interview, with some profound responses from Ray....Really enjoyed it.👍

Very chill smart guy. I love his ideas. Great conversation. Things are moving so fast in the AI world, this video was 6 months ago, and he mentions 2029 as the year we develop AGI--I wonder with GPT-4 and the like, whether he still feels that year will stick. To me, it feels like a solid guesstimation of when true AGI is born.

Ray Kurzweil has been my idle since 2007 book The singularity is near: when humans transcend biology.
nothing to lie that book changed my life and made me realize what's possible then, and where the future was headed even beyond now today!

1:13:00 in - Copyright issues for REPLICANTS?! - mind BLOWN by this whole talk... WOW!! LEX, this is ONE of THE BEST interviews on this subject I've ever listened to! - Your questions at the end were absolutely AMAZING!!