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

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Shopify: shopify.com/lex to get 14-day free trial - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - Linode: linode.com/lex to get $100 free credit - MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off - Indeed: indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit 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

This CD has three separate relaxation/meditation sessions on it youtube.com/post/Ugkxzpa8CIfZcihW4Z0F_ja0QF3W9KIat… guided by a very pleasant and direct male voice. Unlike so many other products of its type, this CD does not have bad synthesizer music, does not feature a phony or affected style of narration, and does not make any bogus claims to be subliminal or to re-train the brain or any of that balderdash. What you get is 1. a guided meditation for getting into a pleasantly relaxed state of body awareness while taking a stroll (superb for those easing back into a fitness routine slowly after an illness or injury) 2. A nice long breath-awareness relaxation session that if followed diligently can put you into very deep states of full-body relaxation and mental calmness, and 3. a buddhist-inspired meditation session designed to help you develop and maintain feelings of loving kindness toward not just yourself and your friends, but toward people you don't even like. The CD makes no claims to be designed for advanced meditators or for buddhists or hindus/yoga practitioners looking for very deep and esoteric stuff. It is geared more toward the average person who just wants to develop the habit of relaxation and stress relief through natural, healthy means. him, if you happen to be reading this, keep up the good work fella, and I love your accent. I would also like to note that I have never fallen asleep while listening to this product. I would like to kindly suggest to the reviewer who said this CD makes him fall asleep, that he might want to get checked to see if he has a sleep disorder, or if he is simply not setting aside ample time for restful sleep at night. A healthy person getting adequate rest at night should be able to go into deep states of mental relaxation without dozing off, if not all the time, then most of the time.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!!!

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!

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

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

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

Glad to have lex interview this man. Tried to watch neil degrasse tyson interview him and of course he just talks over him and interrupts arrogantly and obnoxiously.

@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

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

The legend himself! Thanks for bringing him on Lex!

Finally... Ray got stuck giving the same talk in every video. Now he has someone intelligent asking him real, dynamic questions so I get to hear new things.

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.