The Last Invention
Technology
About
The AI revolution has begun – the product of a seventy-year quest by scientists, mathematicians, and visionaries who set out to build machines that could think. But what began as a fringe idea has now become one of the most powerful forces of the 21st century. This is the story of that journey: its rivalries, its competing visions of utopia and apocalypse, and the race to build what may be humanity’s last invention.
Episodes
- Sam Altman’s Attacker, In His Own Words
In this episode of The Last Invention, Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama, the individual arrested for the attempted killing of Sam Altman, shares his motivations and beliefs regarding AGI.
- Wetwear
This episode discusses Hon Weng Chong's biological computer, which uses human neurons in a petri dish to play Pong. It explores the potential of neural computing for artificial general intelligence and its applications in medicine and robo…
- The AI Skeptics
This episode of The Last Invention features Ed Zitron, Gary Marcus, and Arvind Narayanan discussing skepticism surrounding the AGI race. The episode breaks down differing viewpoints into "AI Is Grift," "Wrong Path," and "AI as Normal Techn…
- “Build the AI Wall” with Steve Bannon
Andy interviews Steve Bannon and Joe Allen about the populist right-wing case for regulating Big Tech and AI. They advocate for transparency in AI labs and oppose preempting state oversight, framing AI as a critical inflection point influe…
- Ezra Klein on the Uncertain Politics of A.I.
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein joins The Last Invention to discuss the uncertain politics of artificial intelligence. He examines the government's role in shaping AI, the most significant disruptions, and how to maintain clarity amid…
- EP 8: The Accelerationists
This episode of The Last Invention examines the accelerationist movement, a group believing expedited AI development is essential for humanity's future. It questions the implications when powerful technologists view AI progress as a duty.
- EP 7: The Scouts
This episode of The Last Invention discusses the current AI arms race, contrasting with earlier hopes for the technology. Guests Liv Boeree and William MacAskill outline what they describe as a "narrow path" for humanity's future concernin…
- EP 6: The AI Doomers
The Last Invention episode "The AI Doomers" features Nate Soares and Connor Leahy discussing the potential threat of superintelligence to humanity. They argue for stopping ASI development before it is too late, presenting the case for the…
- EP 5: Contact
The Last Invention episode
- EP 4: Speedrun
This episode explores the intense competition among AI pioneers like Musk, Altman, and Amodei to develop artificial general intelligence safely, driven by a shared fear of an "AI dictatorship." This race ultimately culminated in the releas…
- EP 3: Playing the Wrong Game
This episode of The Last Invention explores how games like checkers, chess, and Jeopardy advanced AI. It highlights contrarian scientists whose radical idea led to machines that learn but lack understanding, featuring Yoshua Bengio, Liv Bo…
- EP 2: The Signal
This episode of The Last Invention revisits Alan Turing's 1951 prediction that machines could surpass human intelligence. It examines how, seventy years later, the potential threat feels less real, featuring insights from Connor Leahy, Max…
- EP 1: Ready or Not
The episode "Ready or Not" from The Last Invention explores the accelerating race to build artificial general intelligence, revealing different factions with competing goals regarding its development and arrival. The story originates from…
- Introducing: The Last Invention
This episode introduces 'The Last Invention' podcast, exploring the decades-long pursuit of advanced AI. It highlights the contrasting views on AI's potential, from societal transformation and destruction to the inevitability of its develo…