Scott AaronsonEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Scott Aaronson thinks that the time to prepare for a post-quantum world isn’t years away - it was yesterday. In the second episode of Forecast 2050 with Nebular General Partner Finn Murphy and Entrepreneur in Residence Tom McCarthy, we explore whether classical AI might eclipse quantum computing, how post-quantum cryptography will upend global security, and why the rise of superintelligence both excites and deeply unsettles Scott. We also debate whether a quantum teleporter would actually be a suicide machine, how advanced AI might help us uncover the fundamental nature of reality, and the disturbing possibility that future superintelligences may compete with one another for dominance, treating humans as collateral. Extended Show Notes: https://finnmurphyirl.substack.com/p/breaking-the-internet-scott-aaronsons Transcript (with links): https://finnmurphyirl.substack.com/p/forecast-2050-episode-ii-transcript Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:04 How AI & Quantum Computing Interact Today 10:36 Why Scott Thinks Classical Computing Might Outdate Quantum 18:24 The Post-Quantum World of 2050 27:43 Quantum Computing & Biology 35:46 The Quantum Teleporter as a Suicide Machine 38:52 Superintelligence & The Ultimate Nature of Reality 45:00 The Battle Between Superintelligences Scott Aaronson, the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, is widely recognized as a top researcher in the fields of quantum computing and computational complexity. Thank you to Matt Johnson of Q2B Sillicon Valley and QC Ware for helping us film at the conference! https://q2b.qcware.com/ Scott’s blog, Shtetl-Optimized: https://scottaaronson.blog/ Forecast 2050 is a series about the next 25 years—and the builders, thinkers, and leaders shaping what comes next. Finn on X: https://x.com/FinnMurphy12 Finn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-murphy-16160465/ Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mccarthy-41144779/ Nebular is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City. Head to nebular.vc for more info.

In Episode 8 of EBKP I’m joined by theoretical computer scientist Scott Aaronson to explore one of the deepest questions at the intersection of philosophy, physics, and computation. We discuss whether the brain could, even in principle, be simulated by a digital computer, what the Church–Turing thesis actually says about minds, and how quantum mechanics complicates questions of free will, prediction, and consciousness. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 00:33 Is the brain a computer? 04:49 Is consciousness finite? 10:00 Information, physics, and limits 17:14 Interpreting quantum mechanics 24:53 Many worlds and decision-making 28:09 Free will and predictability 37:37 Could AI be conscious? 46:17 What is a quantum computer?

Scott Aaronson joined us at FUTO to host a Q&A about quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Dr. Aaronson is a Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin, and director of its Quantum Information Center. His research interests center around the capabilities and limits of quantum computers, and computational complexity theory more generally. For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, Dr. Aaronson worked at OpenAI on the theoretical foundations of AI safety. (from his website) - https://www.scottaaronson.com/

Grid resilience has become a test of whether the U.S. can keep essential systems running through disruption—and recover fast when they don't. In this episode, Frank Cilluffo talks with Scott Aaronson about how the electric power sector plans for and responds to an "all-hazards" landscape, from major storms to cyber and physical attacks. Aaronson explains why the grid is a "network of networks" with a huge attack surface but few true single points of failure, and how mutual assistance became a national-scale capability. They also dig into interdependencies across "lifeline" sectors, the practical reality of IT/OT differences, and why surging demand—from AI and data centers to EVs and reshoring—raises urgent reliability and supply chain questions. Main Topics Covered Why electricity is consumed the moment it's produced—and why balance matters. How mutual assistance evolved from bilateral help to national-scale response. Lessons from severe weather events, including what makes ice storms uniquely hard. The IT vs. OT gap, and why operational tech changes the cyber playbook. Interdependencies: why adversaries can hit electricity by targeting other sectors. Rising demand and the push to rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity for grid equipment. Key Quotes "Electricity is the only commodity that is consumed at the moment it is produced." – Scott Aaronson "[Power companies] are competitive in some ways, but we are completely non-competitive when it comes to security, when it comes to resilience, when it comes to response and recovery." – Scott Aaronson "I don't really care if it is a storm or a pandemic or a cyber or physical attack or the zombie apocalypse… The impact is what matters." – Scott Aaronson "The adversary is not attacking the electric sector. They are attacking the United States." – Scott Aaronson "The first 72 are on you… Have food, have water, have a plan, be prepared. The cavalry is coming." – Scott Aaronson "Regulations are great, but they are a foundational level of security… if you mandate… a 10-foot fence… the adversary brings a 12-foot ladder." – Scott Aaronson R elevant Links and Resources Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) CRISP (Cyber Risk Information Sharing Program) STEP (Spare Transformer Equipment Program) ESF-12 (Emergency Support Function 12 – Energy) About the Guest Scott Aaronson is Senior Vice President for Energy Security and Industry Operations at Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and Secretary of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC), serving as a key industry-government liaison on power-sector security and preparedness.

Scott Aaronson is the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin, and director of its Quantum Information Center. He researches the capabilities and limits of quantum computers, and computational complexity theory more generally. For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, he was on leave to work at OpenAI on the theoretical foundations of AI safety. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Scott answers a host of questions about the basics of quantum computing. He and Robinson discuss the physics- and computer science elements of the field, how it connects to the foundations of quantum mechanics, the biggest myths about quantum computing, and whether quantum computers will every actually be built. Scott’s Blog: https://scottaaronson.blog OUTLINE 00:00 Scott’s Interest in Quantum Computing 07:10 Distinguishing the Physics from the Computer Science 14:43 What Is Quantum Computation? 39:41 The Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 53:31 Quantum Information 55:54 Prime Factorization 01:03:19 The Biggest Myths About Quantum Computing 01:14:06 Can Quantum Computers Actually Be Built? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

In this episode of The Quantum Kid, Katia Moskvitch and nine-year-old co-host Kai explore one of the most fascinating frontiers in modern physics: time travel, and what quantum mechanics and relativity really say about it. Our guest is Scott Aaronson — one of the world’s leading experts in quantum computing, the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, and director of UT’s Quantum Information Center.Together, we dig into the science behind the movies — from Back to the Future to Interstellar — and unpack what physics actually allows. Scott explains:- Why traveling forward in time is real physics, not science fiction- What a closed timelike curve is, and why it matters for time travel- How relativity links wormholes and time travel to the past- Why stable wormholes would require negative energy, something never observed- How time-travel paradoxes like the Grandfather Paradox and Shakespeare Paradox challenge our understanding of reality- How quantum superposition and David Deutsch’s 1991 model introduce the idea of branching timelines- Why quantum computers interacting with their past selves would be unimaginably powerful — far beyond anything we expect real quantum computers to doAlong the way, Kai asks what every curious kid wants to know:Can you bring your homework back from the future? Could Marty McFly really fade out of existence? How much of Interstellar is true? And will we ever time-travel for real?To bring the cosmic perspective to life, this episode also features original footage from the ALMA Observatory in the Atacama Desert — one of Earth’s most advanced instruments for exploring the structure of space-time.Whether you're a kid discovering physics for the first time or a researcher wondering how quantum mechanics might resolve time-travel paradoxes, this conversation offers a clear and insightful journey through some of the biggest open questions in science — from wormholes to quantum gravity.Join us, subscribe, and follow along as we continue exploring the universe, one quantum idea at a time.

The time has come for Vaden to defend his faith in the face of cold, hard scientific rationality. Will AI take over the world, automating away everything that makes humans distinct? Or can Vaden defend the church of just-ism, the radical belief that AI is simply "just a tool." Scott Aaronson, professor of computer science at UT Austin, goes to head to head against the zealotry. Check out Scott's website and his blog, Shtetl Optimized . We discuss Scott view's on education. Should we radically reform K-12? Is ChatGPT changing Scott's approach to teaching The religion of "justa-ism" Is AI just a tool? Is there any principle which lets us say that AI won't be as general as humans? Aaronson's thesis of Artificial Intelligence Computational universality vs explanatory universality The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics Socials Follow us on Twitter at @IncrementsPod, @BennyChugg, @VadenMasrani Come join our discord server! DM us on twitter or send us an email to get a supersecret link Become a patreon subscriber here . Or give us one-time cash donations to help cover our lack of cash donations here . Click dem like buttons on youtube Have you been converted? Tell us at incrementspodcast@gmail.com Special Guest: Scott Aaronson. Support Increments

Scott Aaronson is a theoretical computer scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, known for his pioneering work on quantum computing and computational complexity. He writes the widely read blog Shtetl-Optimized and has shaped how researchers and the public understand both the possibilities and limits of quantum technology. We talk about the reality of quantum computing, cryptography, AI progress, large language models, and what the future might look like when these technologies converge. Topics are outlined in the timestamps below. Watch on YouTube . Listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts. Support my work here and follow me on Twitter here Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:25 – How computer science views quantum mechanics today 06:50 – Superconducting qubits and how quantum machines are built 10:15 – The rules of quantum probability explained 13:41 – Quantum error correction and protecting fragile states 17:06 – When quantum algorithms provide a speed-up (and when they don’t) 20:31 – Skepticism and testing the limits of quantum hype 23:56 – Why Scott is optimistic about scalable quantum computing 27:22 – Potential applications: materials, chemistry, and beyond 30:47 – Shor’s algorithm and breaking classical encryption 34:12 – Bitcoin, cryptography, and the risks of a working quantum computer 37:37 – Grover’s algorithm and the reality of search speedups 41:03 – Large language models vs hard computational problems 44:28 – What tasks AI still can’t solve (and how to test them) 47:53 – GPT-4 vs GPT-3: progress, hype, and possible limits 51:18 – How companies train and deploy models responsibly 54:44 – The pace of change since ChatGPT launched 58:09 – Power and danger: capability without aligned goals 1:01:34 – Why AI is not just another technology but a civilizational shift Get full access to Progreshion at www.progreshion.blog/subscribe

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, Scott Aaronson shares his early fascination with calculus at age 11 and how “rediscovering” old mathematics led him toward groundbreaking work in complexity theory. He gives a lucid explanation of P vs NP, revealing how seemingly trivial questions about verifying solutions speak to some of the deepest unsolved problems in all of computing. Aaronson also explores the frontiers of quantum computing, from the nuances of quantum supremacy experiments to the idea of quantum money and certified randomness. He explains how amplitudes—rather than straightforward probabilities—unlock powerful interference effects, yet still face limits imposed by measurement. The conversation concludes with a look at the future of fault-tolerant quantum computers and the possibility that we’ve finally reached the ultimate horizon of computability—unless nature has even stranger surprises in store. 02:01 Early Fascination with Mathematics 05:10 Exploring Complexity Theory 09:10 Understanding P vs NP 22:38 The Significance of P vs NP in Cryptography and AI 35:04 Mapping Problems and NP Completeness 38:37 Quantum Computing and BQP 41:41 Shor's Algorithm and Cryptography 45:39 Simulating Quantum Systems 52:04 Digital vs Analog Quantum Computers 58:18 Grover's Algorithm and Quantum Speedup 01:02:04 Challenges in Quantum Algorithm Development 01:06:41 Beam Splitter Networks and Quantum Sampling 01:15:22 Quantum Computing and Information Storage 01:17:24 Shor's Algorithm and Factoring Numbers 01:20:56 Google's Quantum Supremacy Demonstration 01:49:19 Quantum Money and Unclonable Cash 01:57:15 The Future of Quantum Computing Follow us: Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcast Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/ Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovsky Misha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginov Xinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYin Subscribe: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6OR Website: https://www.632nm.com

Scott Aaronson, theoretical computer scientist, professor at University of Texas Austin and leading innovator in quantum computing and complexity theory, talks about AI consciousness, can machines think, universality, quantum computing, computation complexity, P complexity, NP complexity, P vs. NP and consciousness. Scott: https://scottaaronson.blog/ SUPPORT: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/knowtime Anchor: https://anchor.fm/knowtime/support Youtube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-937lA3_s2g5AxdpKQjVg/join PODCAST: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/knowtime Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CjRJPktODLDeHavCNDLGA Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-time/id1535371851?uo=4 CONNECT: Youtube: Subscribe! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowtimetofly/ Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/shalajlawania/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowtimetofly Twitter (Personal): https://twitter.com/shalajlawania Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowtimetofly Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/knowtimetofly/ Blog: http://www.sadisticshalpy.com/ Producer & Host: Shalaj Lawania TIMELINE 0:00 Introduction 1:29 Can Machines Think? 7:35 The Computational Universe 19:11 Simulation Hypothesis 23:30 Universality 31:58 What Is Quantum Computing? 40:28 Classical Computers vs. Quantum Computers 56:06 What Is Computational Complexity Theory? 1:02:19 P Complexity Class 1:07:14 NP Complexity Class 1:13:43 P vs. NP 1:22:30 Consciousness 1:33:42 Lego Interpretation 1:34:31 Inspirations (Books, Movies, Role Models) 1:37:31 Legacy & Meaning of Life #quantumcomputing

This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/ In this episode of Curiosity Entangled, theoretical computer scientist Scott Aaronson and writer Zvi Mowshowitz confront one of the biggest questions of our time: what happens when humanity builds tools that can outthink us? In a wide-ranging and unsparing conversation, they explore the realities of AI risk, gradual human disempowerment, the complexities of steering technological progress, and why alignment efforts may fall short when it matters most. Scott and Zvi examine the unique nature of the AI revolution—how it’s different from past technological shifts—and why traditional assumptions about progress and control may no longer apply. They tackle the pitfalls of today’s AI safety approaches, the psychological challenge of thinking clearly about diffuse, slow-moving risks, and the educational, societal, and epistemic shifts that the AI era demands. This is a conversation for anyone grappling with the future of intelligence, agency, and civilization itself. 5 Questions This Episode Might Leave You With 1. How could AI lead to humanity’s gradual loss of agency without an obvious “takeover” moment? 2. Why is it so difficult to steer or slow down transformative technologies once they are unleashed? 3. What makes today’s AI fundamentally different from previous technological revolutions? 4. Are current AI safety and interpretability efforts enough—or are we fooling ourselves? 5. How can we cultivate deeper skepticism, clearer thinking, and better education in the age of AI? Learn more about the guests Scott Aaronson – Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, expert in quantum computing and theoretical foundations of AI alignment. https://scottaaronson.blog/ Zvi Mowshowitz – Writer and strategic thinker focusing on decision theory, AI forecasting, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. https://thezvi.substack.com/https://x.com/TheZvi https://www.balsaresearch.com/ Timestamps 00:00:50 – Why this technological revolution leaves no obvious human niche 00:04:00 – How Zvi’s writing method mirrors real-time information processing 00:09:54 – Rethinking AI risk: gradual disempowerment vs. sudden takeover 00:14:10 – Why AI disruption is uniquely hard to govern—and harder to discuss 00:17:00 – GPT-4o, AI as research assistant, and the shifting cognitive landscape 00:21:15 – Why steering is harder than halting in technological revolutions 00:26:05 – Verifying claims and detecting “crank” proofs with AI 00:34:50 – Concrete examples vs. abstract theorizing about AI risk 00:37:10 – Strategic deception: when AIs learn to lie convincingly 00:43:50 – Lessons from past technological disruptions—and why AI is different 00:50:00 – The future of AI alignment: Scott’s new center at UT Austin 00:55:00 – Why pouring cold water on false hope matters for alignment 01:00:25 – Out-of-distribution reasoning: what models guess when data is scarce 01:11:00 – Education in an AI-saturated world: challenges and possibilities 01:17:00 – Learning, motivation, and the loss of intellectual environments 01:23:20 – Oscillating extremism, cultural breakdown, and the AI era 01:30:00 – Keeping focus: resisting distractions in a world of manufactured outrage Follow Accelerator Media:https://x.com/xceleratormedia https://instagram.com/xcelerator.media/ https://linkedin.com/company/accelerator-media-org

Class is in session! Professor Scott Aaronson, a leading researcher in quantum computers, takes time away from his teaching at the University of Texas at Austin to give Ahead of the Threat a detailed overview of quantum theory and the applications of what a quantum computer could do—when one is invented. Though a real quantum computer remains unlikely for a few more years, its potential to unravel nearly all known encryption has led to the development of post-quantum encryption to protect sensitive data. In the episode’s Top Three segment that highlights current cybersecurity news, hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss Google’s acquisition of the cloud computing company Wiz for $32 billion; the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, and a new ransomware attack at Jaguar Land Rover. You can read an FBI Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Medusa Ransomware at cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-071a . You can also read NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Overview at csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography . Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat . Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ahead-of-the-threat-the-fbi-cyber-podcast/id1774312272 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7nV7uYsEK4nH87ADpooAyA More ways to follow us: ahead-of-the-threat.transistor.fm/subscribe And follow us on social media: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/fbicyber X: twitter.com/fbi Facebook: facebook.com/FBI/ Instagram: instagram.com/fbi/ YouTube: youtube.com/user/fbi

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Aaronson , founder and CEO of Demeter Land Development , to explore his unexpected path from criminal defense attorney to renewable energy land origination expert . Scott recounts how his real estate ventures led him to community solar development , shedding light on the evolving challenges of securing land for distributed generation (DG) projects. He discusses the industry's transformation from old-school, door-knocking tactics to a highly strategic, data-driven approach. We cover: How his unique legal background can be applied to land origination The biggest challenges in permitting, interconnection, and competition How personalized landowner outreach makes a difference The future of DG renewables and what trends to watch Scott emphasizes the importance of local relationships , policy awareness , and strategic first-mover advantage in emerging markets. He also shares how Demeter’s partnership with Paces has helped streamline operations and accelerate growth. If you’re involved in solar development, land acquisition, or renewable energy policy , this episode is packed with valuable insights! Connect with Scott here! Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

Jacob Barandes (Harvard) and Scott Aaronson debate a wave-function-free reformulation of quantum mechanics. They explore whether the new “indivisible” approach reshapes our understanding of reality or simply repackages existing puzzles. 0:00 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 5:40 The Power of Quantum Computing 36:17 The Many Worlds Debate 1:09:05 Evaluating Jacob's Theory 1:13:49 Criteria for Theoretical Frameworks 1:17:15 Bohmian Mechanics and Stochastic Dynamics 1:18:51 Generalizing Quantum Theory 1:22:32 The Role of Unobservables 1:31:08 The Problem of Trajectories 1:39:39 Exploring Alternative Theories 1:50:29 The Stone Soup Analogy 1:56:20 The Limits of Quantum Mechanics 2:01:57 The Nature of Laws in Physics 2:14:57 The Many Worlds Interpretation 2:22:40 The Search for New Connections SPONSORS: - I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE RESOURCES: - Quantum theory, the Church-Turing principle and the universal quantum computer (article): https://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall04/cos576/papers/deutsch85.pdf - The Emergent Multiverse (book): https://amzn.to/3QJleSu - Jacob Barandes on TOE (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oWip00iXbo&t=1s&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal - Scott Aaronson on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZpGCQoL2Rk - Quantum Theory From Five Reasonable Axioms (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/quant-ph/0101012 - Quantum stochastic processes and quantum non-Markovian phenomena (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2012.01894 - Jacob's Wigner's Friend flowchart: https://shared.jacobbarandes.com/images/wigners-friend-flow-chart-2025 - Is Quantum Mechanics An Island In Theory Space? (paper): https://www.scottaaronson.com/papers/island.pdf - Aspects of Objectivity in Quantum Mechanics (paper): https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/223/1/Objectivity.pdf - Quantum Computing Since Democritus (book): https://amzn.to/4bqVeoD - The Ghost in the Quantum Turing Machine (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/1306.0159 - quantum mechanics and reality (article): https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/23/9/30/427387/Quantum-mechanics-and-realityCould-the-solution-to - Stone Soup (book): https://amzn.to/4kgPamN - TOE's String Theory Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4PdPnQuwjY - TOE's Mindfest playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOPw7Hqkc6-MXEMBy0fnZcb - Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com - Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, raising significant questions for cryptography and blockchain. In this episode, Scott Aaronson, quantum computing expert, and Justin Drake, cryptography researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, join us to explore the impact of quantum advancements on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the future of crypto security. Are your coins safe? How soon do we need post-quantum cryptography? Tune in as we navigate this complex, fascinating frontier. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 https://bankless.cc/spotify-premium ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi https://bankless.cc/Frax 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM https://bankless.cc/Uniswap-Bug-Bounty ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM ⁠https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK https://bankless.cc/Mantle 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER https://bankless.cc/Celo ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ https://zora.co/collect/base:0x4be6cd4d402fed49eb2de95fbc8e737e8ffd3e7f/15?referrer=0x077Fe9e96Aa9b20Bd36F1C6290f54F8717C5674E ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 6:50 Google Willow Chip 11:58 How is Quantum Computing Accelerating? 19:27 Quantum vs Classical Computers 40:18 Why are Quantum Computers so weird? 46:18 Quantum Computing & Cryptography 52:53 What will Break Cryptography 54:45 Time Horizons 1:03:14 Accounts Getting Hacked 1:13:23 The Bitcoin Case 1:24:10 Quantum Money 1:29:44 The Ethereum Case 1:35:00 Closing Thoughts 1:36:24 Debrief with Justin Drake ------ RESOURCES Scott Aaronson https://www.scottaaronson.com/ Justin Drake https://x.com/drakefjustin ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures⁠

How fast is the AI race really going? What is the current state of Quantum Computing? What actually *is* the P vs NP problem? - former OpenAI researcher and theoretical computer scientist Scott Aaronson joins Liv and Igor to discuss everything quantum, AI and consciousness. We hear about his experience working on OpenAI's "superalignment team", whether quantum computers might break Bitcoin, the state of University Admissions, and even a proposal for a new religion! Strap in for a fascinating conversation that bridges deep theory with pressing real-world concerns about our technological future. Chapters: 1:30 - Working at OpenAI 4:23 - His Approaches to AI Alignment 6:23 - Watermarking & Detection of AI content 19:15 - P vs. NP 27:11 - The Current State of AI Safety 37:38 - Bad "Just-a-ism" Arguments around LLMs 48:25 - What Sets Human Creativity Apart from AI 55:30 - A Religion for AGI? 1:00:49 - More Moral Philosophy 1:05:24 - The AI Arms Race 1:11:08 - The Government Intervention Dilemma 1:23:28 - The Current State of Quantum Computing 1:36:25 - Will QC destroy Cryptography? 1:48:55 - Politics on College Campuses 2:03:11 - Scott's Childhood & Relationship with Competition 2:23:25 - Rapid-fire Predictions Links: ♾️ Scott’s Blog: ⁠https://scottaaronson.blog/⁠ ♾️ Scott’s Book: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aaronson/dp/0521199565⁠ ♾️ QIC at UTA: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/~qic/ Credits Credits: ♾️ Hosted by Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov ♾️ Produced by Liv Boeree ♾️ Post-Production by Ryan Kessler The Win-Win Podcast: Poker champion Liv Boeree takes to the interview chair to tease apart the complexities of one of the most fundamental parts of human nature: competition. Liv is joined by top philosophers, gamers, artists, technologists, CEOs, scientists, athletes and more to understand how competition manifests in their world, and how to change seemingly win-lose games into Win-Wins. #WinWinPodcast #QuantumComputing #AISafety #LLM

Daniel and Kelly chat with Dr. Scott Aaronson about quantum computing, and try to bust through the most common misconceptions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Scott Aaronson, a theoretical computer scientist, OG blogger, and quantum computing maestro. Scott has so many achievements and credentials that listing them here would take longer than recording the episode. Here's a select few: Self-taught programmer at age 11, Cornell computer science student at 15, PhD recipient by 22! Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin. Director of UT Austin's Quantum Information Center. Former visiting researcher on OpenAI's alignment team (2022-2024). Awarded the ACM prize in computing in 2020 and the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics (under 40 category) in 2018. … you get the point. Scott and I dig into the misunderstood world of quantum computing — the hopes, the hindrances, and the hucksters — to unpack what a quantum-empowered future could really look like. We also discuss what makes humans special in the age of AI, the stubbornly persistent errors of the seat-to-keyboard interface, and MUCH more. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, some highlights from Scott's blog, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, " Hmm, that's interesting!" check out our Substack . Important Links: Shtetl-Optimized (Scott's blog) My Reading Burden On blankfaces Show Notes: So much reading. So little time. The problem of human specialness in the age of AI It's always the same quantum weirdness Why it's easy to be a quantum huckster Quantum progress, quantum hopes, and quantum limits Encryption in a quantum empowered world Wielding the hammer of interference Scientific discovery in a quantum empowered world Bureaucracy and blank faces Scott as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Fifth Science; by ****Exurb1a The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams

This is episode 103 of the Gen Z Diplomat Podcast.Scott Aaronson is an American theoretical computer scientist and Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. His primary areas of research are computational complexity theory and quantum computing.Connect with Scott:https://scottaaronson.blog-00:00: Regular podcast.33:16: Bitcoin for you scallywags.40:00: More regular podcast.-Info: Spotify: https://sptfy.com/O2uWApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37WConnect: Website: https://ayushprakash.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprxBooks: AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.ca/AI-Gen-Story-Technology-Society/dp/0981182151/

This is an interview with Scott Aaronson, theoretical computer scientist and Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. This is the fourth episode in the "Worthy Successor" series - where we explore the kinds of posthuman intelligences that deserve to steer the future beyond humanity. This episode referred to the following other essays and resources: -- A Worthy Successor - The Purpose of AGI: https://danfaggella.com/worthy -- Scott's TEDx talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgCHZ1G93iA Watch this episode on The Trajectory YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/aZS4Plmx4_o See the full article from this episode: https://danfaggella.com/aaronson1 ... About The Trajectory: AGI and man-machine merger are going to radically expand the process of life beyond humanity -- so how can we ensure a good trajectory for future life? From Yoshua Bengio to Nick Bostrom, from Michael Levin to Peter Singer, we discuss how to positively influence the trajectory of posthuman life with the greatest minds in AI, biology, philosophy, and policy. Ask questions of our speakers in our live Philosophy Circle calls: https://bit.ly/PhilosophyCircle Stay in touch: -- Newsletter: bit.ly/TrajectoryTw -- X: x.com/danfaggella -- Blog: danfaggella.com/trajectory -- YouTube: youtube.com/@trajectoryai

In this episode Ron interviews Scott Aaronson, a renowned theoretical computer scientist, about the challenges and advancements in AI alignment. Aaronson, known for his work in quantum computing, discusses his shift to AI safety, the importance of aligning AI with human values, and the complexities involved in interpreting AI models. He shares insights on the rapid progress of AI technologies, their potential future impacts, and the significant hurdles we face.

Read the full transcript here. What exactly is quantum computing? How much should we worry about the possibility that quantum computing will break existing cryptography tools? When will a quantum computer with enough horsepower to crack RSA likely appear? On what kinds of tasks will quantum computers likely perform better than classical computers? How legitimate are companies that are currently selling quantum computing solutions? How can scientists help to fight misinformation and misunderstandings about quantum computing? To what extent should the state of the art be exaggerated with the aim of getting people excited about the possibilities the technology might afford and encouraging them to invest in research or begin a career in the field? Is now a good time to go into the field (especially compared to other similar options, like going into the booming AI field)? Scott Aaronson is Schlumberger Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and founding director of its Quantum Information Center, currently on leave at OpenAI to work on theoretical foundations of AI safety. He received his bachelor's from Cornell University and his PhD from UC Berkeley. Before coming to UT Austin, he spent nine years as a professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. Aaronson's research in theoretical computer science has focused mainly on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers. His first book, Quantum Computing Since Democritus , was published in 2013 by Cambridge University Press. He received the National Science Foundation's Alan T. Waterman Award, the United States PECASE Award, the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics, and the ACM Prize in Computing; and he is a Fellow of the ACM and the AAAS. Find out more about him at scottaaronson.blog . Staff Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director Josh Castle — Producer Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer Uri Bram — Factotum WeAmplify — Transcriptionists Alexandria D. — Research and Special Projects Assistant Music Broke for Free Josh Woodward Lee Rosevere Quiet Music for Tiny Robots wowamusic zapsplat.com Affiliates Clearer Thinking GuidedTrack Mind Ease Positly UpLift [ Read more ]

David Chalmers and Scott Aaronson debate whether we live in a simulation and consciousness implications The conversation also touches on the future of consciousness research and the role of technology in shaping our understanding of reality. SPONSORS: - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!) - Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch RESOURCES: - YouTube: https://youtu.be/7PlmOXQ18jk - Please consider signing up for TOEmail at https://www.curtjaimungal.org - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Aaronson presents at MindFest 2024, critiquing the simulation hypothesis and probing its scientific relevance and computational feasibility. He examines whether complex physical theories can be simulated and challenges the assumptions behind the hypothesis. SPONSORS: - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!) - Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch RESOURCES: - Center for the Future Mind (Mindfest @ FAU): https://www.fau.edu/future-mind/ - Other Ai and Consciousness (Mindfest) TOE Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOPw7Hqkc6-MXEMBy0fnZcb - Mathematics of String Theory (Video): https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY - Get my 'Top 10 TOEs' PDF + Weekly Personal Updates: https://www.curtjaimungal.org - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Aaronson delivers a lecture at MindFest, hosted by FAU's Center for the Future Mind, exploring quantum computation and its philosophical implications. The talk is part of a broader effort to map diverse perspectives on the future of mind and technology. SPONSORS: - Omega Media: https://www.omegamedia.io - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch RESOURCES: - FAU's Center for the Future Mind Website: https://www.fau.edu/future-mind/ - The Ghost in the Quantum Turing Machine (Scott Aanderson): https://arxiv.org/abs/1306.0159 - TOE's Mindfest Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOPw7Hqkc6-MXEMBy0fnZcb - NEW Get my 'Top 10 TOEs' PDF + Weekly Personal Updates: https://www.curtjaimungal.org - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything - Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do the clinical trials of psilocybin and other psychedelics show in terms of efficacy and safety? How much of the benefit with psychedelic treatment is attributable to psychological support? Is the psychedelic trip important for the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic treatments? Brought to you by the NEI Podcast, the PsychopharmaStahlogy Show tackles the most novel, exciting, and controversial topics in psychopharmacology in a series of themes. This theme is on the role of psychedelics in modern psychiatry. Today, Dr. Andy Cutler interviews Dr. Scott Aaronson and Dr. Stephen Stahl about the potential indications and therapeutic benefits of psilocybin and other psychedelics. Let's listen to Part 3 of our theme: Classic Psychedelics for the Modern Psychopharmacologist. Subscribe to the NEI Podcast, so that you don't miss another episode!

Scott Aaronson is one of the deepest mathematical intellects I have known since, say Ed Witten—the only physicist to have won the prestigious Fields Medal in Mathematics. While Ed is a string theorist, Scott decided to devote his mathematical efforts to the field of computer science, and as a theoretical computer scientist has played a major role in the development of algorithms that have pushed forward the field of quantum computing, and helped address several thorny issues that hamper our ability to create practical quantum computers. In addition to his research, Scott has, for a number of years, written a wonderful blog about issues in computing, in particular with regard to quantum computing. It is a great place to get educated about many of these issues. Most recently, Scott has spent the last year at OpenAI thinking about the difficult issue of AI safety, and how to ensure that as AI systems improve that they will not have an unduly negative or dangerous impact on human civilization. As I mention in the podcast I am less worried than some people, and I think so is Scott, but nevertheless, some careful thinking in advance can avert a great deal of hand wringing in the future. Scott has some very interesting ideas that are worth exploring, and we began to explore them in this podcast. Our conversation ran the gamut from quantum computing to AI safety and explored some complex ideas in computer science in the process, in particular the notion of computational complexity, which is important in understanding all of these issues. I hope you will find Scott’s remarks as illuminating and informative as I did. As always, an ad-free video version of this podcast is also available to paid Critical Mass subscribers. Your subscriptions support the non-profit Origins Project Foundation, which produces the podcast. The audio version is available free on the Critical Mass site and on all podcast sites, and the video version will also be available on the Origins Project Youtube channel as well. Get full access to Critical Mass at lawrencekrauss.substack.com/subscribe

Scott Aaronson (UT Austin) reveals the P vs NP problem and quantum computing's limits to consciousness The conversation weaves through topics such as Turing universality, the no‑cloning theorem, superdeterminism, and the challenges of defining consciousness. - 00:00:00 - Introduction - 00:02:27 - Turing universality & computational efficiency - 00:12:35 - Prediction and free will - 00:15:16 - Newcomb's paradox - 00:23:05 - Quantum information & no‑cloning - 00:33:42 - Chaos & computational irreducibility - 00:38:33 - Brain duplication, AI & identity - 00:46:43 - Many‑worlds, Copenhagen & Bohm interpretation - 01:03:14 - Penrose on quantum gravity & consciousness - 01:14:46 - Superposition explained - 01:21:33 - Wolfram physics critique - 01:31:37 - P vs NP explained - 01:53:40 - Classical vs quantum computation - 02:03:25 - The "pretty hard" problem of consciousness SPONSORS: - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad‑free audio episodes!) - Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch RESOURCES: - YouTube link: https://youtu.be/1ZpGCQoL2Rk - Scott's Blog: https://scottaaronson.blog/ - Newcomb's Paradox (Scott's Blog Post): https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=30 - A New Kind of Science (Stephen Wolfram): https://amzn.to/47BTiaf - Jonathan Gorard's Papers: https://arxiv.org/search/gr-qc?searchtype=author&query=Gorard,+J - Boson Sampling (Alex Arkhipov and Scott Aaronson): https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.3245 - Podcast w/ Tim Maudlin on TOE (Solo): https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss - Podcast w/ Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Aaronson is the Schlumberger Chair of Computer Science and Director of the Quantum Information Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, he got his bachelor’s in CS from Cornell, his PhD in complexity theory at UC Berkeley, held postdocs at Princeton and Waterloo, and taught at MIT. Currently, he’s on leave to work on OpenAI’s Superalignment team. Scott’s blog, Shtetl-Optimized: https://www.scottaaronson.blog Scott’s website: https://www.scottaaronson.com PODCAST LINKS: Video Transcript: https://www.theojaffee.com/p/8-scott-aaronson Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IJRtB8FP4Cnq8lWuuCdvW?si=eba62a72e6234efb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theo-jaffee-podcast/id1699912677 RSS: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/989123/s/75569/private/129f6344-c459-4581-a9da-dc331677c2f6.rss Playlist of all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVN8-zhbMh9YnOGVRT9m0xzqTNGD_sujj My Twitter: https://x.com/theojaffee My Substack: https://www.theojaffee.com CHAPTERS: Intro (0:00) Background (0:59) What Quantum Computers Can Do (16:07) P=NP (21:57) Complexity Theory (28:07) David Deutsch (33:49) AI Watermarking and CAPTCHAs (44:15) Alignment By Default (56:41) Cryptography in AI (1:02:12) OpenAI Superalignment (1:10:29) Twitter (1:20:27) Rationalism (1:24:50)

This episode is sponsored by Crusoe. Crusoe Cloud is a scalable, clean, high-performance cloud, optimized for AI and HPC workloads, and powered by wasted, stranded or clean energy. Crusoe offers virtualized compute and storage solutions for a range of applications - including generative AI, computational biology, and rendering. Visit crusoecloud.com to see what climate-aligned computing can do for your business. On episode #143 of Eye on AI, Craig Smith sits down with Scott Aaronson, Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas and director of its Quantum Information Center. In this episode, we cut through the quantum computing hype and explore its profound implications for AI. We reveal the practicality of quantum computing, examining how companies are leveraging it to solve intricate problems, like vehicle routing, using D-Wave systems. Scott and I delve into the distinctions between quantum annealing and Grover-type speedups, shedding light on the potential of hybrid solutions that blend classical and quantum elements. Shifting gears, we delve into the synergy between quantum computing and AI safety. Scott shares insights from his work at OpenAI, particularly a project aimed at fine-tuning language models like GPT for detecting AI-generated text, highlighting the implications of such advanced AI technology's potential misuse. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts . Craig Smith's Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI (00:00) Preview and Introduction (04:13) Demystifying Quantum Computing (16:04) Leveraging Quantum Computers for Optimization (31:01) What is Quantum Computing? (42:40) Advancements and Challenges in Quantum Computing (54:57) Machine Learning and AI Safety