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In this episode of Invisible Machines, Blaise Agüera y Arcas, CTO of Technology & Society at Google, returns to the podcast to discuss his new work, What is Life?. This limited-edition, pocket-sized book marks the first installment of a broader project with MIT Press and Antikythera titled What Is Intelligence?.
Blaise draws interesting parallels between the chemical reactions that fuel life in natural chimneys deep in Earth’s oceans and the groundbreaking work of Alan Turing and John von Neumann on computation in the mid-twentieth century. Through this lens, Blaise joins Robb Wilson and Josh Tyson to explore the provocative idea that self-reproduction—and by extension, life itself—is inherently computational.
The conversation takes listeners on a journey through the nested nature of life on Earth, delving into how technology serves as a continuation of human evolution. Blaise’s insights challenge traditional distinctions between biology and computation, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to be alive in a world increasingly shaped by technology.
This episode is a thought-provoking exploration of life, intelligence, and the ever-evolving relationship between humanity and technology. Whether you’re a curious technologist, a philosopher at heart, or someone fascinated by the origins of life, this conversation offers rich insights worth hearing.
Join this fascinating discussion with Blaise Agüera y Arcas with Blaise Agüera y Arcas to deepen your understanding of the interconnected nature of life and computation.
