AGI, Sci-Fi, and Storytelling | Neal Stephenson, Ken Liu, & more
Episode description
What unfolds when those who imagine the future sit across from those building it?
In this special SPC panel, worlds converge. Sci-fi legends Neal Stephenson and Ken Liu join visionary investor Cyan Banister and researcher Joscha Bach to explore how narratives shape reality, how fiction becomes a roadmap, and how builders and dreamers influence each other across time.
Connect with us here:
1. Neal Stephenson- https://x.com/nealstephenson
2. Ken Liu- https://x.com/kyliu99
3. Cyan Banister- https://x.com/cyantist
4. Joscha Bach- https://x.com/Plinz
5. Cristian Cibils Bernardes- https://x.com/life_of_ccb
6. Jonathan Brebner- https://x.com/JPBrebner
7. South Park Commons- https://x.com/southpkcommons
00:00 Trailer
01:03 Introduction
04:25 AI and nuclear tech parallel
10:26 Progress. Disappointing? Significant?
13:31 The present and the future
17:04 Wrong specifics, right methodology
25:13 Satire and reality
33:14 World building
40:19 Parallels and perpendiculars
44:19 Artificial general intelligence
54:02 Searching for something not forward-looking
57:20 Understanding consciousness
1:04:08 Lightning round
1:14:13 Outro