#240 – Neal Stephenson: Sci-Fi, Space, Aliens, AI, VR & the Future of Humanity

Neal Stephenson is a sci-fi writer (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and new book Termination Shock), former Chief Futurist at Magic Leap and first employee of Blue Origin. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Mizzen+Main: https://mizzenandmain.com and use code LEX to get $35 off
- InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off
- Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
- Grammarly: https://grammarly.com/lex to get 20% off premium
- ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:
Neal's Twitter: https://twitter.com/nealstephenson
Neal's Website: https://www.nealstephenson.com/
Termination Shock (book): https://amzn.to/3HhmDKi
Snow Crash (book): https://amzn.to/3H7yFFW
Cryptonomicon (book): https://amzn.to/3C01HDF
The Diamond Age (book): https://amzn.to/3wxUF83
Seveneves (book): https://amzn.to/3kkhveg
The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1 (book): https://amzn.to/3koMW7n
Innovation Starvation (article): https://bit.ly/3mYLSJ2

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
- Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast
- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman
- Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) - Introduction
(08:34) - WWII and human nature
(17:20) - Search engine morality
(21:58) - Space exploration
(38:59) - Aliens and UFOs
(47:21) - SpaceX and Blue Origin
(54:43) - Social media
(59:11) - Climate change
(1:11:00) - Consequences of big ideas
(1:15:42) - Virtual reality
(1:38:50) - Artificial intelligence
(1:53:49) - Cryptocurrency
(2:06:26) - Writing, storytelling, and books
(2:29:05) - Martial arts
(2:38:23) - Final thoughts

Neal Stephenson is a sci-fi writer (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and new book Termination Shock), former Chief Futurist at Magic Leap and first employee of Blue Origin. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

– Mizzen+Main: https://mizzenandmain.com and use code LEX to get $35 off

– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off

– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil

– Grammarly: https://grammarly.com/lex to get 20% off premium

– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:

Neal’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nealstephenson

Neal’s Website: https://www.nealstephenson.com/

Termination Shock (book): https://amzn.to/3HhmDKi

Snow Crash (book): https://amzn.to/3H7yFFW

Cryptonomicon (book): https://amzn.to/3C01HDF

The Diamond Age (book): https://amzn.to/3wxUF83

Seveneves (book): https://amzn.to/3kkhveg

The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1 (book): https://amzn.to/3koMW7n

Innovation Starvation (article): https://bit.ly/3mYLSJ2

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8

RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/

YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman

YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast

– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman

– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman

– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman

– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:

Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(00:00) – Introduction

(08:34) – WWII and human nature

(17:20) – Search engine morality

(21:58) – Space exploration

(38:59) – Aliens and UFOs

(47:21) – SpaceX and Blue Origin

(54:43) – Social media

(59:11) – Climate change

(1:11:00) – Consequences of big ideas

(1:15:42) – Virtual reality

(1:38:50) – Artificial intelligence

(1:53:49) – Cryptocurrency

(2:06:26) – Writing, storytelling, and books

(2:29:05) – Martial arts

(2:38:23) – Final thoughts