#486 – Michael Levin: Hidden Reality of Alien Intelligence & Biological Life

About this episode

<p>Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems.<br /> Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sc</a><br /> See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.</p> <p><b>Transcript:</b><br /> <a href="https://lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript">https://lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript</a></p> <p><b>CONTACT LEX:</b><br /> <b>Feedback</b> &#8211; give feedback to Lex: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey</a><br /> <b>AMA</b> &#8211; submit questions, videos or call-in: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama</a><br /> <b>Hiring</b> &#8211; join our team: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring</a><br /> <b>Other</b> &#8211; other ways to get in touch: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact</a></p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Michael Levin&#8217;s X: <a href="https://x.com/drmichaellevin">https://x.com/drmichaellevin</a><br /> Michael Levin&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://drmichaellevin.org">https://drmichaellevin.org</a><br /> Michael Levin&#8217;s Papers: <a href="https://drmichaellevin.org/publications/">https://drmichaellevin.org/publications/</a><br /> &#8211; Biological Robots: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880">https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880</a><br /> &#8211; Classical Sorting Algorithms: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375">https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375</a><br /> &#8211; Aging as a Morphostasis Defect: <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560/</a><br /> &#8211; TAME: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346">https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346</a><br /> &#8211; Synthetic Living Machines: <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571">https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571</a></p> <p><b>SPONSORS:</b><br /> To support this podcast, check out our sponsors &#38; get discounts:<br /> <b>Shopify:</b> Sell stuff online.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep486-sc">https://shopify.com/lex</a><br /> <b>CodeRabbit:</b> AI-powered code reviews.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep486-sc">https://coderabbit.ai/lex</a><br /> <b>LMNT:</b> Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep486-sc">https://drinkLMNT.com/lex</a><br /> <b>UPLIFT Desk:</b> Standing desks and office ergonomics.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep486-sc">https://upliftdesk.com/lex</a><br /> <b>Miro:</b> Online collaborative whiteboard platform.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep486-sc">https://miro.com/</a><br /> <b>MasterClass:</b> Online classes from world-class experts.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/masterclass-ep486-sc">https://masterclass.com/lexpod</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (00:29) &#8211; Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections<br /> (10:09) &#8211; Biological intelligence<br /> (18:42) &#8211; Living vs non-living organisms<br /> (23:55) &#8211; Origin of life<br /> (27:40) &#8211; The search for alien life (on Earth)<br /> (1:00:44) &#8211; Creating life in the lab &#8211; Xenobots and Anthrobots<br /> (1:13:46) &#8211; Memories and ideas are living organisms<br /> (1:27:26) &#8211; Reality is an illusion: The brain is an interface to a hidden reality<br /> (2:13:13) &#8211; Unexpected Intelligence in sorting algorithms<br /> (2:38:51) &#8211; Can aging be reversed?<br /> (2:42:41) &#8211; Mind uploading<br /> (3:01:22) &#8211; Alien intelligence<br /> (3:16:17) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (3:22:46) &#8211; Questions for AGI</p>