Neil Gershenfeld: Self-Replicating Robots and the Future of Fabrication | Lex Fridman Podcast #380

Lex finally releases his origin story.

Many times it takes me a while to get why your guest is important. This guy had me from the start, and I felt like he was so good at explaining very complex topics and knowing when he needed to back up, to create understanding. It's rare to see someone be so brilliant and also be a good educator.

This quickly became one of my favorite episodes. This man is bursting with knowledge and insight, and the topic couldn't be more interesting. Incredible.

Took me 3 days to finish listening and listening again. This guy makes me want to switch careers, even at this late-ish stage. Thanks Lex and Prof Niel! …and Lex, even if you stopped this thing now, your body of work here would continue to contribute long into the future. You’ve done plenty for others, treat yourself kindly and go be inspired!

This is one of the most information dense podcasts I've heard yet. Awesome.

Also respect for him to bring up the work of other students and their projects…

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack - NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off 1:29 - What Turing got wrong 6:53 - MIT Center for Bits and Atoms 20:00 - Digital logic 26:36 - Self-assembling robots 37:04 - Digital fabrication 47:59 - Self-reproducing machine 55:45 - Trash and fabrication 1:00:41 - Lab-made bioweapons 1:04:56 - Genome 1:16:48 - Quantum computing 1:21:19 - Microfluidic bubble computation 1:26:41 - Maxwell's demon 1:35:27 - Consciousness 1:42:27 - Cellular automata 1:46:59 - Universe is a computer 1:51:45 - Advice for young people 2:01:02 - Meaning of life

This man is the best guest you've ever had

This podcast is a historical document. I hope it gets archived as such.

Please interview him again soon and make the next interview last 10h. I can’t get enough of his mind.