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Every book Demis Hassabis recommended on podcasts
Demis Hassabis frequently shares insights on technology, physics, and evolution through his appearances on prominent interview podcasts like the Lex Fridman Podcast and The Ezra Klein Show. Through these discussions, he has highlighted several foundational works that explore scientific inquiry, artificial intelligence, and the origins of life. Among his recommended texts is 'The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution' by Nick Lane, which Hassabis noted while exploring the deep mechanics behind the origin of life. Delving further into the realms of physics and speculative computing, he recommended David Deutsch's 'The Fabric of Reality' for its comprehensive framing of big questions in physics. Additionally, Hassabis pointed to Greg Egan's 'Permutation City' as a wild and compelling story engaging with simulations and artificial intelligence. Rounding out his selections, he recommended Iain M. Banks's 'Consider Phlebas', highlighting it as a formative novel that depicts a remarkably optimistic post-AGI future. These recommendations reflect Hassabis's deep intellectual engagement with the intersections of theoretical physics, evolutionary biology, and the speculative futures of advanced technology, providing listeners with a curated reading list that mirrors his own forward-looking scientific and philosophical worldview.
Books recommended by Demis Hassabis
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Consider Phlebas
Consider Phlebas by Iain M.
Recommended“and then finally I would recommend consider flibers by Ian Banks”
Where to get it
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Permutation City
Permutation City by Greg Egan is an imaginative and mind-bending science fiction novel that explores the complex implications of digital consciousness, virtual reality, and software-based AI simulations.
Recommended“the second book I would say is permutation City by Greg Egan”
Where to get it
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The Fabric of Reality
The Fabric of Reality by David Deutsch is a seminal work exploring deep foundational questions in physics, philosophy, and the nature of reality.
Recommended“I would say first of all fabric of Reality by David Deutsch”
Where to get it
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The MANIAC
Benjamín Labatut's biographical novel explores the complex lives of visionary scientists and mathematicians who reshaped the modern technological landscape.
Recommended“You know, there's people like, there's a great book by Nick Lane, one of the top experts in this area called 'The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution.' I think it's fantastic.”
Where to get it