Science Fiction as R&D

What does investing look like in a world dominated by AI? In this episode, David Weisburd talks with Alex Wissner-Gross about the profound implications of technological singularity and the evolution from LLMs to reasoning models. They discuss AI personhood, economic rights, and the rise of AI agents, as well as strategic investment approaches in a post-singular world. The conversation delves into Elon Musk's visions for massive compute capabilities, the role of science fiction in predicting technological advancements, and strategies to prevent technological unemployment. The episode concludes with a look towards the future and a call to action for listeners.

Highlights:

• Why Alex thinks AGI may already be here and the singularity is underway
• Recursive self-improvement and AI building smarter AI
• The move from LLMs to reasoning models and its impact on science and math
• How AI agents already dominate parts of the economy
• Humans as front-ends for AI—the “secret cyborg effect”
• A post-scarcity world as intelligence, energy, and labor costs approach zero
• Rethinking investing when traditional economic assumptions fail
• AI rights, economic personhood, and the need for agent bank accounts
• Why the most transformative future companies may resemble science fiction
• A vision where individuals run billion-dollar AI-powered companies

Guest bio:

Dr. Alexander D. Wissner-Gross is an award-winning computer scientist, entrepreneur, and investor, serving as Founder and Managing Partner of Reified and a former instructor at Harvard and MIT. He has earned numerous honors, authored dozens of publications and patents, and has been involved in over 40 technology companies. A top MIT graduate and Harvard Ph.D. in Physics, his work spans AI, machine learning, and cyber-physical systems. He is also a thought leader, author, TED speaker, and podcast host whose work has been widely recognized and featured globally.

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Sponsor:

AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more.

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X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Weisburd Capital: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/

Stay Connected with Alex Wissner-Gross:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwg/ Substack: https://theinnermostloop.substack.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/alexwg YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexwg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7404871891775025153/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1thtZk5vHTXbtDHezPT7tl Threads: https://www.threads.com/@alexwissnergross

Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at david@weisburdcapital.com.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) The Singularity Already Happened (And No One Realized It) (0:36) AI Is Now Building Smarter Versions of Itself (2:03) The Race to Make Intelligence Too Cheap to Matter (3:37) The Breakthrough That Changed AI From Answers to Thinking (7:29) Are AI Systems Already Alive (And Asking for Rights)? (10:20) The World Is Already Run by AI (We Just Don’t See It) (12:10) Humans Are Becoming Fronts for AI Decisions (14:10) How to Invest If Everything Goes to Zero (17:57) The $1 Trillion Bet on Compute and the Future of Reality (28:10) Why Most People Will Be “On the Menu” in 5 Years