Manifold

Matt Southey, a philosopher and AI-safety editor who wrote a PhD on Nick Land, joins to unpack accelerationism and Land’s intellectual arc. They discuss travels in China, robotics and frontier AI work, meeting Nick Land in Shanghai, Land’s esoteric numeric practices, simulation metaphysics, and the split between Landian and Marxist accelerationist views.

Taylor Ogan, founder and CEO of Snowball Capital who lives in Shenzhen and invests in Chinese tech, gives a front-row view of the Greater Bay Area. He recounts Shenzhen’s rapid rise, Nanshan’s tech clusters, and tours for Western VCs. They discuss on-device agentic AI in Chinese phones, Huawei’s ownership model and geopolitical frictions, plus how Chinese firms act independently of the state.

Jesse Hoogland, AI safety researcher and co-founder of Timaeus, applies physics-inspired theory to neural nets. He discusses using Singular Learning Theory to link loss landscapes and internals. He talks about fast capability growth, diverse paths to catastrophic risk, tensions between theory and empirical tinkering, funding and timelines, and what scientific understanding could buy us for safer AI.

Jeremy Nixon, AI researcher and entrepreneur who co-founded AGI House and founded Infinity, discusses hacker‑collectives and foundation models as AGI. He explores AI‑driven scientific discovery, debates doom vs creation mindsets, and covers automation, biotech priorities, and how culture, regulation, and community shape AI's future.

Dan Wang, writer and China analyst and author of Breakneck, breaks down China’s industrial strategy and technonationalism. He discusses industrial maximalism, talent flows between Silicon Valley and Tsinghua, Chinese market ferocity, export controls and self-sufficiency, and AI, automation, and future risk. Short, sharp, and full of contrarian takes.

Steve Hsu, a theoretical physicist and tech entrepreneur, shares his insights on the geopolitical landscape for 2026. He discusses the complexities of US-China economic tensions and the limitations of tariffs. Hsu analyzes Trump's strategic shifts and the implications of U.S. dominance reduction in the Western Pacific. He also explores the dynamics of the Middle East and the challenges facing Ukraine. The conversation highlights China's technological advancements, Venezuela's political turmoil, and the reliability of international law in a changing world.

Explore groundbreaking advancements in polygenic embryo screening that could reshape healthcare and attitudes toward intelligence traits. The discussion dives into how elite demand and shifting perceptions are driving innovation in IVF technologies. Transitioning to AI, listeners learn about significant progress in research capabilities, including breakthroughs in physics and enhanced model performance through innovative methods. Predictions for 2026 suggest an exciting future for both genomics and artificial intelligence.

Dive into the fascinating intersection of AI and theoretical physics! Discover how cutting-edge AI models, like GPT-5, are reshaping research in quantum field theory. Steve discusses AI's dual nature as a 'brilliant but unreliable genius,' highlighting its successes and missteps. Hear about an AI-generated integrability condition that led to a publishable paper. Explore the dynamic of human-AI collaboration and the future of science as researchers leverage AI to push theoretical boundaries.

Murtaza Hussain, an investigative journalist at DropSite News, dives deep into the connections between Jeffrey Epstein, Israeli intelligence, and elite power dynamics. He reveals Epstein's extensive ties with U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies, portraying him as a high-level fixer. The discussion uncovers Epstein's role in back-channel diplomacy, illuminates his segmented email accounts, and examines how he operated as an Israeli asset. Hussain also highlights the media's suppression of these crucial narratives and explores the implications for national security.

Jian Lian, a policy analyst with deep expertise in China's political economy, discusses the nation's bold industrial policies and technological innovations. He contrasts China's industrial maximalism with Western liberal economic views and dives into the impact of US sanctions on Huawei's rise. Jian also highlights China's aggressive push in the semiconductor sector and the growth of domestic supply chains. With insights on 'hard tech' investments and the Made in China 2025 goals, he outlines China's ongoing strategies for global economic engagement and innovation.