Episode
#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
2:53:07
Published: Thu Dec 23 2021
Description
Peter Wang is the co-founder & CEO of Anaconda and one of the most impactful leaders and developers in the Python community. Also, he is a physicist and philosopher. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Quip: https://getquip.com/lex to get first refill free - Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and use code LEX to get $5 off - GiveWell: https://www.givewell.org/ and use code LEX to get donation matched up to $1k - Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off - BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off EPISODE LINKS: Peter's Twitter: https://twitter.com/pwang Anaconda's Website: https://www.anaconda.com/ Books & resources mentioned: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (book): https://amzn.to/3EnCELK Lila (book): https://amzn.to/30VKIpE PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (06:49) - Python (10:20) - Programming language design (30:22) - Virtuality (40:22) - Human layers (47:21) - Life (52:45) - Origin of ideas (55:17) - Eric Weinstein (1:00:16) - Human source code (1:04:13) - Love (1:18:32) - AI (1:31:55) - Meaning crisis (1:54:28) - Travis Oliphant (2:00:53) - Python continued (2:30:36) - Best setup (2:37:54) - Advice for the youth (2:46:28) - Meaning of Life
Chapters
This episode offers tips for better dental hygiene, including brushing teeth properly with the right tool, such as Quip's electric toothbrush with timed sonic vibrations.
00:00 - 04:27 (04:27)
Summary
This episode offers tips for better dental hygiene, including brushing teeth properly with the right tool, such as Quip's electric toothbrush with timed sonic vibrations. This episode is sponsored by Quip and Magic Spoon cereal.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker shares how Python's first-class support for types and functions made him fall in love with it and stay in love with it, comparing it to his morning cup of coffee that fills the air, mood, and inspiration.
04:27 - 11:03 (06:35)
Summary
The speaker shares how Python's first-class support for types and functions made him fall in love with it and stay in love with it, comparing it to his morning cup of coffee that fills the air, mood, and inspiration.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The divide between machine learning systems and classical software systems is that the values of the input have to be considered with the function to determine the correctness of the system.
11:03 - 23:39 (12:36)
Summary
The divide between machine learning systems and classical software systems is that the values of the input have to be considered with the function to determine the correctness of the system. The future of machine learning systems lies in better encoding the semantics of the world for better live data systems.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
With the rise of cybernetic and self-replicating systems, concerns arise regarding unintended consequences and predictability of these systems even with good intentions.
23:39 - 29:06 (05:27)
Summary
With the rise of cybernetic and self-replicating systems, concerns arise regarding unintended consequences and predictability of these systems even with good intentions.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the positive and negative effects of video games on society, acknowledging the ability of video games to create connections and provide a surreal experience, but cautioning against the use of video games to exploit negative inclinations and attack our weaknesses in the limbic system.
29:06 - 37:43 (08:36)
Summary
The podcast discusses the positive and negative effects of video games on society, acknowledging the ability of video games to create connections and provide a surreal experience, but cautioning against the use of video games to exploit negative inclinations and attack our weaknesses in the limbic system.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
A physicist's perspective on the order and patterns that emerge within humans and the need for a next generation philosophy to allow us to reason about extending humans into the digital realm or interact with autonomous intelligences, particularly focusing on social media as our first encounter with a technological system that runs a loop around our own cognition and attention.
37:43 - 48:14 (10:31)
Summary
A physicist's perspective on the order and patterns that emerge within humans and the need for a next generation philosophy to allow us to reason about extending humans into the digital realm or interact with autonomous intelligences, particularly focusing on social media as our first encounter with a technological system that runs a loop around our own cognition and attention.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Physicist Sean Carroll and host discuss the concept of life and order in the universe, reflecting on the invention of death and sex, cognitive limitations, and how things reach for order.
48:14 - 52:23 (04:08)
Summary
Physicist Sean Carroll and host discuss the concept of life and order in the universe, reflecting on the invention of death and sex, cognitive limitations, and how things reach for order.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The discussion revolves around exploring the interest and vision of programming, the importance of respecting each other to cooperate, and the absence of World War III.
52:23 - 1:00:16 (07:53)
Summary
The discussion revolves around exploring the interest and vision of programming, the importance of respecting each other to cooperate, and the absence of World War III.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The possibility of creating synthetic systems that may perform equally or better than the human mind is not in question.
1:00:16 - 1:04:37 (04:21)
Summary
The possibility of creating synthetic systems that may perform equally or better than the human mind is not in question. However, the unknowns that we do not know how to build systems for are what might be holding us back.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The focus should not be on the individual's ability to achieve freedom and individual liberty.
1:04:37 - 1:12:58 (08:20)
Summary
The focus should not be on the individual's ability to achieve freedom and individual liberty. Instead, maximizing people's ability to love themselves, each other, and their responsibilities to previous and future generations should be prioritized.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Peter discusses how technologies like written communication can help expand Dunbar's number and allow for deeper connections with a larger number of people.
1:12:58 - 1:18:41 (05:43)
Summary
Peter discusses how technologies like written communication can help expand Dunbar's number and allow for deeper connections with a larger number of people.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The more powerful and understanding a central superintelligence becomes, the individual intelligence components that make it up become dumber, leading to a trade-off when building a centralized intelligence system.
1:18:41 - 1:23:36 (04:55)
Summary
The more powerful and understanding a central superintelligence becomes, the individual intelligence components that make it up become dumber, leading to a trade-off when building a centralized intelligence system. A system that treats each individual as a neuronal input of a much higher bandwidth would be able to perceive broader dynamics that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The experience of being a robot in a robot swarm that has agency over their local environment and is reporting it back to the hive mind is an experience of talking to God, where the feeling of serendipity is inevitable.
1:23:36 - 1:29:39 (06:03)
Summary
The experience of being a robot in a robot swarm that has agency over their local environment and is reporting it back to the hive mind is an experience of talking to God, where the feeling of serendipity is inevitable. The robots are not losing their freedom, they are making reports to the hive mind for the better of the environment.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The constant search for meaning is a fundamental part of human history.
1:29:39 - 1:36:14 (06:35)
Summary
The constant search for meaning is a fundamental part of human history. However, the current meaning crisis arises from our belief that consumption and spectating can provide the same level of meaning as making consequential decisions.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The status games being played by the ultra wealthy are all around hard resources like factories, fuel, and rare earths to make next-gen technology, and they are highly incentivized by advertisements and the mimetic environment around them.
1:36:14 - 1:41:34 (05:20)
Summary
The status games being played by the ultra wealthy are all around hard resources like factories, fuel, and rare earths to make next-gen technology, and they are highly incentivized by advertisements and the mimetic environment around them. However, controlling physical reality does not necessarily equate to ultimate status.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This episode explores the paradox that while capitalism, when used appropriately, can fund innovation and enrich lives, it also prioritizes consumption and building status games, leading to homogenized products that don't sit well in the environment.
1:41:34 - 1:48:14 (06:39)
Summary
This episode explores the paradox that while capitalism, when used appropriately, can fund innovation and enrich lives, it also prioritizes consumption and building status games, leading to homogenized products that don't sit well in the environment.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker explores the idea of creating collectives of people that can unscale things and solve for people's needs, while also giving them the capacity to explore how to be the best version of themselves.
1:48:14 - 1:54:15 (06:01)
Summary
The speaker explores the idea of creating collectives of people that can unscale things and solve for people's needs, while also giving them the capacity to explore how to be the best version of themselves. He speaks of finding the right people, fostering collaborations, and adopting open source ethos to create the right environment to successfully create these communities.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This episode features a discussion about pushing the frontiers of numerical computing, vector computing, and handling, and other technology developed in the open-source community.
1:54:16 - 1:59:30 (05:14)
Summary
This episode features a discussion about pushing the frontiers of numerical computing, vector computing, and handling, and other technology developed in the open-source community.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Building and managing Python packages is a tedious task for most data scientists, especially when the packages need to be configured to work on different platforms and operating systems.
1:59:30 - 2:05:46 (06:16)
Summary
Building and managing Python packages is a tedious task for most data scientists, especially when the packages need to be configured to work on different platforms and operating systems. This is due to the numerous low-level libraries requiring compilation with a C, C++, or Fortran compiler, leading to complicated dependencies that hinder efficient numerical computing.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
With Python 2 reaching the end of life, developers need to focus on improving the embedded experience of Python, while the end of Numpy support looms in 2020.
2:05:46 - 2:15:54 (10:07)
Summary
With Python 2 reaching the end of life, developers need to focus on improving the embedded experience of Python, while the end of Numpy support looms in 2020.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The precision found in mathematical Python tools like NumPy should be replicated in creative tools like Photoshop and Premiere to better serve its audience.
2:15:54 - 2:23:24 (07:30)
Summary
The precision found in mathematical Python tools like NumPy should be replicated in creative tools like Photoshop and Premiere to better serve its audience. Python has an opportunity to transform the way people use computers.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast discusses the vision for Python and how it's similar to having a charismatic leader like Elon Musk, where people need to believe and support the vision for it to succeed.
2:23:24 - 2:30:46 (07:22)
Summary
This podcast discusses the vision for Python and how it's similar to having a charismatic leader like Elon Musk, where people need to believe and support the vision for it to succeed.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker talks about how using Mac helps them avoid technical issues like ACPI related F-SIC during important presentations, and the messiness of both Windows and Linux.
2:30:46 - 2:38:02 (07:16)
Summary
The speaker talks about how using Mac helps them avoid technical issues like ACPI related F-SIC during important presentations, and the messiness of both Windows and Linux.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The current pandemic may be the catalyst for getting individuals to look beyond their current circumstances and the impact of technological advancements.
2:38:04 - 2:48:11 (10:07)
Summary
The current pandemic may be the catalyst for getting individuals to look beyond their current circumstances and the impact of technological advancements. Investing time in reading classic literature and building connections with others can help individuals maintain their agency and find their own path.
Episode#250 – Peter Wang: Python and the Source Code of Humans, Computers, and Reality
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
What if the purpose of our lives is to give love and intimacy to all the objects around us, and what if those objects can be transformed by it?
2:48:12 - 2:52:48 (04:36)
Summary
What if the purpose of our lives is to give love and intimacy to all the objects around us, and what if those objects can be transformed by it? This thought experiment leads to the idea that maybe our purpose is to imbue as many things with love as possible.