LF
Michio Kaku: Future of Humans, Aliens, Space Travel & Physics | Lex Fridman Podcast #45
@ Lex Fridman
10/22/19
Takeaways
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
I think it's beautiful and important when a scientific mind can fearlessly explore subjects just outside of our understanding.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Artificial intelligence is today just outside of our understanding, and we have to reach for it to uncover the mysteries of the human mind and build human-level and superhuman-level AI systems that transform our world for the better.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Given that we've identified 4,000 exoplanets orbiting other stars, it's rather ridiculous to believe that we're the only civilization in the universe.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
A Type I civilization can harness planetary power and control geologic events like weather and earthquakes, while a Type II civilization can harness the energy output of an entire star.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
A Type III civilization roams the Galactic space lanes, similar to a galactic civilization in Star Wars.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Dark energy, which makes up 73% of the universe, could allow for a Type IV civilization that harnesses energy from the entire universe.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The multiverse theory suggests that there could be multiple Big Bangs happening all the time, creating new universes continuously.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
String theory posits that all particles are vibrations on tiny strings, and physics is the harmonies you can write on these strings.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Einstein believed in two types of God: the personal God of the Bible and the God of order, simplicity, harmony, and beauty, reflecting that the universe is not chaotic; it's beautiful and can be summarized on a single sheet of paper with all known laws of physics.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Einstein viewed the universe as a vast library filled with mysteries, where he could only grasp the first page of knowledge.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Galileo stated that science aims to understand the heavens, while religion focuses on ethics and morality, and we should keep these domains separate.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The distinction between science and religion is crucial; problems arise when scientists comment on ethics or religious figures on natural laws.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Our understanding of right and wrong is beyond the scope of physics and string theory, as it involves ethics and morality.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
If aliens were to visit Earth, they might find us uninteresting, similar to how we perceive squirrels in the forest.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Alien civilizations may not have malicious intentions; they could simply view us as obstacles rather than threats.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Intelligence in species is linked to three factors: stereo eyesight for hunting, opposable thumbs for manipulation, and language for communication.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Humans are unique in having all three traits of intelligence, while other animals, like primates, lack the same level of language development.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
When we encounter extraterrestrial life, they will likely have evolved from predators and possess the ability to manipulate their environment and communicate.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
In the future, humans may merge with robots, becoming part cybernetic and genetically enhanced, as technology advances rapidly.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Brain-machine interfaces, like those being developed by Elon Musk, could allow direct communication between computers and human brains, impacting civilization significantly.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The future of the Internet may evolve into a 'brain net', enabling telepathic communication and sharing of emotions and sensations.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Entertainment will transform with the advent of brain net, as audiences may prefer direct emotional experiences over traditional visual media. When emotions, feelings, sensations, and memories can be conveyed on the Internet, it will change everything about human relations, allowing us to empathize and feel the suffering of others, and even communicate telepathically.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
For most of human history, we only knew about 20 to 100 people, but with the advent of technology, our connections have expanded to thousands and now to the entire population of the planet.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The ability to share sensations and emotions telepathically will deepen our connections with fellow humans, enhancing our relationships.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
I believe technology has a moral direction; the Internet spreads knowledge and awareness, empowering people to act against oppression and fostering democracy, which historically does not engage in wars with other democracies.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Most wars throughout history were fought between kings, queens, and dictators, not between major democracies, suggesting that the spread of technology could lead to less intense and less frequent conflicts.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
While AI poses existential risks, I believe these risks are not immediate; future generations will face challenges as AI approaches higher levels of intelligence.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
We will likely digitize ourselves, merging with technology to create digital copies of our memories and feelings, which is part of the Connectome Project aimed at mapping the human brain's connections.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
In the future, we may be able to digitize our essence and achieve digital immortality, allowing us to communicate with our digital selves even after death.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
If we digitize the human brain and transmit it via laser, we could travel across the universe at the speed of light, experiencing different locations almost instantaneously.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
There could be a laser superhighway in space, allowing aliens to travel across the galaxy, and we might be too limited in our understanding to recognize it.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Artificial intelligence will help us discover the genetic basis of aging, potentially leading to the identification of the 'Fountain of Youth' and the ability to reverse aging.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Aging is caused by the buildup of genetic errors, and if we can fix these errors, particularly in the mitochondria, we could achieve immortality.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
If given the chance to become immortal, I would choose to do so, but the method of achieving immortality is crucial to consider; it should come with eternal youth, otherwise, like Aurora, one might end up living forever in a decrepit state.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
I believe our grandchildren may have the option to stop aging at 30, enjoying the wisdom and maturity of that age while living indefinitely with a healthy body.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Every waking moment, we are subconsciously aware of our mortality, which influences our decisions and gives urgency to our lives.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The ticking clock of mortality drives people to achieve milestones like graduating from high school and college, as they realize they need to prepare for old age and retirement.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Scientists often recall a pivotal moment from their childhood, around age 10, when they first realized the vastness of the universe beyond their immediate family.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The greatest destroyer of scientific curiosity is junior high school, where societal pressures can discourage young scientists from pursuing their interests.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Science is not just about memorizing names; it's about understanding principles and concepts that explain the universe.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Even in old age, scientists remember the excitement of their first encounters with the universe, which continues to inspire them throughout their lives.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
When I was 8, I was inspired by the unfinished manuscript of a great scientist, which made me realize the challenges even the best face in their work.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Albert Einstein struggled with his theory of everything because he lacked a guiding physical picture, which is essential for scientific breakthroughs.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
String theory is currently the only theory that has survived scrutiny and attempts to unify the theories of the small and the big in physics.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Some people believe the universe is a simulation, but I argue that the complexity of reality, especially in quantum mechanics, makes that unlikely.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The smallest object that can simulate a human is the human itself, and simulating complex systems like weather or human behavior is nearly impossible with conventional computers.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The debate continues among quantum physicists about whether the universe could be a simulation, particularly in relation to black holes and information theory, especially since the total amount of information in the universe is finite, meaning all possible universes can be summarized in a calculable number.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
If a computer could simulate the finite amount of information in the universe, then it would imply that our universe is a simulation.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The universe is efficient, and there are two reasons why I believe it is not a simulation: the incredible computational numbers involved and the question of why a superintelligent being would simulate humans, who often act irrationally.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Life may have originated from random accidents, as demonstrated by the Miller experiment, where amino acids formed from a chaotic mixture of gases and a spark.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old, providing ample time for random events to lead to the emergence of life.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
I believe we will likely see humans on Mars in the 2030s, as there are no physics-based reasons preventing it, only engineering challenges.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
By the end of the century, we may have the first starships, which will likely be small computer chips propelled by laser beams, capable of reaching nearby stars like Alpha Centauri.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
Fusion power, which could provide unlimited energy from seawater, is difficult to achieve on Earth due to the challenges of controlling magnetism, but it is inevitable and will eventually be realized.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
The waste product of a fusion reactor is helium gas, which is commercially valuable, unlike the nuclear waste produced by fission reactors.
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Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
To terraform Mars, we need to raise its temperature by 6 degrees, which could trigger a self-fulfilling cycle of melting polar ice caps and releasing water vapor.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
There are alternative methods to raise Mars' temperature, such as using solar satellites to beam sunlight onto the polar ice caps, rather than detonating hydrogen warheads.
MK
Michio Kaku
10/22/19
@ Lex Fridman
It's been an honor to talk with you today, and I hope to inspire and educate many more people about the future.