Dr. Bill von Hippel

And so that's why I think autism rates are rising. But of course, I don't know. I'm only guessing based on the data I've seen. Now, in the case of neurodivergence, I think they've always played a really important role in humanity. And the reason for that is that, you know, humans are super innovative species. But if you ask yourself or your friends, how often have you ever invented anything?

And so that's why I think autism rates are rising. But of course, I don't know. I'm only guessing based on the data I've seen. Now, in the case of neurodivergence, I think they've always played a really important role in humanity. And the reason for that is that, you know, humans are super innovative species. But if you ask yourself or your friends, how often have you ever invented anything?

The answer is almost always never. And that's because we solve our problems socially. When something goes wrong, we go to our friends, we talk to them, we try to work together to figure out our problems. And we've always been that way. Hunter-gatherers do that. And neurodivergent people are less likely to do that because they are less socially connected.

The answer is almost always never. And that's because we solve our problems socially. When something goes wrong, we go to our friends, we talk to them, we try to work together to figure out our problems. And we've always been that way. Hunter-gatherers do that. And neurodivergent people are less likely to do that because they are less socially connected.

And so probably most of the great inventions of humanity were created by neurodivergent people. Now, those of us who are not neurodivergent immediately go, wow, I'd like one of those. And so we're really good at spreading that by virtue of our social networks.

And so probably most of the great inventions of humanity were created by neurodivergent people. Now, those of us who are not neurodivergent immediately go, wow, I'd like one of those. And so we're really good at spreading that by virtue of our social networks.

But I think we've always relied on neurodivergent people to create the amazing innovations, the technical things that make our lives so easy. Now, ADHD is a different ball of wax. We know it's highly heritable. We know a lot of the genes are. We also suspect that it wasn't even a noticeable thing in a hunter-gatherer, right?

But I think we've always relied on neurodivergent people to create the amazing innovations, the technical things that make our lives so easy. Now, ADHD is a different ball of wax. We know it's highly heritable. We know a lot of the genes are. We also suspect that it wasn't even a noticeable thing in a hunter-gatherer, right?

You know, what ancestor ever tried to get you to pay attention to something that you were bored with? But if you're ADHD, it's crazy hard to pay attention when you're bored, but it's perfectly easy to pay attention when you're interested. You just don't have the kind of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that allows you to force yourself to attend to things.

You know, what ancestor ever tried to get you to pay attention to something that you were bored with? But if you're ADHD, it's crazy hard to pay attention when you're bored, but it's perfectly easy to pay attention when you're interested. You just don't have the kind of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that allows you to force yourself to attend to things.

And for our ancestors, you're loaded with energy. You're probably a great hunter. And so it's a modern problem that you have to sit still and listen problem, which our ancestors were never asked to do.

And for our ancestors, you're loaded with energy. You're probably a great hunter. And so it's a modern problem that you have to sit still and listen problem, which our ancestors were never asked to do.

I'm betting not. I'm betting that you could decide to learn or not learn. Now, why would you even learn your multiplication tables if you don't need to? You can just ask your phone what the answer is. And so why tons of the schooling that we go through is superfluous in this world where AI can do everything that we can do.

I'm betting not. I'm betting that you could decide to learn or not learn. Now, why would you even learn your multiplication tables if you don't need to? You can just ask your phone what the answer is. And so why tons of the schooling that we go through is superfluous in this world where AI can do everything that we can do.

It's very possible. You could easily imagine, like, if there's a feature about yourself that you don't like, I suspect it'll be hard to genetically engineer it. And the reason I think it'll be hard to genetically engineer it is that most of our genes have more than one effect, and most of our traits are caused by more than one gene.

It's very possible. You could easily imagine, like, if there's a feature about yourself that you don't like, I suspect it'll be hard to genetically engineer it. And the reason I think it'll be hard to genetically engineer it is that most of our genes have more than one effect, and most of our traits are caused by more than one gene.

So you can't just tweak one gene and become the person you wanted to be. It's going to have other effects that you may not want. So the upshot is that why not, you know, have a little mind module that you either attaches to your head or goes inside it even or, you know, we already are treating people with this. There's some kinds of depression that just are untreatable.

So you can't just tweak one gene and become the person you wanted to be. It's going to have other effects that you may not want. So the upshot is that why not, you know, have a little mind module that you either attaches to your head or goes inside it even or, you know, we already are treating people with this. There's some kinds of depression that just are untreatable.

And for some of those people, they literally insert an electrode into their brain and stimulate this particular region. And the people who experience this say it's like my world was in black and white and suddenly it became in color. Well, why not have that for knowledge that you can access?

And for some of those people, they literally insert an electrode into their brain and stimulate this particular region. And the people who experience this say it's like my world was in black and white and suddenly it became in color. Well, why not have that for knowledge that you can access?