Max Tegmark

We're putting technology between us

The technology that was supposed to connect us is actually distancing ourselves from each other.

And then we're giving ever more power to things which are not alive.

These large corporations are not living things, right?

They're just maximizing profit.

I want to win the war on life.

I think we humans together with all our fellow living things on this planet will be better off if we can

remain in control over the non-living things and make sure that they work for us.

I really think it can be done.

First of all, I tremendously respect Elias Yudkowsky and his thinking.

Second, I do share his view that there's a pretty large chance that we're not going to make it as humans.

There won't be any humans on the planet in the not too distant future.

And that makes me very sad.

You know, we just had a little baby and I keep asking myself, you know, is...

how old is he even gonna get?

And I asked myself, it feels, I said to my wife recently, it feels a little bit like I was just diagnosed with some sort of cancer, which has some risk of dying from and some risk of surviving, except this is the kind of cancer which will kill all of humanity.

So I completely take seriously his concerns.

I think,

But I absolutely don't think it's hopeless.

I think there is, first of all, a lot of momentum now.