Friends,
It's been a great week for The Infinity Machine, which landed at #5 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and also made the Sunday Times list in the UK. Huge thanks to all of you who pre-ordered, spread the word, and otherwise helped to make this happen. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, it's not too late!
I've enjoyed discussing artificial intelligence and my central character, Demis Hassabis, with multiple interviewers, virtual and IRL. In a week when a long New Yorker profile left Sam Altman even more battered, I've been trying to explain why Hassabis is different; and in a week when Anthropic's Mythos model has rekindled fears of the risks in the technology, I have doubled down on my arguments about governing AI. Highlights of the past few days include being interviewed by CFR Chairman David Rubenstein and by the NYT's Hard Fork podcasters.
On The Spillover this week, Rebecca Patterson and I discussed a central theme in The Infinity Machine—the extent to which Hassabis is the Robert Oppenheimer of our age. We also answered smart questions from our listeners, ranging from the dollar's future as a reserve currency to the outlook for the U.S. midterm elections. It's great to feel The Spillover community growing. Please like the podcast online and spread the word to your network.
With best wishes from a delightfully sunny New York.
Sebastian
