Google Researcher Shows Life "Emerges From Code" - Blaise Agüera y Arcas

In this interview, Blaise Agüera y Arcas discusses his new book, "What is Intelligence?" and his work at Google as CTO of Technology and Society, including his research group, Paradigms of Intelligence (PAI). He delves into the computational nature of life, drawing parallels between DNA and computer programs, and explores the concepts of adaptivity, inference, and representation in intelligence. Agüera y Arcas shares insights from his experiment "BFF," which demonstrates the emergence of life and purpose from simple computational interactions, and discusses the importance of symbiogenesis and merging in evolution, contrasting it with traditional Darwinian views. He also touches on consciousness, theory of mind, and the integration of AI with human intelligence, expressing concerns about polarization and disinformation while remaining optimistic about AI's role in enhancing collective human capabilities.