#193 – Rob Reid: The Existential Threat of Engineered Viruses and Lab Leaks
Rob Reid is an author and podcaster. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
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OUTLINE:
Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) - Introduction
(08:33) - The most entertaining outcome is the most likely
(14:52) - Meme theory
(18:12) - Writing process
(24:59) - Engineered viruses as a threat to human civilization
(32:45) - Gain-of-function research on viruses
(44:54) - Did COVID leak from a lab?
(52:15) - Virus detection
(1:00:04) - Failure of institutions
(1:07:48) - Using AI to engineer viruses
(1:12:07) - Evil and competence
(1:21:26) - Where are the aliens?
(1:25:19) - Backing up human consciousness by colonizing space
(1:34:48) - Superintelligence and consciousness
(1:46:12) - Meditation
(1:54:20) - Fasting
(2:00:20) - Greatest song of all time
(2:05:46) - Early days of music streaming
(2:17:39) - Startup advice
(2:30:50) - Podcasting
(2:46:12) - Advice for young people
(2:55:15) - Mortality
(3:00:41) - Meaning of life