Author Archives: lexteam

#501 – DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Agentic Engineering, Vibe Coding & Linux

DHH is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Omarchy Linux, CTO of 37signals, and a racecar driver.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep501-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/dhh-2-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
DHH’s X: https://x.com/dhh
DHH’s Blog: https://world.hey.com/dhh
Omarchy: https://omarchy.org
Ruby on Rails: https://rubyonrails.org
37signals: https://37signals.com

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Wispr Flow: AI-powered voice dictation app.
Go to https://wisprflow.ai/lex
Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases.
Go to https://blitzy.com/lex
NetSuite: Business management software.
Go to http://netsuite.ai/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Plaud: AI-powered note-taking devices and software.
Go to https://plaud.ai/lex
Higgsfield AI: AI-based video generation, filmmaking, and creative studio.
Go to https://higgsfield.ai
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:14) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:56) – Programming with AI agents
(24:14) – How software will change
(33:30) – AI impact on open source
(43:21) – Building Omarchy Linux distro
(53:05) – Vibe coding vs agentic engineering
(1:06:06) – The end of manual programming
(1:16:24) – Advice for programmers
(1:28:31) – Surviving Internet Hate
(1:37:46) – Programming setup for AI Agents
(1:50:11) – Obsessing about speed
(2:13:06) – Voice prompting vs typing
(2:27:05) – Best AI coding models
(2:43:55) – Best AI coding harnesses
(2:56:57) – AI video generation and filmmaking
(3:16:28) – Fatherhood
(3:44:35) – Linux will win the desktop
(3:55:51) – PewDiePie
(4:05:25) – Future of programming
(4:28:18) – Politics and immigration
(4:59:55) – Longevity, over-optimization, and fear of death
(5:11:38) – Eternal recurrence and future of human civization

#500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & Football

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest fighters of all time, who retired from the UFC undefeated with a perfect 29-0 record. We did this conversation entirely in Russian. It’s translated and dubbed into English. Both language audio tracks (and subtitles) are available on YouTube. Here, only the English audio is available. We worked hard to make it enjoyable to listen to, by carefully dubbing the translation using voice-cloning, as we’ve done for previous foreign-language podcasts.

Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep500-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
Khabib’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/khabib_nurmagomedov/
Khabib’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/@KhabibTheEagle
Khabib’s Facebook: https://facebook.com/KhabibTheEagle/
Khabib’s X: https://x.com/TeamKhabib
Khabib’s Telegram: https://t.me/khabib_nurmagomedov
Khabib’s Website: https://khabib.com

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Wispr Flow: AI-powered voice dictation app.
Go to https://wisprflow.ai/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:29) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:24) – Why Dagestan produces so many great fighters
(18:31) – History of Dagestan warrior culture
(27:51) – Hard training in the mountains of Dagestan
(31:42) – The trap of fame, money, and power
(42:23) – The key to Khabib’s dominance
(53:36) – Discipline and hard work
(1:06:04) – Street fights in Dagestan
(1:19:45) – Khabib’s top pressure
(1:25:29) – Khabib vs Conor McGregor
(1:38:14) – Khabib’s toughest fight
(1:46:02) – Greatest MMA fighters of all time
(2:03:46) – Coaching
(2:09:19) – Daniel Cormier
(2:13:38) – Islam Makhachev
(2:23:35) – Dana White
(2:27:05) – Joe Rogan
(2:29:20) – Ali Abdelaziz
(2:31:57) – Football
(2:39:12) – Messi vs Ronaldo
(2:57:12) – Dubai
(3:01:03) – God
(3:08:46) – Advice for young people

#499 – Gary Gallagher: American Civil War, Slavery, Lincoln, Grant & Lee

Gary Gallagher is a historian of the American Civil War.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep499-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/gary-gallagher-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
Gary’s UVA page: https://history.virginia.edu/people/gary-w-gallagher
Gary’s Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_W._Gallagher
The Confederate War (book): https://amzn.to/4yletel
The Union War (book): https://amzn.to/3QT1jED
Lee and His Generals in War and Memory (book): https://amzn.to/4fdrbD5
Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten (book): https://amzn.to/4wFxk1X
The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History (book): https://amzn.to/4vsAogU
The Great Courses – The American Civil War: https://bit.ly/4gDX3mQ

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Upwork: Platform for hiring freelancers.
Go to https://upwork.com/lex
NetSuite: Business management software.
Go to http://netsuite.ai/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/
Plaud: AI-powered note-taking devices and software.
Go to https://plaud.ai/lex

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(00:07) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:36) – What caused the Civil War?
(18:33) – Slavery
(46:07) – Lincoln
(1:01:03) – Grant vs Lee
(1:09:57) – Could the Civil War have been avoided?
(1:19:23) – The bloodiest war in US history
(1:36:31) – How the Confederate Army could’ve won
(1:57:05) – Key battles of the Civil War
(2:20:07) – Best and Worst Presidents
(2:34:06) – Robert E. Lee
(2:53:40) – The most important battle of the Civil War
(3:03:51) – The final showdown of the Civil War – Grant vs Lee
(3:26:10) – Lost Cause and Confederate Monuments
(3:43:37) – Extreme political division in US

#498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires

Anthony Kaldellis is a historian of the Roman Empire and author of “The New Roman Empire”, a comprehensive history of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep498-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/anthony-kaldellis-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
Anthony’s Books: https://amzn.to/49AX7Q1
Anthony’s Publications: https://kaldellispublications.weebly.com
Anthony’s University of Chicago page: https://classics.uchicago.edu/people/anthony-kaldellis
The New Roman Empire (book): https://amzn.to/3PTFTqk
Streams of Gold (book): https://amzn.to/4fgRMRq
Byzantium & Friends Podcast: https://byzantiumandfriends.podbean.com/
The History of Byzantium Podcast: https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Upwork: Platform for hiring freelancers.
Go to https://upwork.com/lex
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(00:11) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:45) – The Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire
(12:42) – 2,200 Years of Roman History
(33:06) – Power, violence, and civil war
(54:20) – Edict of Caracalla
(1:07:17) – Crisis of the Third Century
(1:21:45) – Constantine and the new Roman Empire
(1:33:46) – Christianity in the Roman Empire
(1:59:14) – Fall of the Western Roman Empire
(2:12:11) – Eunuchs, Taxes, and Power
(2:37:17) – Emperor Justinian and wars of conquest
(2:54:19) – The Arab conquests
(3:13:55) – Why the Roman empire survived so long
(3:40:01) – Lessons from history

PODCAST LINKS:
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

#497 – Biggest Mysteries in Physics: Antimatter, Dark Energy & ToE – Don Lincoln

Don Lincoln is a particle physicist at Fermilab who has spent decades working at the frontiers of high energy physics.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep497-sc
See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
Don’s Facebook: https://facebook.com/Dr.Don.Lincoln/
Don’s Website: https://drdonlincoln.com/
Don’s LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4nHeNiF
Don’s YouTube Playlist: https://bit.ly/3PCIW67
Don’s X: https://x.com/DrDonLincoln
Don’s Books: https://amzn.to/4uYbkOZ
Don’s Great Courses: https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/don-lincoln
Don’s Audible: https://adbl.co/4wGioRV
Fermilab’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fermilab
Fermilab’s Website: https://www.fnal.gov/
Fermilab’s X: https://x.com/fermilab

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Upwork: Platform for hiring freelancers.
Go to https://upwork.com/lex
Larridin: Measure AI adoption in your business.
Go to https://larridin.com
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(00:34) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:52) – Unifying the laws of nature
(23:23) – Einstein, special relativity, and general relativity
(40:31) – Electroweak force
(52:13) – How particle colliders work
(1:10:16) – Higgs boson discovery
(1:20:35) – Theory of everything
(1:50:20) – Physics of empty space
(1:57:45) – Antimatter
(2:18:35) – Dark energy
(2:22:23) – Dark matter
(2:50:59) – Future of physics

PODCAST LINKS:
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

#496 – FFmpeg: The Incredible Technology Behind Video on the Internet

Jean-Baptiste Kempf is lead developer of VLC and president of VideoLAN. Kieran Kunhya is a longtime FFmpeg contributor, codec engineer, and the person behind the now-infamous FFmpeg account on X.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep496-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/ffmpeg-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
FFmpeg on X: https://x.com/FFmpeg
FFmpeg: https://ffmpeg.org/
VideoLAN (VLC): https://www.videolan.org/
VideoLAN on X: https://x.com/videolan
Jean-Baptiste’s Website: https://jbkempf.com/
Jean-Baptiste’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbkempf/
Jean-Baptiste’s GitHub: https://github.com/jbkempf
Kieran’s X: https://x.com/kierank_
Kieran’s LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OORhmC
Kieran’s GitHub: https://github.com/kierank

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Larridin: Measure AI adoption in your business.
Go to https://larridin.com
Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases.
Go to https://blitzy.com/lex
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(03:00) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(10:48) – Weirdest things VLC opens
(15:12) – How video playback works
(24:33) – Video codecs and containers
(35:20) – FFmpeg explained
(56:20) – Linus Torvalds
(1:00:59) – Turning down millions to keep VLC ad-free
(1:15:17) – FFmpeg & Google drama
(1:34:31) – FFmpeg developers
(1:41:08) – VLC and FFmpeg
(1:45:42) – History of FFmpeg
(1:48:59) – Reverse engineering codecs
(2:02:14) – FFmpeg testing
(2:06:21) – Assembly code (handwritten)
(2:30:39) – Rust programming language
(2:39:55) – FFmpeg and Libav fork
(2:48:17) – Open source burnout
(2:56:04) – x264 and internet video
(3:09:20) – Video compression basics
(3:16:17) – CIA and fake VLC
(3:26:52) – Ultra low latency streaming
(3:44:20) – AV2 codec and video patents
(3:54:12) – VLC backdoors
(4:04:27) – Video archiving
(4:11:04) – Future of FFmpeg and VLC

#495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age

Lars Brownworth is a historian, teacher, podcaster, and author specializing in Viking history, medieval Europe, and the Byzantine Empire.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep495-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/lars-brownworth-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
Lars’s Website: https://larsbrownworth.com/
The Sea Wolves (book): https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Wolves-History-Vikings/dp/1909979120
Lars’s Books: https://amzn.to/4sHY0xw
12 Byzantine Rulers Podcast : https://12byzantinerulers.com/
Norman Centuries Podcast: https://apple.co/4sgSxNi

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Larridin: Measure AI adoption in your business.
Go to https://larridin.com
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:03) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:57) – The start of the Viking Age
(18:50) – Viking military strategy, tactics & technology
(32:33) – Ragnar Lothbrok
(42:00) – The Great Heathen Army
(46:42) – Rollo and Normandy
(56:54) – Viking religion and Valhalla
(1:07:25) – Viking explorers
(1:12:33) – Vikings in North America
(1:25:55) – Vikings in the East
(1:45:33) – Byzantine Empire
(1:54:17) – History and human nature

PODCAST LINKS:
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

#494 – Jensen Huang: NVIDIA – The $4 Trillion Company & the AI Revolution

Jensen Huang is the co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable company and the engine powering the AI computing revolution.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep494-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/jensen-huang-transcript

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
NVIDIA: https://nvidia.com
NVIDIA on X: https://x.com/nvidia
NVIDIA AI on X: https://x.com/NVIDIAAI
NVIDIA on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nvidia
NVIDIA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nvidia/
NVIDIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nvidia/
NVIDIA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NVIDIA/
NVIDIA on GitHub: https://github.com/NVIDIA
Nemotron: https://developer.nvidia.com/nemotron

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
Quo: Phone system (calls, texts, contacts) for businesses.
Go to https://quo.com/lex

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(00:26) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(06:34) – Extreme co-design and rack-scale engineering
(09:20) – How Jensen runs NVIDIA
(28:41) – AI scaling laws
(43:41) – Biggest blockers to AI scaling laws
(45:25) – Supply chain
(47:20) – Memory
(53:25) – Power
(58:45) – Elon and Colossus
(1:02:13) – Jensen’s approach to engineering and leadership
(1:07:38) – China
(1:15:51) – TSMC and Taiwan
(1:21:06) – NVIDIA’s moat
(1:26:43) – AI data centers in space
(1:30:31) – Will NVIDIA be worth $10 trillion?
(1:40:40) – Leadership under pressure
(1:54:26) – Video games
(2:01:18) – AGI timeline
(2:03:31) – Future of programming
(2:17:02) – Consciousness
(2:23:23) – Mortality

PODCAST LINKS:
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

#493 – Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming

Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc
See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:
The Legend of California (Steam Page): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California
Jeff’s Game Studio: https://www.kintsugiyama.com/

SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases.
Go to https://blitzy.com/lex
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
CodeRabbit: AI-powered code reviews.
Go to https://coderabbit.ai/lex
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://perplexity.ai/

OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake
(25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters
(40:45) – EverQuest obsession
(53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard
(1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life
(1:15:16) – One of Us
(1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture
(1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft
(1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games
(2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player
(2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games
(3:01:04) – Online toxicity
(3:08:38) – Why Titan failed
(3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks
(3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes
(4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking
(4:04:40) – Rust
(4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard
(4:37:14) – Diablo IV
(4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games
(4:47:38) – The Legend of California
(5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time
(5:09:30) – AI and future of video games

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#490 – State of AI in 2026: LLMs, Coding, Scaling Laws, China, Agents, GPUs, AGI

Nathan Lambert and Sebastian Raschka are machine learning researchers, engineers, and educators. Nathan is the post-training lead at the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) and the author of The RLHF Book. Sebastian Raschka is the author of Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch) and Build a Reasoning Model (From Scratch).
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep490-sc
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Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/ai-sota-2026-transcript

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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:39) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(16:29) – China vs US: Who wins the AI race?
(25:11) – ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Grok: Who is winning?
(36:11) – Best AI for coding
(43:02) – Open Source vs Closed Source LLMs
(54:41) – Transformers: Evolution of LLMs since 2019
(1:02:38) – AI Scaling Laws: Are they dead or still holding?
(1:18:45) – How AI is trained: Pre-training, Mid-training, and Post-training
(1:51:51) – Post-training explained: Exciting new research directions in LLMs
(2:12:43) – Advice for beginners on how to get into AI development & research
(2:35:36) – Work culture in AI (72+ hour weeks)
(2:39:22) – Silicon Valley bubble
(2:43:19) – Text diffusion models and other new research directions
(2:49:01) – Tool use
(2:53:17) – Continual learning
(2:58:39) – Long context
(3:04:54) – Robotics
(3:14:04) – Timeline to AGI
(3:21:20) – Will AI replace programmers?
(3:39:51) – Is the dream of AGI dying?
(3:46:40) – How AI will make money?
(3:51:02) – Big acquisitions in 2026
(3:55:34) – Future of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, xAI, Meta
(4:08:08) – Manhattan Project for AI
(4:14:42) – Future of NVIDIA, GPUs, and AI compute clusters
(4:22:48) – Future of human civilization