FBL99: Karl Friston - How Free Energy Shapes the Future of AI

FBL99: Karl Friston - How Free Energy Shapes the Future of AI

Author: Singularity University May 1, 2023 Duration: 35:37

This week my guest is professor of neuroscience at University College London, Karl Friston. Viewed by many as one of the world’s most influential neuroscientists, Friston rose to prominence when he pioneered one of the key techniques that allows neuroscientists to analyze brain activity. And as if that wasn’t enough, he has since developed the Free Energy Principle, which some see as monumental to the field as Darwin’s theory of evolution was for biology and genetics. 

It’s this work on the Free Energy principle that will be the bulk of our conversation in this episode, and I warn you that this is probably one of the most intellectually challenging conversations we’ve had on the show. To help you navigate this, I want to offer just a quick overview that may aid in understanding the ideas. In essence, Friston’s work roughly states that entities that exist must track information from the world around them, create an internal model of that information, and then use that model to navigate the world in a way that reduces the difference (the error) between what was actually experienced and what one’s model predicted. 

While this concept may seem simple on the surface, the actual science behind it is detailed, complex, and holds immense influence for how we develop artificial intelligence.

Learn more about Friston and his work at fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/~karl/

**

Learn more about Singularity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠su.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Steven Parton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ /⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: Amine el Filali



Hosted by Singularity University, The Singularity Discussion Series is a deep and ongoing conversation about the forces that will define tomorrow. Rather than offering quick tech news, this podcast creates a space for sustained exploration. Each episode features leading thinkers and practitioners who examine exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blockchain, and quantum computing. The discussions go beyond isolated innovations to focus on their powerful convergence-the point where these fields intersect to reshape everything from global industries and economic models to the fabric of our daily lives. You’ll hear nuanced analysis on both the immediate implications and the long-term trajectories of these changes. The goal is to unpack the breakthroughs that are actively redefining the boundaries of the possible, providing listeners with a clearer, more thoughtful understanding of the complex future we are building together. Tune in for a consistently insightful and forward-looking dialogue that challenges assumptions and illuminates the path ahead.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Singularity Discussion Series
Podcast Episodes
FBL95: Sander van der Linden - Foolproof in the Age of Misinformation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
This week my guest is Sander Van Der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge where he has also directed the Social Decision-Making Lab since 2016. In this episode we explore Sander’s latest…
FBL94: Max Borders - Decentralizing the Social Singularity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:35
This week our guest is philosopher and author, Max Borders, who founded the non-profit Social Evolution in order to solve social problems through innovation, and who has also authored three books deeply exploring humanit…
FBL93: Angus Fletcher - Why Storytelling Will Prevent AI Dominance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
This week our guest is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative, Angus Fletcher, who pulls on his background of literature and neuroscience to understand how brains and machines process sto…
FBL92: Zak Stein - Transforming Education to Prevent Catastrophe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
This week our guest is writer, educator, and futurist, Zak Stein, who is well known for co-founding the Consilience Project with Daniel Schmachtenberger, as well as his recent publication, Education in a Time Between Wor…
FBL91: Connor Leahy - The Existential Risk of AI Alignment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:40
This week our guest is AI researcher and founder of Conjecture, Connor Leahy, who is dedicated to studying AI alignment. Alignment research focuses on gaining an increased understanding of how to build advanced AI system…
FBL90: Zoltan Istvan - The Current State of Transhumanism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:24
In this episode we check back in with one-time presidential candidate and author of The Transhumanist Wager, Zoltan Istvan, to see how his views have changed since we last talked. This included exploring his changing vie…
FBL89: Elizabeth Renieris - How Data Distracts Us From Human Rights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
This week’s guest is lawyer, author, and Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University, Elizabeth M. Renieris. In this episode, we explore Elizabeth's brand new book, Beyond Data: Recla…
FBL88: Justin Hendrix - Democracy in the Digital Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:10
This week our guest is research scientist and adjunct professor, Justin Hendrix, who is the CEO and editor of Tech Policy Press (https://techpolicy.press/), a non-profit media community dedicated to exploring the interse…
FBL87: Rosalind Picard - Engineering Emotion & AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:37
This week I’m honored to be joined by MIT Professor, Rosalind Picard, who not only founded the field of affective computing, but is easily considered one of the most impactful inventors alive. In this episode, we explore…
FBL86: Christopher Nguyen - Knowledge-First AI, GPT3, and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
This week my guest is entrepreneur and technologist, Christopher Nguyen, who–in addition to starting his own companies–has spent four decades working at some of the world’s biggest tech giants. In this episode we explore…