#486 – Michael Levin: Hidden Reality of Alien Intelligence & Biological Life

Show notes

Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sc]( https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. **Transcript:** [https://lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript]( https://lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript">https://lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript **CONTACT LEX:** **Feedback** – give feedback to Lex: [https://lexfridman.com/survey]( https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey **AMA** – submit questions, videos or call-in: [https://lexfridman.com/ama]( https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama **Hiring** – join our team: [https://lexfridman.com/hiring]( https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring **Other** – other ways to get in touch: [https://lexfridman.com/contact]( https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact **EPISODE LINKS:** Michael Levin’s X: [https://x.com/drmichaellevin]( https://x.com/drmichaellevin">https://x.com/drmichaellevin Michael Levin’s Website: [https://drmichaellevin.org]( https://drmichaellevin.org">https://drmichaellevin.org Michael Levin’s Papers: [https://drmichaellevin.org/publications/]( https://drmichaellevin.org/publications/">https://drmichaellevin.org/publications/ – Biological Robots: [https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880]( https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880">https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880 – Classical Sorting Algorithms: [https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375]( https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375">https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375 – Aging as a Morphostasis Defect: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560/]( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560/ – TAME: [https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346]( https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346">https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346 – Synthetic Living Machines: [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571]( https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571">https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571 **SPONSORS:** To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: **Shopify:** Sell stuff online. Go to [https://shopify.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep486-sc">https://shopify.com/lex **CodeRabbit:** AI-powered code reviews. Go to [https://coderabbit.ai/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep486-sc">https://coderabbit.ai/lex **LMNT:** Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to [https://drinkLMNT.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep486-sc">https://drinkLMNT.com/lex **UPLIFT Desk:** Standing desks and office ergonomics. Go to [https://upliftdesk.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift\_desk-ep486-sc">https://upliftdesk.com/lex **Miro:** Online collaborative whiteboard platform. Go to [https://miro.com/]( https://lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep486-sc">https://miro.com/ **MasterClass:** Online classes from world-class experts. Go to [https://masterclass.com/lexpod]( https://lexfridman.com/s/masterclass-ep486-sc">https://masterclass.com/lexpod **OUTLINE:** (00:00) – Introduction (00:29) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (10:09) – Biological intelligence (18:42) – Living vs non-living organisms (23:55) – Origin of life (27:40) – The search for alien life (on Earth) (1:00:44) – Creating life in the lab – Xenobots and Anthrobots (1:13:46) – Memories and ideas are living organisms (1:27:26) – Reality is an illusion: The brain is an interface to a hidden reality (2:13:13) – Unexpected Intelligence in sorting algorithms (2:38:51) – Can aging be reversed? (2:42:41) – Mind uploading (3:01:22) – Alien intelligence (3:16:17) – Advice for young people (3:22:46) – Questions for AGI