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Indexed 9 mentions
Dwarkesh PodcastNov 13, 2024

Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary on Dwarkesh Podcast.

Guest
Gwern
Books mentioned
Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfictionOut of ControlHyperion+1 more
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Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary mentions Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction by Jorge Luis Borges, Out of Control by Kevin Kelly, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, and Borges and I (Borges y yo) by Jorge Luis Borges with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfictionOut of ControlHyperionBorges and I (Borges y yo)
3 books from this episode
Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction
Jorge Luis Borges

From there, I got the kind of collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction, and I just read through them again and again.

Out of Control
Kevin Kelly

In there, he alludes to Kevin Kelly's Out of Control book, which strongly features the parable of the Library of Babel.

Hyperion
Dan Simmons

When I was younger, one of the science fiction books that really impressed me was Dan Simmons' Hyperion, and especially the fall of Hyperion.

Guest: Gwern
Episode summary
Gwern is a pseudonymous researcher and writer. He was one of the first people to see LLM scaling coming. If you've read his blog , you know he's one of the most interesting polymathic thinkers alive. In order to protect Gwern's anonymity, I proposed interviewing him in person, and having my friend Chris Painter voice over his words after. This amused him enough that he agreed. After the episode, I convinced Gwern to create a donation page where people can help sustain what he's up to. Please go here to contribute. Read the full transcript here .
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Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction
Jorge Luis Borges

The host mentions Borges while imagining a pre-internet life and admiring Borges' career as a librarian and writer, l…

Card
Out of Control
Kevin Kelly

The host mentions Kevin Kelly's Out of Control while discussing influences that led the guest to Borges and other lit…

Card
Hyperion
Dan Simmons

The host mentions Hyperion as an early influential science fiction book that led them to discover Jorge Luis Borges a…

Card
Borges and I (Borges y yo)
Jorge Luis Borges

The host mentions Borges while discussing what they might have done before the internet and expresses admiration for…

Card
Blindsight
Peter Watts

The host mentions Blindsight as an example of the small number of science fiction works that genuinely changed their…

Card
The Fall of Hyperion
Dan Simmons

The host mentions The Fall of Hyperion as a formative science-fiction work that led them to discover Borges and the L…

Card
Dracula
Bram Stoker

The host mentions Dracula while explaining a discovery about Gene Wolfe's short story 'Suzanne Delage,' arguing that…

Card
Story of Your Life
Ted Chiang

The host mentions Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life as an example of a work they initially misunderstood and later rein…

Card
Book mentions9
Media mentions1
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What is Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary on Dwarkesh Podcast.

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What are the main takeaways from Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary?

These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary.

  • The conversation centers on Borges and libraries.
  • A second recurring theme is hidden meanings in fiction.
  • Referenced books include Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction by Jorge Luis Borges and Out of Control by Kevin Kelly.
  • The strongest audience signal points to Readers who appreciate erudite short fiction, literary hybrids of fiction and essay, and those fascinated by libraries and intellectual curiosity and Readers interested in the origins of literary influence, fans of Borges and science fiction, and people curious about systems/complexity thinking applied to culture.
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Which books are mentioned in Gwern — Anonymous writer who predicted AI trajectory on $12K/year salary?

Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction by Jorge Luis Borges, Out of Control by Kevin Kelly, and Hyperion by Dan Simmons are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Top triggers
Borges and libraries(1)hidden meanings in fiction(1)interpretation of story(1)libraries and Borges(1)libraries and reading(1)library inspiration(1)Library of Babel(1)nonlinear time perception(1)
Mention sentiment
Highly Recommended(6)Deep Dive(3)
Audience signals
Readers who appreciate erudite short fiction, literary hybrids of fiction and essay, and those fascinated by libraries and intellectual curiosityReaders interested in the origins of literary influence, fans of Borges and science fiction, and people curious about systems/complexity thinking applied to cultureReaders interested in literary, philosophically rich science fiction and those who enjoy connections between SF and classic literary works (fans of Borges, Kevin Kelly, and dense, allusive fiction).Readers who appreciate literary erudition, lovers of libraries, and those interested in reflective, metafictional prosereaders interested in serious, idea-driven science fiction that treats non-human intelligence seriouslyReaders interested in literary, idea-driven science fiction and those who enjoy intertextual works that reference Borges and philosophical themes

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction cover
Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction
Jorge Luis Borges
Best for Readers who appreciate erudite short fiction, literary hybrids of fiction and essay, and those fascinated by libraries and intellectual curiosityOften cited around Borges and libraries

“Speaker obtained collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction after reading references, reading through them repeatedly.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers who appreciate erudite short fiction, literary hybrids of fiction and essay, and those fascinated by libraries and intellectual curiosity
Key quote: “From there, I got the kind of collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction, and I just read through them again and again.”
The host mentions Borges while imagining a pre-internet life and admiring Borges' career as a librarian and writer, linking Borges' Library of Babel to formative reading experiences. They describe repeatedly rereading the collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction and being inspired by his erudition and creative polymathic writing.
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Out of Control cover
Out of Control
Kevin Kelly
Best for Readers interested in the origins of literary influence, fans of Borges and science fiction, and people curious about systems/complexity thinking applied to cultureOften cited around Library of Babel

“Mentioned as Kevin Kelly's Out of Control book, which features the parable of the Library of Babel (line references around allusion in Hyperion).”

View mention details
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in the origins of literary influence, fans of Borges and science fiction, and people curious about systems/complexity thinking applied to culture
Key quote: “In there, he alludes to Kevin Kelly's Out of Control book, which strongly features the parable of the Library of Babel.”
The host mentions Kevin Kelly's Out of Control while discussing influences that led the guest to Borges and other literature; the book is referenced as an intertextual link that introduced the guest to Borges' Library of Babel and shaped their literary interests. The mention explains how a science fiction work (Hyperion) alluding to Out of Control led the guest to collect and reread Borges, inspiring admiration for Borges' erudition and polymathic creativity.
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Hyperion cover
Hyperion
Dan Simmons
Best for Readers interested in literary, philosophically rich science fiction and those who enjoy connections between SF and classic literary works (fans of Borges, Kevin Kelly, and dense, allusive fiction).Often cited around library inspiration

“Referred to as one of the science fiction books that impressed the speaker, specifically Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion (mentioned together).”

View mention details
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in literary, philosophically rich science fiction and those who enjoy connections between SF and classic literary works (fans of Borges, Kevin Kelly, and dense, allusive fiction).
Key quote: “When I was younger, one of the science fiction books that really impressed me was Dan Simmons' Hyperion, and especially the fall of Hyperion.”
The host mentions Hyperion as an early influential science fiction book that led them to discover Jorge Luis Borges and his Library of Babel motif. They credit Hyperion (and its allusion to Kevin Kelly) with prompting deeper reading of Borges' collected works and shaping their appreciation for polymathic, erudite storytelling.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
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Borges and I (Borges y yo) cover
Borges and I (Borges y yo)
Jorge Luis Borges
Best for Readers who appreciate literary erudition, lovers of libraries, and those interested in reflective, metafictional proseOften cited around libraries and Borges

“Mentioned as a short poem by Borges where he discusses identity with the version of himself that writes and publishes.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers who appreciate literary erudition, lovers of libraries, and those interested in reflective, metafictional prose
Key quote: “Borges has a short poem called Borges and I, where he talks about how he doesn't identify with the version of himself that is actually doing the writing and publishing all this great work.”
The host mentions Borges while discussing what they might have done before the internet and expresses admiration for Borges' life as a librarian and his imaginative vision of a library as paradise. They credit Borges' erudition and creative polymathic writing as a major influence and say they would not mind being Borges if they could be any writer.
Amazon search results · affiliate link
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Blindsight cover
Blindsight
Peter Watts
Best for readers interested in serious, idea-driven science fiction that treats non-human intelligence seriouslyOften cited around science fiction novels

“Mentioned as a volume (one volume of Blindsight) that the speaker values highly compared to many other sci-fi works.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: readers interested in serious, idea-driven science fiction that treats non-human intelligence seriously
Key quote: “I mean, one volume, for instance, of Blindsight by Peter Watts is worth all 100 Xanth novels or all 500 expanded universe novels of Star Wars.”
The host mentions Blindsight as an example of the small number of science fiction works that genuinely changed their perspective and were worth reading deeply. They contrast it with vast amounts of disposable genre fiction, saying one volume of Blindsight outweighs hundreds of trivial novels.
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The Fall of Hyperion cover
The Fall of Hyperion
Dan Simmons
Best for Readers interested in literary, idea-driven science fiction and those who enjoy intertextual works that reference Borges and philosophical themesOften cited around libraries and reading

“Mentioned alongside Hyperion as especially impressive (the fall of Hyperion).”

View mention details
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in literary, idea-driven science fiction and those who enjoy intertextual works that reference Borges and philosophical themes
Key quote: “When I was younger, one of the science fiction books that really impressed me was Dan Simmons' Hyperion, and especially the fall of Hyperion.”
The host mentions The Fall of Hyperion as a formative science-fiction work that led them to discover Borges and the Library of Babel motif, highlighting how Simmons' novel connected them to broader literary influences. They credit the book with inspiring deep, polymathic reading and shaping their appreciation for inventive, erudite storytelling.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
Dracula cover
Dracula
Bram Stoker
Best for readers and critics interested in literary analysis and intertextual readings of fictionOften cited around hidden meanings in fiction

“Referenced as the novel whose themes are echoed in Suzanne Delage, noted as a Bram Stoker way of brainwashing/stealing the woman from him.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: readers and critics interested in literary analysis and intertextual readings of fiction
Key quote: “It turns out it's actually a subtle retelling of Dracula where Dracula invades the town and steals the woman from him.”
The host mentions Dracula while explaining a discovery about Gene Wolfe's short story 'Suzanne Delage,' arguing that its baffling gaps are a subtle retelling of Dracula where the narrator has been manipulated into forgetting. The book is used to illustrate how understanding canonical texts (like Bram Stoker's Dracula) can unlock deeper readings of modern, enigmatic stories.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
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Story of Your Life cover
Story of Your Life
Ted Chiang
Best for Readers interested in philosophical science fiction and stories about perception, determinism, and alien mindsOften cited around nonlinear time perception

“Named as Ted Chiang's 'story of your life' which the speaker initially misunderstood; noted relation to Arrival.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Readers interested in philosophical science fiction and stories about perception, determinism, and alien minds
Key quote: “The first time I read it, it struck me as a kind of stupid ESP story about seeing the future.”
The host mentions Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life as an example of a work they initially misunderstood and later reinterpreted after gaining more context. They explain that the story is not merely about seeing the future but about a radically different, equally valid way of experiencing events as part of a predetermined whole.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
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Suzanne Delage cover
Suzanne Delage
Gene Wolfe
Best for readers who enjoy literary puzzles, close reading, and subtle, allusive short fictionOften cited around interpretation of story

“Referred to as Jean (Gene) Wolfe's very short story 'Suzanne Delage' that the speaker only recently understood as a subtle retelling of Dracula.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: readers who enjoy literary puzzles, close reading, and subtle, allusive short fiction
Key quote: “It turns out it's actually a subtle retelling of Dracula where Dracula invades the town and steals the woman from him.”
The host mentions Gene Wolfe's 'Suzanne Delage' as an example of a story they couldn't understand at first but later decoded after many years. They explain that the story is a subtle, mostly implicit retelling of Dracula, revealed through what the narrator omits rather than states directly.
Amazon search results · affiliate link
Find on Amazon
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Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction
Dwarkesh Podcast · 56:10
From there, I got the kind of collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction, and I just read through them again and again.
Out of Control
Dwarkesh Podcast · 56:02
In there, he alludes to Kevin Kelly's Out of Control book, which strongly features the parable of the Library of Babel.
Hyperion
Dwarkesh Podcast · 55:54
When I was younger, one of the science fiction books that really impressed me was Dan Simmons' Hyperion, and especially the fall of Hyperion.
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Pick up the books after you hear them in context.

Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction cover
Mentioned at 56:10
Collected editions of Borges' fiction and nonfiction
Jorge Luis Borges

The host mentions Borges while imagining a pre-internet life and admiring Borges' career as a librarian and writer, linking Borges' Library of Babe…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Out of Control cover
Mentioned at 56:02
Out of Control
Kevin Kelly

The host mentions Kevin Kelly's Out of Control while discussing influences that led the guest to Borges and other literature; the book is reference…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Hyperion cover
Mentioned at 55:54
Hyperion
Dan Simmons

The host mentions Hyperion as an early influential science fiction book that led them to discover Jorge Luis Borges and his Library of Babel motif.…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Movies & Documentaries Mentioned

Movie

Arrival

Confidence: 90%

“Mentioned as having the same plot as Ted Chiang's 'Story of Your Life' about aliens with a language affecting perception of time.”

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