Topics Discussed: The Matrix, Predicting the future 30+ years ago, Machine learning and expert systems, How to pick what ideas to work on, DARPA Grand Challenges, What does it take to be a good leader?, Autonomous vehicles, Waymo and Tesla Autopilot, Self-driving car nanodegree, Machine learning, AI in medical applications, AI-related job loss and education, Teaching soft skills, Kitty Hawk and flying cars, Love and AI, Life.
Sebastian Thrun
Sebastian Thrun is a German-American entrepreneur, educator, and computer scientist. He is CEO of Kitty Hawk Corporation, and chairman and co-founder of Udacity. Before that, he was a Google VP and Fellow, a Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, and before that at Carnegie Mellon University. At Google, he founded Google X and Google's self-driving car team. He is also an adjunct professor at Stanford University and at Georgia Tech.
Books Mentioned in this Podcast with Sebatian Thrun:
Navigating the Future with Sebastian Thrun: From Self-Driving Cars to Online Education
Lex Fridman hosts a riveting discussion with Sebastian Thrun, a pioneer in robotics, computer science, and online education. Thrun, renowned for his work on autonomous vehicles and his role in revolutionizing online education with Udacity, shares insights into his journey, challenges, and the transformative potential of technology.
Trailblazing the Self-Driving Revolution
Sebastian Thrun's contributions to autonomous vehicles, especially through the DARPA challenges and the Google self-driving car program, have laid the groundwork for the self-driving car revolution. His passion for innovation and his unwavering belief in the power of technology to reshape transportation are evident throughout the conversation.
Udacity: Democratizing Education
Thrun's vision for accessible and high-quality online education led to the founding of Udacity. The platform, born from a Stanford course on artificial intelligence, has since grown exponentially, offering a plethora of courses and reshaping the landscape of online learning.
Kitty Hawk and the Dream of Flying Cars
Exploring the horizons of transportation, Thrun discusses his endeavors with Kitty Hawk, a company focused on building flying cars or EVTOLs (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft). The conversation delves into the challenges, excitement, and potential of this nascent technology.
Concluding Reflections
Throughout the dialogue, Lex and Thrun traverse a multitude of topics, reflecting on the past, analyzing the present, and speculating about the future. Their exchange offers listeners a holistic view of the transformative power of technology and the boundless possibilities it presents.