Kenneth Stanley on the Disruptive Power of Open-Endedness
In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Kenneth Stanley, a renowned computer scientist and AI researcher whose career spans academia, industry, and startup innovation. Stanley has been a professor, a cofounder of multiple companies, and a researcher at both OpenAI and Uber. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Open-Endedness at Lila Sciences. He is also the coauthor of Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective, a widely praised book exploring the nature of creativity and discovery.Arbesman and Stanley discuss the nuances of conducting research across a variety of organizational structures. Their conversation delves into the tradeoffs between traditional and novel research institutions, how to carve out space for exploratory or “weird” work within large organizations, and how research itself can serve as a tool for navigating disruption. The episode also explores the evolving role of open-endedness in AI research and what it reveals about the future of scientific and technological progress.
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50:28
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50:28
Clive Thompson on the Ramifications of “Vibe Coding”
In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with journalist and author Clive Thompson. Known for his thoughtful writing on science and technology—particularly in the realms of computing and programming—Clive contributes to Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and more. He is also the author of Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World (2019).With the rise of generative AI and the emergence of “vibe coding,” their conversation turns to the evolving nature of programming and how Clive makes sense of it. They explore his early experiences with computers in the 1970s and ’80s, his temporary departure from coding, and his eventual return. The discussion ranges from creative coding and AI-assisted programming to computational thinking, the literary nature of code, and the future of coding education.
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52:19
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52:19
Alec Nevala-Lee on Buckminster Fuller
In this episode, Samuel Arbesman sits down with Alec Nevala-Lee, author of numerous books, including Inventor of the Future, a definitive biography of Buckminster Fuller.Buckminster Fuller was an architect, designer, and public intellectual whose influence stretched far beyond blueprints and prototypes. Later in life, he became a lodestar for the counterculture, inspiring the pages of the Whole Earth Catalog and leaving fingerprints all over what would become Silicon Valley’s ethos.In his biography, Nevala-Lee unravels Fuller’s contradictions — a visionary who struggled to succeed yet profoundly shaped culture, and who in many ways anticipated the archetype of the modern startup founder before such a figure existed.Samuel and Alec explore Fuller’s radical ideas in design, the curious saga of the geodesic dome, the “virtual corporation” Fuller orchestrated around himself, his sway over the tech world’s imagination, and how he played the role of a mystical, almost messianic presence amid the polished suits of the Mad Men era — and so much more.
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48:24
Eliot Peper on developing lore around AI agents
In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman welcomes back return guest Eliot Peper. Eliot is a science fiction writer and the author of numerous books, and is currently collaborating with the tech company Portola, which is developing Tolans — AI friends and companions that blur the line between lore and code.Samuel and Eliot delve into how Eliot found himself shaping the mythos behind these AI agents, exploring how crafting lore for artificial minds differs from telling stories for human ones. Their conversation expands into the nature of narrative itself: what humans uniquely bring to creativity, what AI can augment, and how these two forces might dance together. They also touch on Eliot’s Cozy Little Internet Bookstore and his ideas for building deeper, more intimate connections with readers in an increasingly digital world.
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54:27
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54:27
Anna Gat on Building Interintellect’s Global Agora
In this episode, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Anna Gat, founder and CEO of Interintellect. Described as “a curated marketplace of high-quality events hosted by intellectual seekers from all walks of life,” Interintellect is reimagining the salon for the digital age.Arbesman and Gat discuss the origins and evolution of Interintellect, as well as the deeper nature of conversation itself—what makes for an ideal dialogue, and how structured discourse can foster intellectual curiosity and community. Their conversation also touches on themes of rebelliousness, the future of education, and the power of bringing thoughtful people together in new ways.
Welcome to The Orthogonal Bet, a podcast that explores the unconventional ideas and delightful patterns that shape our world. Hosted by Samuel Arbesman
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