669 Kevin Kelly on Excellent Advice for Living, Universal AI Assistants, Time Machines, and The Power of Fully Becoming Yourself
This is a OPEN AI summary of the Tim Ferriss Podcast #669- visit www.TinyTim.blog for more AI summaries, or www.Tim.blog for the official Tim Ferriss Podcasts.
In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss interviews Kevin Kelly, a writer, editor, and futurist who has written extensively on the impact of technology on society. They discuss Kevin's new book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish Id Known Earlier, and explore Kevin's views on the future of technology and its impact on our lives.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss a range of topics, from Kevins most popular writing to his failed campaign to discover all the species of life on Earth. They also touch on Kevins passion project, Vanishing Asia, and his TED Talk on why we should be optimistic in 10 minutes.
In 2003, Kevin Kelly made a bet that the global human population would collapse by 2060. He was betting against the population growth. He based his bet on the logic that over time, the population would not be able to sustain itself.
The world population is expected to peak and then decline by 2060 due to falling birth rates. This trend is being seen across the globe, and efforts to counter it have so far been unsuccessful.
The world's population is projected to peak around 2060, after which it will begin to decline. This is due to a number of factors, including declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy. While some environmentalists see this as a good thing, others worry about the implications of a shrinking population. We don't have much experience with living standards declining while population is also declining, so it's hard to say what the consequences will be.
We don't really know how many people are on the planet because we have a very poor view of us globally. This is partly because there are areas of the world that are so undeveloped, we don't have very good countings. However, we are moving into an era where we will become a global species with a global economy and a global machine (the internet). Even something as primal and essential as our population, we don't know.
The Santa Fe Institute is researching how to apply biological dynamics to machines in order to create robots and early AI. This is important because it allows us to understand complicated things in simpler terms. Additionally, this research can help us create machines that mimic natural systems.
Kevin Kelly spent 11 years creating a huge graphic novel about angels and robots called Silver Cord. He did this because he wanted to translate his thinking and writing into that form. The process was difficult, but he ultimately succeeded in creating a beautiful and thought-provoking work.
Kevin Kelly, a book artist, has published a few works and wants to try his hand at writing a science fiction story. He believes that the genre has great potential for communicating complex ideas and that the visualization in a science fiction story can be immersive and appealing. He and his friends, who all work in the film industry, collaborate to write a script for a movie-like story about interdimensional beings that crave embodiment and look down on humans for squandering their opportunity.
This graphic novel tells the story of angels and robots, and how some of the angels try to cheat by becoming embodied into robots. The novel explores the idea of what it means to be human, and how humans can change their behavior.
In his article "1,000 True Fans", Kevin Kelly argues that technology has created a new landscape in which it is possible to be successful with a smaller, more modest-scale audience. He posits that the traditional goal of becoming a big-time bestseller is no longer the only path to success, and that a more modest approach can be just as valid.
In his original article, Kevin Kelly discusses the idea that an artist needs only 1,000 true fans in order to be successful. He argues that with the population of the Earth being in the billions, there are 1,000 people who potentially share your interests. However, he modifies this slightly in his conversation with Tim Ferriss, saying that not everyone is suited to deal with fans and that it can be a burnout job.
In order to have a successful business, it is important to have a solid foundation of true fans. These are fans that are committed to your work and will help promote your work to others. It is also important to focus on providing value to your customers and making sure they are happy.
Kevin Kelly and Stewart Brand had the idea to hire barefoot taxonomists to catalog all the living species on Earth. They believed that new technology could help make this possible. Tim Ferriss asked Kevin Kelly to explain who Stewart Brand is. Kevin Kelly explained that Stewart Brand is the person who first hired him and that he invented The Whole Earth Catalog.
Stewart Brand is the founder of The Whole Earth Catalog and The Well, and is known for his involvement in various countercultural movements throughout history. He is currently working on a project to catalog all species on Earth, with the help of Kevin Kelly and other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
The app, Seek, failed to achieve its goal of cataloging all existing plant and mushroom species. The technology was not advanced enough and there was too much duplication of species.
The future of resurrecting extinct species, like the woolly mammoth, lies in accelerated breeding of existing animals that share similar DNA. This approach is being taken by the Revive and Restore program, headed by Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss interviews Kevin Kelly about optimism. Kelly argues that optimism is important because it is necessary for envisioning and creating good things. He cites history as an example of why we should be optimistic, pointing to the progress that has been made over time.
Most of the things we have now were made by people who were optimistic and believed in their ability to make them. Optimism is imagining the improbable and having it succeed. Things breaking down is the probable. It is essential to have brakes in the car, but we also need to remember to focus on making the engine even stronger.
The conversation between Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss covers a variety of topics, but focuses on the idea of optimism. Kelly discusses the difference between passive and active optimism, and how it is important to choose what one is active about. Ferriss agrees, and the two discuss how optimists can make a difference in the world by focusing on high-leverage problems.
Kevin Kelly believes that progress is the reality of the world getting better over time. He cites the example of how we have learned to deflect asteroids as evidence of this. He believes that acknowledging the reality of progress can help us be more optimistic about the future.
The following is a conversation between Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly about whether or not progress is inextricably linked to population growth. Kevin Kelly argues that it is highly unlikely that progress will stop tomorrow, and that part of our optimism can come from recognizing the momentum that has been building over the last few centuries. Tim Ferriss then asks if, given the bet on the collapse of global human population, progress might actually be linked to population growth and density. Kevin Kelly acknowledges that this is a possibility, but argues that it is just as likely that progress will continue regardless.
Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the idea of degrowth, or stopping growth, in order to combat the troubles of the world. They explain that there are two types of growth - growth in terms of adding more stuff (consumer growth), and growth in terms of increasing complexity and order (exotropy). They argue that exotropy is the kind of growth we should be aiming for, as it is ultimately what leads to a better world.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the idea that growth does not always have to be measured by an increase in the amount of stuff produced. Instead, growth can be measured by an increase in the quality of things. They also discuss the possibility of shifting to this type of growth in light of a decrease in population.
Kevin Kelly took a bus ride in 1975 to a remote town in Afghanistan and found that it was like stepping into a different century. The town had no electricity, no street lights, and no signage. The people there were living in poverty and their occupations were determined by their birth. Kelly realized that what we get from technology is choices and options.
AI is changing the way we design, creating new possibilities for what we can create. It is also giving us more choices in what we can do, and expanding the range of options available to us.
Kevin Kelly argues that AI will not lead to mass unemployment, as many people fear. He claims that AI will simply replace certain tasks within jobs, rather than eliminating jobs entirely. So far, he has not heard of anyone who has lost their job specifically because of AI.
The essay argues that AI will eventually lead to many people having to find new jobs, as AI will eventually be able to do the work of interns better than actual interns can.
This passage focuses on Kevin Kelly's work with AI logos. Kelly explains that most of the AI-generated images are used for purposes that are currently blank, such as illustrations and private museum collections. He notes that the majority of these images are generated for the pure pleasure of seeing them, and that they fill in the blank spaces that exist in the world.
Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy and society. Kelly believes that AI will have a profound impact on the economy, and that artists should not be upset if their work is copied, because it is inevitable.
This is a discussion between Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly about the training data sets required for AIs. Kevin Kelly says that we don't know how many examples will be required, but we suspect it will be fewer than what is currently needed. He cites toddlers as an example of existence proof that it is possible for machines to learn with a small number of examples.
In the next five to ten years, Kevin Kelly predicts that there will be multiple AIs that are each specialized in different areas. These AIs will be "dumbsmarten" - meaning they will be very smart, but not omniscient.
The article discusses the idea of "dumbsmarten"--that is, artificially intelligent beings that are very smart in some ways but not in others. They will be engineered for specific tasks, and will be seen as artificial aliens by humans. Most of them will be unseen, operating behind the scenes in plumbing and infrastructure. Consciousness is seen as a liability in this context, as it is not necessary for the AI to be aware in order to perform its task.
AI is often underhyped, but it is still significant and powerful. The current version of AI will not be around in 30 years. The conversational interface is new and allows people to interact with AI in a more natural way.
Kevin Kelly is a futurist who believes that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to change the world in a big way. He has been using AI to generate images for his website for the past year, and he is impressed with the results. He thinks that AI will eventually be used for everything, and that it will change the way we interact with machines.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the value of learning from others and the importance of being open to new experiences. Kelly talks about how he uses chatbots to help him write, and how he views art as a collaborative process between himself and the AI.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the concept of "thinkism" and how it can be used to solve problems. They also discuss the importance of using technology to figure out its capabilities and harms.
In an interview, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the benefits of using artificial intelligence to help with writing. Kelly explains that AI can be used to generate a first draft, help with research, or identify weak points in a script. Ferriss notes that AI can help overcome the blank page syndrome and can be a useful tool at any stage of the writing process.
Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the benefits of using ChatGPT to help with writing. Kelly explains that his friend uses it to generate headlines and punchlines, and that it can be a great starting point for writing. Ferriss shares an example from his own life of how ChatGPT helped him come up with a podcast guest.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the state of virtual reality and the potential for it to become more widespread and tailored to individual users. They also discuss the possibility that VR will not get exponentially better, but simply become more pervasive.
In this excerpt, Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the potential for AI to help people think differently and solve problems in new ways. Kelly describes a scenario where AI is used to more effectively answer common questions, and Ferriss suggests that AI could be used to help people explore new career paths.
Kevin Kelly writes down bits of advice to help him change his own behavior. He likes to reduce something to a tiny sentence that he can remember and repeat to himself. An example is "When you put something back, put it back where you first looked for it." He started writing these down and realized that a lot of it was advice that he wish he had known earlier.
In this extract, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss Kelly's book of advice for young people, which he began writing when he was 68 years old. Kelly explains that he wanted to share the advice he had been giving himself for decades, in a concise and tweetable format. Ferriss lauds Kelly for his effort, and the two discuss a few of the book's tips.
In this conversation, Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss various topics related to life and productivity. Kelly shares the wisdom that "a balcony or porch needs to be at least six feet deep or it won't be used," meaning that it's important to create space in your life for things that are truly important to you. Ferriss adds that " greatness is incompatible with optimizing in the short term," and that it's important to focus on what you need in the moment rather than what you think you should be doing.
Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the importance of doing something "crazy, insane, unprofitable, unorthodox, orthogonal" in your twenties, in order to build a foundation for success later on. They also talk about the importance of being the "only" in your field - that is, of doing something that is so unique that it is hard to explain to others what it is that you do.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the importance of finding something you're good at and becoming the best at it. They also talk about how most people's remarkable lives are full of detours and dead ends because it's a very high bar to become the best. However, if you can get there, it's worth it because you'll be the only one doing it.
In this conversation, Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the importance of spending time with your children. Kelly shares that he has found the best way to spend time with his kids is by making things together.
This is a conversation between Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly about the benefits of travel and learning experiences for children. Kevin Kelly says that travel is a great way for children to learn, and that even if they don't seem to be paying attention at the time, they will remember and process the experience later.
Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss tips for traveling with kids. Kelly recommends trying new things and going to places that interest the kids. Ferriss asks about Kelly's experience traveling with his son and nephew, and Kelly talks about how it was a great learning experience for them.
In this excerpt, Kevin Kelly explains how he gets his kids interested in his adventures by involving them in the decision-making process. He homeschooled his son for a year while they traveled, and says that total engagement is key to keeping kids invested.
If you're struggling with something, Tim Ferriss recommends checking your eyesight and purchasing a tourist guidebook to your hometown or region. He also suggests using the rule of three to signal an emergency. Lastly, he recommends explaining your problem to others as a way of troubleshooting.
Kelly and Ferriss discuss Kelly's book The Silver Cord and how it was created. Kelly explains that he did everything for the book himself, from writing to taking all the pictures. Ferriss compliments the book and asks Kelly what he hopes it will achieve. Kelly says that his books usually only have one audience member, himself, and that he enjoys going through them.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the importance of taking sabbaticals in order to recharge and rejuvenate oneself. Kelly emphasizes that resting is just as important as working, and that sabbaticals can help improve one's productivity and creativity.
Kevin Kelly believes that taking regular sabbaticals is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He suggests that six weeks is the minimum duration for a sabbatical, and that it should ideally be taken every six years.
The general pattern for an effective sabbatical is to do something different in structure and rhythm from your normal routine. This could involve travel, shadowing someone, or reading books. The key is to have a different mode of behavior than what you're used to.
In this conversation, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss the value of watching people work. Kelly explains that he often watches YouTube videos of people engaged in various crafts and enjoys learning from them. Ferriss expresses interest in doing something similar, though notes that it would be challenging for him given his background of always being the one "making" things.
In this conversation, Kevin Kelly and Tim Ferriss discuss the value of watching people work (via YouTube and other platforms). Kelly argues that it is an underappreciated way of learning, as it is an accelerant on the learning process. Ferriss compares it to being in the Library of Alexandria blindfolded, and both men agree that it has the potential to be hugely beneficial.
In this excerpt, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly discuss Kelly's massive popularity in China. Kelly attributes his success to timing, saying that his book "Out of Control" was ahead of its time in the early 1990s.
Kevin Kelly is a futurist and author who was talking about decentralized systems and crypto in 1994. His book on digital money was translated into Chinese and became hugely influential on entrepreneurs like Jack Ma. Most of his fans are in China, where he continues to give talks on the future of various industries.
In his book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish Id Known Earlier, Kevin Kelly offers advice on how to live a fulfilling life. He suggests that people should aim to be their authentic selves and to always be learning and growing.
This is a conversation between Tim Ferriss and Kevin Kelly. In it, they discuss Kelly's book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish Id Known Earlier. Kelly emphasizes the importance of fully becoming yourself, and how technology can help us do that by increasing the pool of possible tools available to us. Ferriss praises the book, recommending it highly to listeners.
The kk.org website offers a variety of resources, including the book "1,000 True Fans", which discusses how everyone should strive to become their true selves. The site also provides links to various tools and advice to help people achieve this goal.
669) https://tim.blog/2023/04/26/kevin-kelly-excellent-advice-for-living/
