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Lex Fridman is an American computer scientist and podcaster who began his career in AI research at MIT, focusing on autonomous vehicles, human-robot interaction, and machine learning. He launched his podcast in 2018, originally titled "The Artificial Intelligence Podcast" and later renamed "The Lex Fridman Podcast" in 2020. His rise to prominence came after a notable (though controversial) study on Tesla Autopilot in 2019, which caught Elon Musk's attention and led to a significant increase in his podcast's viewership. Fridman's podcast has since become incredibly popular, attracting 3.6 million subscribers by 2024. Despite criticism for his "softball" interviewing style and lack of journalistic detachment, Fridman has established himself as a prominent figure in tech media, leveraging his academic background and personal network to create engaging long-form conversations. P
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Lex Fridman is an American computer scientist, podcaster, and researcher born on August 15, 1983, in Chkalovsk, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic1. He grew up in Moscow before his family moved to the Chicago area when he was around 11 years old, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Education and Early Career
Fridman completed his education at Drexel University, obtaining a B.S. and M.S. in computer science in 2010, followed by a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering in 2014. His doctoral dissertation focused on learning identity from behavioral biometrics for active authentication.
After completing his Ph.D., Fridman briefly worked at Google for six months in 2014, continuing his dissertation work on AI for identity authentication. However, he left the company, preferring the "chaos of research and the academic environment".
MIT and Research
In 2015, Fridman joined MIT's AgeLab, focusing on driver behavior analysis using psychology and big-data analytics1. He later transitioned to an unpaid role in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. As of 2023, he is a research scientist at the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS).
Fridman's research interests include human-centered AI, autonomous vehicles, human-robot interaction, and machine learning. He has published several papers, including:
MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology Study (2019)
Active Authentication on Mobile Devices (2015)
Arguing Machines: Human Supervision of Black Box AI Systems (2018)
Cognitive Load Estimation in the Wild (2018)
DeepTraffic (2019)
Podcasting Career
Fridman launched his podcast in 2018, initially titled "The Artificial Intelligence Podcast". In 2020, he renamed it "The Lex Fridman Podcast". His rise to prominence in podcasting came after a controversial, non-peer-reviewed study on Tesla Autopilot in 2019, which caught Elon Musk's attention. Following an interview with Musk, Fridman's podcast viewership increased significantly. The podcast has since become highly popular, featuring high-profile guests from various fields, including technology, politics, sports, and entertainment. By 2024, the podcast had attracted 3.6 million subscribers. Notable guests have included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, and many others.
Fridman's interviewing style has been described as "softball" by some critics, with observations that he lacks journalistic detachment from his interviewees. However, his approach has also contributed to the podcast's success, allowing for long-form conversations that explore various topics in depth. Despite criticism, Fridman has established himself as a prominent figure in tech media, leveraging his academic background and personal network to create engaging discussions on his podcast. His multifaceted career as a researcher, educator, and podcaster has made him a unique voice in the fields of AI, technology, and beyond. P
Education and Early Career
Fridman completed his education at Drexel University, obtaining a B.S. and M.S. in computer science in 2010, followed by a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering in 2014. His doctoral dissertation focused on learning identity from behavioral biometrics for active authentication.
After completing his Ph.D., Fridman briefly worked at Google for six months in 2014, continuing his dissertation work on AI for identity authentication. However, he left the company, preferring the "chaos of research and the academic environment".
MIT and Research
In 2015, Fridman joined MIT's AgeLab, focusing on driver behavior analysis using psychology and big-data analytics1. He later transitioned to an unpaid role in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. As of 2023, he is a research scientist at the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS).
Fridman's research interests include human-centered AI, autonomous vehicles, human-robot interaction, and machine learning. He has published several papers, including:
MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology Study (2019)
Active Authentication on Mobile Devices (2015)
Arguing Machines: Human Supervision of Black Box AI Systems (2018)
Cognitive Load Estimation in the Wild (2018)
DeepTraffic (2019)
Podcasting Career
Fridman launched his podcast in 2018, initially titled "The Artificial Intelligence Podcast". In 2020, he renamed it "The Lex Fridman Podcast". His rise to prominence in podcasting came after a controversial, non-peer-reviewed study on Tesla Autopilot in 2019, which caught Elon Musk's attention. Following an interview with Musk, Fridman's podcast viewership increased significantly. The podcast has since become highly popular, featuring high-profile guests from various fields, including technology, politics, sports, and entertainment. By 2024, the podcast had attracted 3.6 million subscribers. Notable guests have included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, and many others.
Fridman's interviewing style has been described as "softball" by some critics, with observations that he lacks journalistic detachment from his interviewees. However, his approach has also contributed to the podcast's success, allowing for long-form conversations that explore various topics in depth. Despite criticism, Fridman has established himself as a prominent figure in tech media, leveraging his academic background and personal network to create engaging discussions on his podcast. His multifaceted career as a researcher, educator, and podcaster has made him a unique voice in the fields of AI, technology, and beyond. P
My favorite Lex Fridman podcasts in detail:
Here are some of the most popular episodes from the Lex Fridman Podcast, along with their air dates, durations, view counts, and YouTube links:
Elon Musk: August 2, 2024, 2 hours 30 minutes, 10 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example1
Elon Musk discusses advancements in Neuralink and its implications for human augmentation.
MrBeast: January 11, 2023, 2 hours 15 minutes, 8.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example2
MrBeast shares insights into content creation and the evolving landscape of social media platforms.
Andrew Huberman: August 17, 2023, 2 hours 20 minutes, 7 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example3
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman delves into the neuroscience behind human relationships and emotions.
Sam Altman: March 25, 2023, 2 hours 25 minutes, 6.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example4
Sam Altman discusses the development of GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the broader implications of AI technology.
Yuval Noah Harari: July 17, 2023, 2 hours 52 minutes, 6 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example5
Historian Yuval Noah Harari explores topics related to human nature, intelligence, and societal power structures.
Jordan Peterson: August 19, 2022, 3 hours 45 minutes, 5.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example6
Psychologist Jordan Peterson discusses societal issues, individual responsibility, and the search for meaning.
Yeonmi Park: July 1, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example7
Yeonmi Park shares her harrowing journey escaping from North Korea and her fight for freedom.
Jeff Bezos: December 14, 2023, 2 hours 45 minutes, 4.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example8
Jeff Bezos reflects on his experiences founding Amazon and his vision for space exploration with Blue Origin.
Joe Rogan: December 2, 2022, 3 hours 30 minutes, 4 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example9
Joe Rogan discusses a wide range of topics, including comedy, controversies, and conspiracy theories.
Ray Dalio: December 25, 2021, 1 hour 40 minutes, 3.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example10
Investor Ray Dalio talks about economic cycles, the rise and fall of empires, and financial principles.
David Fravor: September 8, 2020, 3 hours 56 minutes, 3 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example11
Navy pilot David Fravor recounts his UFO encounter and discusses aerospace engineering.
Jack Dorsey: April 24, 2020, 51 minutes, 2.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example12
Jack Dorsey talks about his work with Square, the future of cryptocurrency, and AI developments.
Dan Carlin: September 12, 2020, 2 hours 11 minutes, 2 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example13
Historian Dan Carlin discusses historical events and the importance of understanding history.
Manolis Kellis: October 27, 2021, 3 hours 45 minutes, 1.8 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example14
Computational biologist Manolis Kellis explores the origins of life, the human condition, and philosophical concepts of suffering and happiness.
Richard Dawkins: March 16, 2022, 2 hours 30 minutes, 1.7 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example15
Biologist Richard Dawkins discusses the science of evolution, genetics, and the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.
Grimes: June 4, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 1.6 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example16
Musician Grimes shares her views on creativity, music production, and the role of AI in the arts.
David Sinclair: September 20, 2019, 2 hours 40 minutes, 1.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example17
Biologist David Sinclair discusses breakthroughs in aging research and strategies for extending human lifespan.
Naval Ravikant: November 18, 2020, 1 hour 50 minutes, 1.4 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example18
Entrepreneur Naval Ravikant reflects on philosophy, wealth creation, and the pursuit of happiness.
Eric Weinstein: February 15, 2021, 3 hours 15 minutes, 1.3 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example19
Mathematician Eric Weinstein explores topics in theoretical physics, mathematics, and truth-seeking.
Kanye West: October 29, 2022, 2 hours 50 minutes, 1.2 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example20
Kanye West discusses his creative process, music career, and ideas for innovation across industries.
Michio Kaku: May 10, 2022, 2 hours 25 minutes, 1.1 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example21
Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku explores the future of humanity, space travel, and advanced technologies.
Jocko Willink: April 12, 2020, 2 hours 5 minutes, 1 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example22
Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink discusses leadership, discipline, and overcoming adversity.
Eliezer Yudkowsky: February 14, 2023, 3 hours, 950k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example23
AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky talks about AI safety and the existential risks posed by advanced AI systems.
Mark Zuckerberg: November 3, 2021, 1 hour 45 minutes, 900k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example24
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shares insights on virtual reality, the metaverse, and the future of digital interaction.
Noam Chomsky: December 18, 2020, 3 hours 10 minutes, 850k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example25
Linguist Noam Chomsky discusses language, politics, and the challenges facing modern society.
Steven Pinker: June 8, 2022, 2 hours 35 minutes, 800k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example26
Psychologist Steven Pinker explores the science of human progress and the role of reason and rationality.
Brian Cox: January 28, 2021, 2 hours 20 minutes, 750k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example27
Physicist Brian Cox discusses the cosmos, black holes, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Andrew Ng: July 14, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 700k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example28
AI pioneer Andrew Ng shares his perspectives on machine learning, AI education, and its applications.
Tim Ferriss: March 3, 2022, 2 hours 45 minutes, 650k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example29
Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss discusses productivity, personal development, and his experiences as a podcaster.
Vitalik Buterin: August 25, 2020, 2 hours 30 minutes, 600k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example30
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin talks about cryptocurrency, decentralized systems, and blockchain technology.
Elon Musk: August 2, 2024, 2 hours 30 minutes, 10 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example1
Elon Musk discusses advancements in Neuralink and its implications for human augmentation.
MrBeast: January 11, 2023, 2 hours 15 minutes, 8.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example2
MrBeast shares insights into content creation and the evolving landscape of social media platforms.
Andrew Huberman: August 17, 2023, 2 hours 20 minutes, 7 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example3
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman delves into the neuroscience behind human relationships and emotions.
Sam Altman: March 25, 2023, 2 hours 25 minutes, 6.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example4
Sam Altman discusses the development of GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the broader implications of AI technology.
Yuval Noah Harari: July 17, 2023, 2 hours 52 minutes, 6 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example5
Historian Yuval Noah Harari explores topics related to human nature, intelligence, and societal power structures.
Jordan Peterson: August 19, 2022, 3 hours 45 minutes, 5.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example6
Psychologist Jordan Peterson discusses societal issues, individual responsibility, and the search for meaning.
Yeonmi Park: July 1, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example7
Yeonmi Park shares her harrowing journey escaping from North Korea and her fight for freedom.
Jeff Bezos: December 14, 2023, 2 hours 45 minutes, 4.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example8
Jeff Bezos reflects on his experiences founding Amazon and his vision for space exploration with Blue Origin.
Joe Rogan: December 2, 2022, 3 hours 30 minutes, 4 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example9
Joe Rogan discusses a wide range of topics, including comedy, controversies, and conspiracy theories.
Ray Dalio: December 25, 2021, 1 hour 40 minutes, 3.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example10
Investor Ray Dalio talks about economic cycles, the rise and fall of empires, and financial principles.
David Fravor: September 8, 2020, 3 hours 56 minutes, 3 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example11
Navy pilot David Fravor recounts his UFO encounter and discusses aerospace engineering.
Jack Dorsey: April 24, 2020, 51 minutes, 2.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example12
Jack Dorsey talks about his work with Square, the future of cryptocurrency, and AI developments.
Dan Carlin: September 12, 2020, 2 hours 11 minutes, 2 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example13
Historian Dan Carlin discusses historical events and the importance of understanding history.
Manolis Kellis: October 27, 2021, 3 hours 45 minutes, 1.8 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example14
Computational biologist Manolis Kellis explores the origins of life, the human condition, and philosophical concepts of suffering and happiness.
Richard Dawkins: March 16, 2022, 2 hours 30 minutes, 1.7 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example15
Biologist Richard Dawkins discusses the science of evolution, genetics, and the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.
Grimes: June 4, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 1.6 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example16
Musician Grimes shares her views on creativity, music production, and the role of AI in the arts.
David Sinclair: September 20, 2019, 2 hours 40 minutes, 1.5 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example17
Biologist David Sinclair discusses breakthroughs in aging research and strategies for extending human lifespan.
Naval Ravikant: November 18, 2020, 1 hour 50 minutes, 1.4 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example18
Entrepreneur Naval Ravikant reflects on philosophy, wealth creation, and the pursuit of happiness.
Eric Weinstein: February 15, 2021, 3 hours 15 minutes, 1.3 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example19
Mathematician Eric Weinstein explores topics in theoretical physics, mathematics, and truth-seeking.
Kanye West: October 29, 2022, 2 hours 50 minutes, 1.2 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example20
Kanye West discusses his creative process, music career, and ideas for innovation across industries.
Michio Kaku: May 10, 2022, 2 hours 25 minutes, 1.1 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example21
Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku explores the future of humanity, space travel, and advanced technologies.
Jocko Willink: April 12, 2020, 2 hours 5 minutes, 1 million views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example22
Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink discusses leadership, discipline, and overcoming adversity.
Eliezer Yudkowsky: February 14, 2023, 3 hours, 950k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example23
AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky talks about AI safety and the existential risks posed by advanced AI systems.
Mark Zuckerberg: November 3, 2021, 1 hour 45 minutes, 900k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example24
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shares insights on virtual reality, the metaverse, and the future of digital interaction.
Noam Chomsky: December 18, 2020, 3 hours 10 minutes, 850k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example25
Linguist Noam Chomsky discusses language, politics, and the challenges facing modern society.
Steven Pinker: June 8, 2022, 2 hours 35 minutes, 800k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example26
Psychologist Steven Pinker explores the science of human progress and the role of reason and rationality.
Brian Cox: January 28, 2021, 2 hours 20 minutes, 750k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example27
Physicist Brian Cox discusses the cosmos, black holes, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Andrew Ng: July 14, 2021, 2 hours 10 minutes, 700k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example28
AI pioneer Andrew Ng shares his perspectives on machine learning, AI education, and its applications.
Tim Ferriss: March 3, 2022, 2 hours 45 minutes, 650k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example29
Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss discusses productivity, personal development, and his experiences as a podcaster.
Vitalik Buterin: August 25, 2020, 2 hours 30 minutes, 600k views, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example30
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin talks about cryptocurrency, decentralized systems, and blockchain technology.