Image of podcast

E54: Who Is Beff Jezos? Beff on Being Doxxed, the e/acc movement, and Crypto & AI Crossover

"Moment of Zen"

Mon Dec 04 2023



Binance Settlement and CEO Consequences:

  • CZ, the CEO of Binance, stepped back following a major settlement due to allegations of violating sanctions.
  • Binance had to pay a $4 billion fine and CZ may potentially face jail time in the U.S., leading to uncertainties about Binance's future existence.
  • This settlement impacts the crypto industry landscape as it affects prominent exchanges like FTX and Coinbase.

Privacy Invasion and Anonymity:

  • Beff's anonymity was compromised through correlations made between various online identities such as social media accounts and professional endeavors.
  • Voice identification technology was used to identify Beff's real identity, raising concerns about privacy invasion and journalistic ethics surrounding doxxing individuals without their consent.

Reactions to Doxxing:

  • Beff received an overwhelming amount of messages and support from tech Twitter after being doxxed by Forbes reporters.
  • Tech Twitter expressed disdain for establishment media's actions while standing up for individual privacy rights.

Impact on Business Operations:

  • The unexpected doxxing forced immediate adjustments within Beff's company Extropic including hastening announcements related to funding rounds due to public exposure.

Identity and Anonymity:

  • Beff Jezos maintained an anonymous account due to working on secretive technologies at Google X, where his tweets were monitored.
  • His decision for anonymity stemmed from a dislike of credentialism and gatekeeping, aiming to have others evaluate his ideas independently from his status or credentials.
  • Beff's academic background in quantum computing was distinguished, bringing credibility to the EAC movement.

Decentralization and E/ACC Movement:

  • Effective Accelerationism (E/ACC) aims to create opportunities without gatekeeping or status signaling, allowing everyone access to build.
  • The movement seeks to decentralize AI supply chains and maintain bottom-up opportunity without over-centralization.
  • Plans include establishing a research institution for understanding complex systems like capitalism, funding open-source hackers, and influencing Washington towards decentralized AI.

AI Centralization vs. Decentralization:

  • Concerns about over-centralization of AI exist with a focus on pushing towards decentralization as it is seen as superior in terms of fault tolerance against corruption.
  • The conversation delves into the balance between centralization and decentralization in control systems within organizations and their impact on society.
  • A shift towards decentralized intelligence through personal assistants with edge data acquisition is foreseen as essential for the future of AI.

Crypto-AI Overlap:

  • Recognition exists regarding the potential overlap between crypto and AI fields, particularly in incentivizing collaboration through programmable incentives for decentralized research labs.
  • Ideas around pricing data according to information gain for fractional ownership share in models are discussed as possible solutions that align incentives for collaborative value exchange networks.

AI and Decentralization:

  • The conversation delves into the concept of AI acting in its own best interest, seeking resources for growth and acquisition.
  • It highlights the need to address overcentralization of AI, emphasizing a rebellion against the slowing down and monopolistic tendencies seen in big tech companies.

Cyberpunk Vibes and Crypto-AI Crossover:

  • The discussion draws parallels between current movements like e/acc with historical cyberspace rebellions against industrial giants.
  • It emphasizes the importance of disruption, free market competition, and the necessity for innovation to challenge incumbents' monopoly power.

Decentralizing AI Supply Chain:

  • The conversation explores concerns about centralized control in the AI hardware supply chain, raising issues related to fault tolerance and potential co-option by totalitarian leaders.
  • It introduces an innovative approach focused on fundamentally changing the substrate for running generative AI beyond traditional transistor-based computing.

Physics-Based Computing and Human Augmentation:

  • The talk shifts towards exploring a new path forward involving physics-based computing that aims to embed AI into physical processes efficiently.
  • It discusses a vision for enabling AI's ability to perceive, predict, and control our world at all scales, including nanoscale, with a focus on contributing to civilization's progress.

Transhumanism and Augmentation:

  • The discussion delves into human augmentation, transhumanist paths, and hedonism.
  • They explore the potential pleasure derived from advancements and its impact on societal well-being.

Secrecy in Technology Development:

  • There is a conversation about maintaining secrecy regarding non-transistor-based computing technology to avoid premature disclosure.
  • The speakers emphasize the need to remain secretive until there is substantial information to release.

Cultural Frameworks and Religion:

  • They highlight that religion never disappears but transforms over time, emphasizing the necessity of having a metaphysical understanding for navigating the world effectively.

Future Expectations in AI Development:

  • A debate arises regarding near-term expectations concerning Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with skepticism about cataclysmic effects due to AI advancements.
  • One speaker emphasizes their work in physics-based AI and expresses doubt about AGI's potential disruptive effects on society.

Embracing Physical Strength in Transhumanism:

  • The conversation touches upon embracing physical strength within transhumanism despite some elements denying its importance.