How We Really Get to Mars: Space Travel, Human Survival, and the Next 100 Years of Society | Andy Weir PT 2

In Part 2 of Tom’s wide-ranging conversation with Andy Weir, Andy explores how AI will transform material science, medicine, biotechnology, and possibly even human evolution itself. From AI-designed drugs and custom gene editing to the ethical dilemmas of “designer babies” and the future of cosmetic self-alteration, Andy contemplates what these advances could mean for human identity, equality, and society’s deepest values. The episode then hurtles into the far future, weighing the prospects of artificial superintelligence, AI alignment, and the ultimate “tool or agent” debate. Tom and Andy touch on open versus closed source AI, existential risk, and what humanity’s historical track record tells us about technology. SHOWNOTES 22:08 AI’s leap in material science, biotech, and AlphaFold’s revolution 28:49 Hardware bottlenecks and the coming “AI card” revolution 32:09 Efficiency breakthroughs, compression, and training paradigm shifts 36:10 How new materials could propel us to low Earth orbit 38:39 AI-designed proteins: The promise and danger within biology 39:47 The ethics of designer babies: Health, intelligence, and consent 46:38 The coming age of “cosmetic ethnicity” and identity fluidity 47:29 Body hacking: Social and economic consequences, from eating to politics 48:32 Why society will push—and resist—genetic modifications 49:34 The looming “intelligence arms race” between humans and AI 50:15 Why Andy doubts the need to compete with AI; the “bulldozer analogy” 57:15 Caution and optimism: Why Andy expects a post-scarcity AI future 58:10 Why “control” is likely to stay with humans—unless we hand it over 1:01:04 Open source debate, narrative control, and algorithmic bias 1:28:00 What excites Andy: Self-driving cars and societal revolution 1:33:57 Andy on writing, his approach to AI, and what’s next for his books 1:35:29 Where to follow Andy Weir FOLLOW ANDY WEIR: Twitter/X: @andyweirauthor Facebook: Andy Weir CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS ButcherBox: Ready to level up your meals? Go to ⁠ https://ButcherBox.com/impact ⁠ to get $20 off your first box and FREE bacon for life with the Bilyeu Box! Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠ https://www.vitalproteins.com ⁠ and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Netsuite: Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning at ⁠ https://NetSuite.com/THEORY ⁠ iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠ https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu ⁠   Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at ⁠ https://mintmobile.com/impact. ⁠   DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details . What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: ⁠ join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER ⁠ SCALING a business: ⁠ see if you qualify here. ⁠ Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: ⁠ sign up here. ⁠ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, ⁠ Tom Bilyeu’s Mindset Playbook ⁠ —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS : ⁠ apple.co/impacttheory ⁠ ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ ⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en ⁠ Twitter: ⁠ https://twitter.com/tombilyeu ⁠ YouTube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California