About this episode
Marc Andreessen, cofounder Andreessen Horowitz, joins the Hermitix podcast for a conversation on AI, accelerationism, energy, and the future. From the thermodynamic roots of effective accelerationism (E/acc) to the cultural cycles of optimism and fear around new technologies, Marc shares why AI is best understood as code, how nuclear debates mirror today’s AI concerns, and what these shifts mean for society and progress. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 0:51 Podcast Overview & Guest Introduction 1:45 Marc Andreessen’s Background 3:30 Technology’s Role in Society 4:44 The Hermitix Question: Influential Thinkers 8:19 AI: Past, Present, and Future 10:57 Superconductors and Technological Breakthroughs 15:53 Optimism, Pessimism, and Stagnation in Technology 22:54 Fear of Technology and Social Order 29:49 Nuclear Power: Promise and Controversy 34:53 AI Regulation and Societal Impact 41:16 Effective Accelerationism Explained 47:19 Thermodynamics, Life, and Human Progress 53:07 Learned Helplessness and the Role of Elites 1:01:08 The Future: 10–50 Years and Beyond Resources: Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/ Become part of the Hermitix community: On X: https://x.com/Hermitixpodcast Support: http://patreon.com/hermitix Find James on X: https://x.com/meta_nomad Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated: Find a16z on X Find a16z on LinkedIn Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.