Quantum, Superintelligence, and Reality's Ultimate Nature | Scott Aaronson on 2050

Scott Aaronson thinks that the time to prepare for a post-quantum world isn’t years away - it was yesterday. In the second episode of Forecast 2050 with Nebular General Partner Finn Murphy and Entrepreneur in Residence Tom McCarthy, we explore whether classical AI might eclipse quantum computing, how post-quantum cryptography will upend global security, and why the rise of superintelligence both excites and deeply unsettles Scott.

We also debate whether a quantum teleporter would actually be a suicide machine, how advanced AI might help us uncover the fundamental nature of reality, and the disturbing possibility that future superintelligences may compete with one another for dominance, treating humans as collateral.

Extended Show Notes: https://finnmurphyirl.substack.com/p/breaking-the-internet-scott-aaronsons

Transcript (with links): https://finnmurphyirl.substack.com/p/forecast-2050-episode-ii-transcript

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:04 How AI & Quantum Computing Interact Today

10:36 Why Scott Thinks Classical Computing Might Outdate Quantum

18:24 The Post-Quantum World of 2050

27:43 Quantum Computing & Biology

35:46 The Quantum Teleporter as a Suicide Machine

38:52 Superintelligence & The Ultimate Nature of Reality

45:00 The Battle Between Superintelligences

Scott Aaronson, the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, is widely recognized as a top researcher in the fields of quantum computing and computational complexity.

Thank you to Matt Johnson of Q2B Sillicon Valley and QC Ware for helping us film at the conference!

https://q2b.qcware.com/

Scott’s blog, Shtetl-Optimized: https://scottaaronson.blog/

Forecast 2050 is a series about the next 25 years—and the builders, thinkers, and leaders shaping what comes next.

Finn on X: https://x.com/FinnMurphy12

Finn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-murphy-16160465/

Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mccarthy-41144779/

Nebular is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City.

Head to nebular.vc for more info.