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Manifold

Steve Hsu
China
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Chinese Economy
AI
Us-China Relations
Generative AI
Deepmind
U.s.-China Competition
Technology
Artificial General Intelligence
Semiconductors
High-Speed Rail
Us-China Technology Competition
Industrial Policy
Electric Vehicles
Geopolitics
Genomics
GDP Comparisons
Cultural Nuances In Economics

Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Join him for wide-ranging conversations with leading writers, scientists, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and more.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes170Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesLife SciencesScience

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Artwork for Manifold

Latest Episodes

Dr. Thomas Fink is an Anglo-American physicist, author, and entrepreneur who serves as the founding Director of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS).

He studied physics at Caltech, where he won the Fisher Prize, and earned his PhD a... more

Bohan Lou is a partner at Chemistry Ventures, based in SF.

x.com/loubohan

Bohan's report on the venture ecosystem in China:

x.com/loubohan/status/2082143914924851449

Chapter Markers:

• (01:42) - Venture Capital in China; Bohan’s S... more

YouTube

This is a crossover episode with Alf Beckinsale, an Oxford University student who hosts the Seeking Truth From Facts podcast. The main topics are the US-Iran conflict, geopolitics, and US-China AI competition.

Chapter Markers:

• (00:00) - Introduct... more

YouTube

Steve discusses the state of AI in summer 2026. Topics covered include: AI in math and theoretical physics, Recursive Self-Improvement, Agent swarms and tokenomics, IPOs and US-China competition, documentary film Machine God.

Machine God trailer: ht... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bohan Lou
Venture investor, Chemistry
Chemistry
Episode: Venture Capital and Technology in China with Bohan Lou – #118
Beff Jezos
Public-facing persona of Guillaume Verdon, accelerationist/philosopher advocating physics-first approach to AI
Xtropic; discussions around Mechanize and frontier AI labs
Episode: Beff Jezos and Effective Accelerationism: Machine God of Loving Grace – #115
Razib Khan
Guest, geneticist and writer commonly affiliated with Manifold discussions on population genetics and genetics
Manifold/Mixed affiliations mentioned in episode
Episode: Razib Khan at Manifest 2026: Genetic Discoveries, AI, and Academia – #114
Han Feizi
Resident of Beijing, former baker and novelist
Beijing-based guest on podcast
Episode: Letter from Beijing 2: Tsinghua University – #113
Steve Hsu
Professor at Michigan State University in theoretical physics and computational mathematics
Michigan State University
Episode: Iran War is the First Missile War (crossover with Seeking Truth From Facts podcast) – #110
Richard Ngo
Philosopher and AI researcher
University of Cambridge; formerly DeepMind, OpenAI
Episode: Dreamers and Doomers: Our AI future, with Richard Ngo – #109
Matt Southey
Expert on Nick Land and accelerationism
Independent scholar/academic
Episode: China, Acceleration, and Nick Land - with Matt Southey – #108
Taylor Ogan
Founder and CEO of Snowbull Capital
Snowbull Capital
Episode: Shenzhen is the Technology Capital of the World, with Taylor Ogan – #107
Jesse Hoogland
Founder of Timaeus, AI safety researcher
Timaeus
Episode: AI DOOM: Jesse Hoogland of Timaeus

Host

Steve Hsu
Professor of Theoretical Physics and Computational Mathematics; co-host guiding conversations across AI, geopolitics, science, and technology

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 298 ratings
  • Just a crazy conspiracy pod

    Listened to a handful of episodes but it’s “who killed Kennedy” for half of them with people who make their living from conspiracy theories.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HRoarke
    United States10 months ago
  • Interesting Blinkered Ignorance

    If you want to know how privileged tech bros see the world the future and want to solve problems / make money it’s all here…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    yegdckdheu
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A true scientist who is struggling in politics

    Wish the whole world can put ideaology on side, and we can all speak the language of science .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Confused confusion
    United States2 years ago
  • All signal no noise

    Steve always has well-reasoned opinions and makes you think.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LP 0
    United States2 years ago
  • TY

    Thanks for producing this great content.

    You don’t get much of this substantive material, especially about China topics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rwee888
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few reviews mention polarized opinions and strong host presence as part of the show's character.
Guest diversity and coverage of AI, biology, and geopolitics are highlighted as strengths.
Listeners praise rigorous, well-reasoned discussions and diverse guest selection.
Listeners often remark on the show's ability to connect science with policy and real-world implications.
Some reviews note interruptions or host dynamism as a point of critique but generally respect the depth of analysis.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Venture Capital and Technology in China with Bohan Lou – #118
Q: What is the current legal situation for US funds to invest in startups in China?
We discuss a complex regulatory landscape: CFDS-style foreign investment controls, LP mandates, and Chinese policy shifts that make direct investment into Chinese startups more restricted and nuanced for US funds.
Venture Capital and Technology in China with Bohan Lou – #118
Q: Let's talk about your trip to China. When was that?
Bohan describes a 10-day business-centric tour across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, meeting investors and robotics/biotech players to gain a first-hand, authentic view of the venture scene.
Razib Khan at Manifest 2026: Genetic Discoveries, AI, and Academia – #114
Q: Can you say something about the current trajectory of AI and its implications?
They discuss variable forecasts for AI progress, the gap between current capabilities and true embodied intelligence, and the need for architectural breakthroughs to achieve real world-model understanding beyond what LLMs can do today.
Razib Khan at Manifest 2026: Genetic Discoveries, AI, and Academia – #114
Q: What are your biggest critiques of academia and what reforms would you like to see?
The speakers critique conformity, tenure culture, and bureaucracy, arguing for dismantling tenure, reducing gatekeeping, and enabling more freedom for high-risk, high-reward research, while acknowledging the value of deep, long-term inquiry in certain fields.
AI Billionaire on Existential Risk: Jaan Tallinn – #112
Q: What role should international coordination play in managing AI risk?
International realization of risk is crucial; without broad recognition, treaties and pauses are harder to implement. Coordination with major players like the US and China, as well as engagement with other nations, could help establish norms and safeguards.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Manifold

What is Manifold about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that blend science, technology, geopolitics, and philosophy with high-profile guests from academia, industry, and research. Episodes frequently explore AI strategy, global power dynamics, genetics, and the socio-technical implications of rapid technological change, often weaving in personal experiences from top universities and cutting-edge labs. A standout pattern is deep-dive, long-form dialogue that challenges conventional narratives and surfaces nuanced, at-times provocative, perspectives across disciplines. This mix of rigorous analysis and interdisciplinary curiosity makes it a compelling listen for listeners who want to understand how science and technology intersect with policy, economics, and ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Manifold?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Manifold:

1. Dwarkesh Podcast
2. Multipolarity
3. Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
4. Conversations with Tyler
5. Sinica Podcast

How many episodes of Manifold are there?

Manifold launched 8 years ago and published 170 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Manifold?

Recent guests on Manifold include:

1. Bohan Lou
2. Beff Jezos
3. Razib Khan
4. Han Feizi
5. Steve Hsu
6. Richard Ngo
7. Matt Southey
8. Taylor Ogan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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