Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
*Transcript:*
lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript
*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* - join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* - other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
*EPISODE LINKS:*
Michael Levin's X: https://x.com/drmichaellevin
Michael Levin's Website: drmichaellevin.org
Michael Levin's Papers: drmichaellevin.org/publications
- Biological Robots: arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880
- Classical Sorting Algorithms: arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375
- Aging as a Morphostasis Defect: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560
- TAME: arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346
- Synthetic Living Machines: science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571
*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep486-sb
*CodeRabbit:* AI-powered code reviews.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep486-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep486-sb
*UPLIFT Desk:* Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep486-sb
*Miro:* Online collaborative whiteboard platform.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep486-sb
*MasterClass:* Online classes from world-class experts.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/masterclass-ep486-sb
*OUTLINE:*
0:00 - Introduction
0:44 - Biological intelligence
9:17 - Living vs non-living organisms
14:30 - Origin of life
18:15 - The search for alien life (on Earth)
51:19 - Creating life in the lab - Xenobots and Anthrobots
1:04:21 - Memories and ideas are living organisms
1:18:02 - Reality is an illusion: The brain is an interface to a hidden reality
2:03:48 - Unexpected intelligence of sorting algorithms
2:29:26 - Can aging be reversed?
2:33:17 - Mind uploading
2:51:57 - Alien intelligence
3:06:52 - Advice for young people
3:13:21 - Questions for AGI
*PODCAST LINKS:*
- Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast
- Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
- Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
- RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast
- Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
- Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
*SOCIAL LINKS:*
- X: https://x.com/lexfridman
- Instagram: instagram.com/lexfridman
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@lexfridman
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
- Facebook: facebook.com/lexfridman
- Patreon: patreon.com/lexfridman
- Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman
- Reddit: reddit.com/r/lexfridman
Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep486-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
*Transcript:*
lexfridman.com/michael-levin-2-transcript
*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* - join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* - other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
*EPISODE LINKS:*
Michael Levin's X: https://x.com/drmichaellevin
Michael Levin's Website: drmichaellevin.org
Michael Levin's Papers: drmichaellevin.org/publications
- Biological Robots: arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880
- Classical Sorting Algorithms: arxiv.org/abs/2401.05375
- Aging as a Morphostasis Defect: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38636560
- TAME: arxiv.org/abs/2201.10346
- Synthetic Living Machines: science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abf1571
*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep486-sb
*CodeRabbit:* AI-powered code reviews.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep486-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep486-sb
*UPLIFT Desk:* Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep486-sb
*Miro:* Online collaborative whiteboard platform.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep486-sb
*MasterClass:* Online classes from world-class experts.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/masterclass-ep486-sb
*OUTLINE:*
0:00 - Introduction
0:44 - Biological intelligence
9:17 - Living vs non-living organisms
14:30 - Origin of life
18:15 - The search for alien life (on Earth)
51:19 - Creating life in the lab - Xenobots and Anthrobots
1:04:21 - Memories and ideas are living organisms
1:18:02 - Reality is an illusion: The brain is an interface to a hidden reality
2:03:48 - Unexpected intelligence of sorting algorithms
2:29:26 - Can aging be reversed?
2:33:17 - Mind uploading
2:51:57 - Alien intelligence
3:06:52 - Advice for young people
3:13:21 - Questions for AGI
*PODCAST LINKS:*
- Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast
- Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
- Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
- RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast
- Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
- Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
*SOCIAL LINKS:*
- X: https://x.com/lexfridman
- Instagram: instagram.com/lexfridman
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@lexfridman
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
- Facebook: facebook.com/lexfridman
- Patreon: patreon.com/lexfridman
- Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman
- Reddit: reddit.com/r/lexfridman
