How To Avoid Destroying Humanity - Rob Reid - #346

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
What's happening, people, welcome back to the show. My guest today is Rob Reid. He's an entrepreneur, podcaster and an author, and we are talking about how to avoid our own destruction. The last 15 months have been a terrifying taster of just what a global crisis is like, except it wasn't lethal enough to be a threat to our long-term survival. But just because this one wasn't, doesn't mean that there won't be more deadly existential risks lurking out there waiting to end us. Today expect to learn how synthetic biology might be the biggest risk to our survival, what we should have learned from 2020, whether artificial general intelligence is an immediate threat, Rob's opinion on my solution for saving civilization, whether we should totally stop all technological development and much more. On top of being terrifying across the board, this is now the new record holder for the longest ever podcast episode that I've recorded on Modern Wisdom, and rightly so. This is a very important topic. If we manage to survive the next few centuries, it's likely that our genetic progeny will get to colonize the galaxy and they'll enjoy experiences and levels of happiness and fulfillment that we can only dream of. If we don't, then we were just a brief illumination in one dark corner of the universe where consciousness lit up and then died off like a poorly lit firework. In case that wasn't enough bad news, I'm still in Ibiza, so no Saturday episode this week. Hmm, I know, very sad, but next week I will be back. Monday, Thursday and Saturday will resume. Make sure that you've hit the subscribe button. It's the only way you can ensure you will never miss an episode when it's uploaded and it'll make me very happy. In other news, this episode is brought to you by the Hybrid Pillow, the first pillow to combine traditional comfort with revolutionary memory foam support technologies. The pillow has a big outer layer of 22 mil of Vasco foam, and then in the middle it's a 50-50 blend of duck feathers and down core. It's the best option if you're seeking a supportive pillow with the comfort of a traditional feather pillow. Having a hybrid mix provides the orthopedic support of memory foam, which relieves pressure buildup around the neck and it keeps your head and your spine aligned, and the feather and down core softens the pillow and makes sure that you stay cool and comfortable throughout the night. If you've tried other memory foam pillows but found them too firm and uncomfortable, this is for you. It'll help to reduce muscle soreness in the morning, keep your spine properly aligned throughout the night, and reduce how much you wake up from head movement. On top of that, you get a guaranteed better night's sleep or your money back, and you can get 20% off everything site-wide. Simply head to thehybridpillow.com and use the code MW20 for 20% off. That's thehybridpillow.com and MW20 for 20% off, plus a guaranteed better night's sleep or your money back. And this is the pillow that VideoGuideen uses. So if you want to rest your head on the same lovely sleeping device that that beautiful mullet of his does, then head to thehybridpillow.com. In other, other news, this episode is brought to you by DW Aligners. Get the perfect straight smile that you have always dreamed of, 70% cheaper than other invisible align methods. You take a scan, you get sent out a bunch of different impressions that you have to slot in. You change them incrementally over time. And before you know it, you have the beautiful smile that you've always wanted within three to six months. It's an easier, quicker and cheaper way to get the smile that you've always dreamed of while still receiving all the support and expertise that you would traditionally, plus they also offer great finance plans. You track your progress with a self scan unit, which uses artificial intelligence and a team of registered dentists to ensure that you're moving forward correctly. They're half a billion scans deep and counting on this system. Plus, you get appointed a treatment coordinator who helps you every step of the way. Head to dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom, that's dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom, and you can get the smile you've always wanted, 70% cheaper than other invisible align methods. But now, it's time to avoid our own apocalypse with Rob Reid.
Rob Reid, welcome to the show.

**Robert Reid** (4:42)
Thank you kindly, it's great to be here.

**Chris Williamson** (4:44)
It really is. So I read something on Reddit the other day that I want to dictate to you here. The decision to use CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons, instead of BFCs, bromofluorocarbons, was pretty much arbitrary. Had we decided to use BFCs, the ozone layer probably would have been totally destroyed before we even knew what was happening, killing all life. BFCs destroy the ozone at over 100 times the rate of CFCs.