AGI, Sci-Fi, & Storytelling | Neal Stephenson, Ken Liu, Cyan Banister, & Joscha Bach

What unfolds when those who imagine the future sit across from those building it? In this special SPC panel, worlds converge. Sci-fi legends Neal Stephenson and Ken Liu join visionary investor Cyan Banister and researcher Joscha Bach to explore how narratives shape reality, how fiction becomes a roadmap, and how builders and dreamers influence each other across time. Apply to SPC: https://www.southparkcommons.com/apply Connect with us here: 1. Neal Stephenson- https://x.com/nealstephenson 2. Ken Liu- https://x.com/kyliu99 3. Cyan Banister- https://x.com/cyantist 4. Joscha Bach- https://x.com/Plinz 5. Cristian Cibils Bernardes- https://x.com/life_of_ccb 6. Jonathan Brebner- https://x.com/JPBrebner 7. South Park Commons- https://x.com/southpkcommons 00:00 Trailer 01:03 Introduction 04:25 AI and nuclear tech parallel 10:26 Progress. Disappointing? Significant? 13:31 The present and the future 17:04 Wrong specifics, right methodology 25:13 Satire and reality 33:14 World building 40:19 Parallels and perpendiculars 44:19 Artificial general intelligence 54:02 Searching for something not forward-looking 57:20 Understanding consciousness 1:04:08 Lightning round 1:14:13 Outro