A Mind-Bending Conversation with Peter Thiel

The billionaire Peter Thiel is unimpressed with our pace of innovation. In this episode, he critiques artificial intelligence, longevity science and space travel — and warns that our lack of progress could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including the emergence of the Antichrist.01:19 - What does stagnation mean in 2025?06:30 - Peter Thiel's case for more progress and innovation11:30 - Does taking more scientific risk include life extension?15:14 - Peter Thiel's political history18:34 - Did Trump live up to Thiel's expectations?25:10 - Does Elon Musk still want to go to Mars?28:09 - How Thiel defines A.I.33:20 - Is A.I. Too Modest An Ambition?35:23 - How will the human race evolve? Should it?41:53 - Thiel's critique of Silicon Valley43:40 - Who is the real Antichrist? (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.