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.

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