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Curing All Human Diseases & the Future of Health & Technology | Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan

Episode 147 Oct 23, 2023 2h 11m 24 insights
In this episode, my guests are Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook, Inc.), and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, M.D., co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). We discuss how CZI plans to cure all human diseases by the end of this century by funding transformative projects and technologies at the intersection of biology, engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI). They describe their funding and development of Biohubs and the progress already underway to accelerate the understanding of cell function, pathways, and disease. Then, Mark discusses social media, its impact on mental health, and new tools for online experiences. We also discuss Meta’s virtual reality (VR), augmented and mixed reality tech, and how AI will soon completely transform our online and physical life experiences. This episode ought to interest anyone curious about biology, medicine, mental health, AI, and the future of technology and humanity. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
Actionable Insights

1. Cultivate Optimism for Productivity

To be productive and achieve goals, cultivate an optimistic mindset, as believing something can be done is a prerequisite for working towards it, even when challenges exist. This approach is more productive than focusing solely on reasons why something might not work.

2. Adopt Nuanced View of AI

Recognize that AI is a neutral tool, neither inherently good nor bad, and focus on leveraging its potential for life-enhancing applications. This perspective allows for improving social engagement, learning, and mental and physical health through technology.

3. Use Social Media for Connections

Prioritize using social media to form meaningful connections, understand others’ lives, build empathy, and express yourself. These aspects are generally positive and correlate with happiness and a longer, healthier life by fostering community.

4. Limit Passive Social Media Consumption

Be mindful of passive consumption on social media, as while it can be entertaining, it does not offer the same long-term well-being and health benefits as actively connecting with other people. Focus on active engagement over passive scrolling.

5. Manage Negative News Consumption

Be aware that consuming relentlessly negative news can leave you feeling worse about the world. It is important to manage or balance this type of content to maintain a positive mental state, while still having some awareness of world events.

6. Hydrate with Electrolytes Daily

Drink one packet of Element (electrolytes: sodium, magnesium, potassium, no sugar) in 16-32 ounces of water first thing in the morning and during physical exercise. This ensures proper hydration and electrolyte balance, which is critical for optimal brain and body function and prevents diminished cognitive and physical performance.

7. Prevent Myopia by Working Outdoors

To prevent or potentially reverse myopia (nearsightedness), spend two hours or more outdoors daily, viewing objects at a distance greater than three or four feet. Consider using smart glasses to perform digital work outdoors, as this helps access the visual system in a way that benefits the whole brain.

8. Embrace VR for Physical Activity

Consider using mixed reality VR platforms for physical activity, as the engaging and immersive experience, like virtual boxing, can elevate heart rate and encourage movement. This can be a useful alternative to traditional screen-based fitness that many find aversive.

9. Use VR for Enhanced Exercise

Leverage VR experiences to improve physical activities like stretching (with real-time flexibility metrics) or resistance training (with form correction). This transforms traditional exercise by providing immediate, data-driven feedback and can measure kinesthetic elements on the body and joints.

10. Practice Social Interactions in VR

For individuals with social anxiety or those needing to improve self-advocacy, practice social interactions progressively in a virtual reality environment. This helps build comfort and attenuate nervous system responses before applying these skills in the physical world.

11. Practice Complex Skills with VR

Utilize VR for practicing complex skills, such as surgery, as studies show that hands-on manipulation of virtual models can lead to better learning outcomes. This method allows for manipulation and practice of procedures in a safe, simulated environment.

12. Learn Music with Virtual Instruments

Use virtual reality or augmented reality to learn musical instruments like the piano, leveraging apps that highlight keys to play songs. This makes education and expression more accessible and affordable, especially for those without space or means for physical instruments.

13. Conduct Virtual Lab Experiments

Utilize mixed reality to run virtual experiments in a lab setting, allowing for the simulation of mixing solutions and observing potential outcomes. This can save significant financial resources and time before conducting costly and time-consuming physical experiments.

14. Leverage AI for Hypothesis Generation

Utilize large language models (LLMs) as powerful hypothesis and possible solution generators in scientific research. While these models can imagine different states and interactions, always remember to validate their outputs with empirical testing, as they are not foolproof.

15. Use Cell by Gene for Hypotheses

Scientists can use the Cell by Gene tool to input a gene mutation of interest and receive a heat map showing its expression across different cell types. This enables the generation of new hypotheses about disease mechanisms and potential drug side effects, by revealing unexpected connections between genes and organs.

16. Review Relevant Papers via CellbyGene

When using Cell by Gene, review the most relevant papers pulled up by the tool for your gene of interest. This feature helps deepen your understanding and informs further research by providing immediate access to existing knowledge.

17. Accelerate Science by Sharing Preprints

Scientists should participate in the preprint movement to accelerate the rate of sharing knowledge. This allows others to build upon scientific discoveries more quickly, fostering open science and collaboration.

18. Control Your AI Digital Twin

If creating an AI assistant or digital twin, ensure you maintain full control over its representation and behavior to guarantee it authentically reflects your desired persona and values. This is crucial because perfect predictability from current LLMs is not guaranteed, and impersonation should be avoided.

19. Use AI Personas for Tasks

Engage with AI personas designed for specific tasks (e.g., a chef for cooking ideas, a fitness coach for workout plans, a travel expert for itineraries) to leverage their specialized knowledge and assistance. These characters are not modeled after existing people, allowing for flexible interaction.

20. Engage in AI-Powered Storytelling

Use AI personas, like a ‘dungeon master,’ to engage in interactive, text-based storytelling games. This can be a fun and creative activity for individuals or with children, providing endless narrative iterations.

21. Utilize Social Media Time Tools

Use the time management and content nudging tools provided by social media platforms to understand your usage patterns and break out of repetitive content loops. These tools can remind you of your time spent and suggest alternative content.

22. Explore Social Media Platform Features

Actively seek out information, such as Adam Mosseri’s Friday Q&A, to learn about the various tools and features available on social media platforms. This allows you to better control and customize your experience, moving beyond basic functions.

23. Use “Restrict” for Comment Moderation

Utilize the ‘restrict’ function on social media to filter specific comments from aggressive users, maintaining a positive and respectful environment. This allows for nuanced control over interactions without fully blocking individuals.

24. Use Smart Glasses for Seamless Audio

Utilize smart glasses for audio (music, podcasts, calls) that integrates seamlessly with your physical environment, allowing you to hear clearly without isolating yourself or mentally leaving the room. This provides a discreet and integrated audio experience unlike traditional headphones.