Blaise Agüera y Arcas
@blaiseaguera.bsky.social
CTO of Technology & Society at Google, working on fundamental AI research and exploring the nature and origins of intelligence.
Really enjoyed my conversation with Dan Faggella on evolution's arrow of time. From bacteria to eukaryotes, solitary humans to societies—each transition creates something richer and more complex, even as its earlier forms persist.
November 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Really enjoyed my conversation with Dan Faggella on evolution's arrow of time. From bacteria to eukaryotes, solitary humans to societies—each transition creates something richer and more complex, even as its earlier forms persist.
Thank you @johnthornhill.bsky.social and the @financialtimes.com for the lovely and thoughtful review of “What Is Intelligence?”— and for engaging so deeply with the book’s central questions on life, intelligence, and human identity.
Read the full review: bit.ly/4r0tYED
Read the full review: bit.ly/4r0tYED
November 15, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Thank you @johnthornhill.bsky.social and the @financialtimes.com for the lovely and thoughtful review of “What Is Intelligence?”— and for engaging so deeply with the book’s central questions on life, intelligence, and human identity.
Read the full review: bit.ly/4r0tYED
Read the full review: bit.ly/4r0tYED
Seattle friends: Join me on Nov 18 at Town Hall @townhallseattle.bsky.social, where I’ll dive into the research breakthroughs that led to “What Is Intelligence?” (out from @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera).
Would love to see you! I’ll stick around to sign books and chat.
Would love to see you! I’ll stick around to sign books and chat.
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Seattle friends: Join me on Nov 18 at Town Hall @townhallseattle.bsky.social, where I’ll dive into the research breakthroughs that led to “What Is Intelligence?” (out from @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera).
Would love to see you! I’ll stick around to sign books and chat.
Would love to see you! I’ll stick around to sign books and chat.
Friends in Chicago: I hope you'll join me at @seminarycoopbooks.bsky.social bookstore on Nov 11 to explore the nature of life and intelligence.
I'll share more about the story behind "What Is Intelligence?" (out via @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera), followed by a Q&A and book signing.
I'll share more about the story behind "What Is Intelligence?" (out via @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera), followed by a Q&A and book signing.
October 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Friends in Chicago: I hope you'll join me at @seminarycoopbooks.bsky.social bookstore on Nov 11 to explore the nature of life and intelligence.
I'll share more about the story behind "What Is Intelligence?" (out via @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera), followed by a Q&A and book signing.
I'll share more about the story behind "What Is Intelligence?" (out via @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera), followed by a Q&A and book signing.
Thank you Vishal Mathur for your thoughtful questions on AGI, creativity in the age of AI, and the results of testing LLMs for theory of mind.
You can read excerpts of my interview in Vishal’s “Neural Dispatch” Substack and @hindustan-times.bsky.social: bit.ly/431DgGl
You can read excerpts of my interview in Vishal’s “Neural Dispatch” Substack and @hindustan-times.bsky.social: bit.ly/431DgGl
October 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Thank you Vishal Mathur for your thoughtful questions on AGI, creativity in the age of AI, and the results of testing LLMs for theory of mind.
You can read excerpts of my interview in Vishal’s “Neural Dispatch” Substack and @hindustan-times.bsky.social: bit.ly/431DgGl
You can read excerpts of my interview in Vishal’s “Neural Dispatch” Substack and @hindustan-times.bsky.social: bit.ly/431DgGl
DNA sequences are computer code! It was a pleasure to explore John Von Neumann's theory on life as a form of computation and the lessons we can learn from modern AI systems with Tim Scarfe on Machine Learning Street Talk: bit.ly/4nreMO7
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
October 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
DNA sequences are computer code! It was a pleasure to explore John Von Neumann's theory on life as a form of computation and the lessons we can learn from modern AI systems with Tim Scarfe on Machine Learning Street Talk: bit.ly/4nreMO7
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
The most momentous shift in our understanding of the universe arguably predated Copernicus. The breakthrough wasn't moving the origin of the coordinate system from the Earth to the Sun, but the radical 6th century BCE idea that Earth floats in space like other celestial bodies.
October 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The most momentous shift in our understanding of the universe arguably predated Copernicus. The breakthrough wasn't moving the origin of the coordinate system from the Earth to the Sun, but the radical 6th century BCE idea that Earth floats in space like other celestial bodies.
In a thoughtfully written essay for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, neuroscientist Patrick House weaves together a narrative of lyrebirds, alpine parrots, shyness, curiosity, the uniquely human activity of pointing a finger, and the scientific method.
October 16, 2025 at 4:59 PM
In a thoughtfully written essay for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, neuroscientist Patrick House weaves together a narrative of lyrebirds, alpine parrots, shyness, curiosity, the uniquely human activity of pointing a finger, and the scientific method.
What do we truly mean when we talk about agency and free will? And could AI models have these qualities?
In my new book “What Is Intelligence?,” I offer a perspective on how building intelligent machines forces us to confront deep questions about consciousness and our own minds.
In my new book “What Is Intelligence?,” I offer a perspective on how building intelligent machines forces us to confront deep questions about consciousness and our own minds.
October 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
What do we truly mean when we talk about agency and free will? And could AI models have these qualities?
In my new book “What Is Intelligence?,” I offer a perspective on how building intelligent machines forces us to confront deep questions about consciousness and our own minds.
In my new book “What Is Intelligence?,” I offer a perspective on how building intelligent machines forces us to confront deep questions about consciousness and our own minds.
We can't fly to the moon or transplant organs alone. But when we work together, our intelligence achieves extraordinary breakthroughs.
Grateful to Berkman Klein Center for hosting my conversation with Alex Pascal on the social nature of intelligence – and for the nice photos.
Grateful to Berkman Klein Center for hosting my conversation with Alex Pascal on the social nature of intelligence – and for the nice photos.
October 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We can't fly to the moon or transplant organs alone. But when we work together, our intelligence achieves extraordinary breakthroughs.
Grateful to Berkman Klein Center for hosting my conversation with Alex Pascal on the social nature of intelligence – and for the nice photos.
Grateful to Berkman Klein Center for hosting my conversation with Alex Pascal on the social nature of intelligence – and for the nice photos.
It was a pleasure to join my friend @bbratton.bsky.social of Antikythera as a guest on @drbriankeating.bsky.social’s podcast, Into The Impossible, to explore the computational nature of intelligence and life.
October 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It was a pleasure to join my friend @bbratton.bsky.social of Antikythera as a guest on @drbriankeating.bsky.social’s podcast, Into The Impossible, to explore the computational nature of intelligence and life.
I hope one day more people will understand that AI’s early breakthroughs were deeply connected to neuroscience. It was a pleasure to discuss the history of AI and more on @closertotruth.bsky.social with Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
September 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I hope one day more people will understand that AI’s early breakthroughs were deeply connected to neuroscience. It was a pleasure to discuss the history of AI and more on @closertotruth.bsky.social with Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
In 1981, my father brought home my first computer, a Texas Instruments 99/4A. He was convinced computing would change the world. As "What Is Intelligence?" arrives in bookstores today, I’m reminded of how right he was.
September 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
In 1981, my father brought home my first computer, a Texas Instruments 99/4A. He was convinced computing would change the world. As "What Is Intelligence?" arrives in bookstores today, I’m reminded of how right he was.
Everything alive is a computer—because the processes that enable life, at its core, are computational. This was a central point in my presentation and conversation with Benjamin Bratton at @longnow.org, where we challenged conventional notions about biological and artificial systems.
September 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Everything alive is a computer—because the processes that enable life, at its core, are computational. This was a central point in my presentation and conversation with Benjamin Bratton at @longnow.org, where we challenged conventional notions about biological and artificial systems.
Do modern AI systems have a claim to intelligence? Join me for a conversation on this topic later today with Benjamin Bratton at @longnow.org.
September 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Do modern AI systems have a claim to intelligence? Join me for a conversation on this topic later today with Benjamin Bratton at @longnow.org.
Words are seldom broken on book covers. Some might call it design heresy. But James Goggin and I did this with "Intelligence" on the front cover of my upcoming book, “What Is Intelligence?” In part 2 of our conversation, we explain the thinking behind this unconventional choice.
September 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Words are seldom broken on book covers. Some might call it design heresy. But James Goggin and I did this with "Intelligence" on the front cover of my upcoming book, “What Is Intelligence?” In part 2 of our conversation, we explain the thinking behind this unconventional choice.
For those of us raised on science fiction, having AI become part of everyday life feels like the breakthrough we’ve been expecting. Yet some critics insist that no matter what these models do, they're not truly intelligent—just clever simulacra.
September 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
For those of us raised on science fiction, having AI become part of everyday life feels like the breakthrough we’ve been expecting. Yet some critics insist that no matter what these models do, they're not truly intelligent—just clever simulacra.
Today through Friday: My upcoming book “What Is Intelligence?” is 25% off for Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members! Use code PREORDER25 at checkout. #BNPreorder @mitpress.bsky.social
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-is-in...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-is-in...
September 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Today through Friday: My upcoming book “What Is Intelligence?” is 25% off for Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members! Use code PREORDER25 at checkout. #BNPreorder @mitpress.bsky.social
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-is-in...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-is-in...
The cover of “What Is Intelligence?” may look like a simple, abstract image. But it’s actually a scatterplot showing the explosion in computation at the moment of abiogenesis—what likely happened billions of years ago, when chemistry first became life.
September 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The cover of “What Is Intelligence?” may look like a simple, abstract image. But it’s actually a scatterplot showing the explosion in computation at the moment of abiogenesis—what likely happened billions of years ago, when chemistry first became life.
My forthcoming book “What Is Intelligence?” offers a new perspective on the evolutionary and social origins of intelligence. It draws from the work of countless brilliant thinkers, but I wanted to share a few books that were particularly influential.
August 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
My forthcoming book “What Is Intelligence?” offers a new perspective on the evolutionary and social origins of intelligence. It draws from the work of countless brilliant thinkers, but I wanted to share a few books that were particularly influential.
What if technology is not distinct from nature or biology, but a symbiotic part of our most recent evolutionary development?
August 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
What if technology is not distinct from nature or biology, but a symbiotic part of our most recent evolutionary development?
It was a pleasure to be on air with Scott Greenberg and Lynn Ware Peek on @npr.org KPCW’s Cool Science Radio. We discussed my upcoming book, “What Is Intelligence?” (from @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera) and its central theme of how life and intelligence are inherently social.
August 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
It was a pleasure to be on air with Scott Greenberg and Lynn Ware Peek on @npr.org KPCW’s Cool Science Radio. We discussed my upcoming book, “What Is Intelligence?” (from @mitpress.bsky.social & Antikythera) and its central theme of how life and intelligence are inherently social.
A common misconception about machine intelligence? That it’s “artificial.”
It was a privilege to sit down with Benjamin Bratton of Antikythera at Berggruen Arts & Culture's The Next Earth Symposium in Venice to discuss AI’s emergence as a natural consequence of evolution.
It was a privilege to sit down with Benjamin Bratton of Antikythera at Berggruen Arts & Culture's The Next Earth Symposium in Venice to discuss AI’s emergence as a natural consequence of evolution.
August 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
A common misconception about machine intelligence? That it’s “artificial.”
It was a privilege to sit down with Benjamin Bratton of Antikythera at Berggruen Arts & Culture's The Next Earth Symposium in Venice to discuss AI’s emergence as a natural consequence of evolution.
It was a privilege to sit down with Benjamin Bratton of Antikythera at Berggruen Arts & Culture's The Next Earth Symposium in Venice to discuss AI’s emergence as a natural consequence of evolution.
What new kinds of art become possible when we begin to play with technology analogous not only to the eye, but also to the brain?
This question inspired us to launch Google’s Artists + Machine Intelligence program in 2016. 🪡
Alexander Mordvintsev, Father Cat, 2015/05
This question inspired us to launch Google’s Artists + Machine Intelligence program in 2016. 🪡
Alexander Mordvintsev, Father Cat, 2015/05
August 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
What new kinds of art become possible when we begin to play with technology analogous not only to the eye, but also to the brain?
This question inspired us to launch Google’s Artists + Machine Intelligence program in 2016. 🪡
Alexander Mordvintsev, Father Cat, 2015/05
This question inspired us to launch Google’s Artists + Machine Intelligence program in 2016. 🪡
Alexander Mordvintsev, Father Cat, 2015/05
A few months ago, @drmichaellevin.bsky.social, Reed Bender, Karina Kofman and I sought to recast the question “what is life?” from a philosophical debate into a structured exploration of semantic patterns, using LLMs to analyze 68 definitions from cross-disciplinary experts. 🧵
July 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
A few months ago, @drmichaellevin.bsky.social, Reed Bender, Karina Kofman and I sought to recast the question “what is life?” from a philosophical debate into a structured exploration of semantic patterns, using LLMs to analyze 68 definitions from cross-disciplinary experts. 🧵