Scott Aaronson is a professor at UT Austin, director of its Quantum Information Center, and previously a professor at MIT. His research interests center around the capabilities and limits of quantum computers and computational complexity theory more generally. This episode is presented by Cash App. Download it & use code "LexPodcast": Cash App (App Store): https://apple.co/2sPrUHe Cash App (Google Play): https://bit.ly/2MlvP5w This episode is also supported by the Techmeme Ride Home podcast. Get it on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2vIbh1k or find it by searching "Ride Home" in your podcast app. PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 5:07 - Role of philosophy in science 29:27 - What is a quantum computer? 41:12 - Quantum decoherence (noise in quantum information) 49:22 - Quantum computer engineering challenges 51:00 - Moore's Law 56:33 - Quantum supremacy 1:12:18 - Using quantum computers to break cryptography 1:17:11 - Practical application of quantum computers 1:22:18 - Quantum machine learning, questinable claims, and cautious optimism 1:30:53 - Meaning of life CONNECT: - Subscribe to this YouTube channel - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman