Lex Fridman Podcast

#496 – FFmpeg: The Incredible Technology Behind Video on the Internet

Jean-Baptiste Kempf is lead developer of VLC and president of VideoLAN. Kieran Kunhya is a longtime FFmpeg contributor, codec engineer, and the person behind the now-infamous FFmpeg account on X. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep496-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep496-sc] See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/ffmpeg-transcript [https://lexfridman.com/ffmpeg-transcript] CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: FFmpeg on X: https://x.com/FFmpeg [https://x.com/FFmpeg] FFmpeg: https://ffmpeg.org/ [https://ffmpeg.org/] VideoLAN (VLC): https://www.videolan.org/ [https://www.videolan.org/] VideoLAN on X: https://x.com/videolan [https://x.com/videolan] Jean-Baptiste’s Website: https://jbkempf.com/ [https://jbkempf.com/] Jean-Baptiste’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbkempf/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbkempf/] Jean-Baptiste’s GitHub: https://github.com/jbkempf [https://github.com/jbkempf] Kieran’s X: https://x.com/kierank_ [https://x.com/kierank_] Kieran’s LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OORhmC [https://bit.ly/3OORhmC] Kieran’s GitHub: https://github.com/kierank [https://github.com/kierank] SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Larridin: Measure AI adoption in your business. Go to https://larridin.com [https://lexfridman.com/s/larridin-ep496-sc] Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases. Go to https://blitzy.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/blitzy-ep496-sc] BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep496-sc] Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep496-sc] LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep496-sc] Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ [https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep496-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (03:00) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (10:48) – Weirdest things VLC opens (15:12) – How video playback works (24:33) – Video codecs and containers (35:20) – FFmpeg explained (56:20) – Linus Torvalds (1:00:59) – Turning down millions to keep VLC ad-free (1:15:17) – FFmpeg & Google drama (1:34:31) – FFmpeg developers (1:41:08) – VLC and FFmpeg (1:45:42) – History of FFmpeg (1:48:59) – Reverse engineering codecs (2:02:14) – FFmpeg testing (2:06:21) – Assembly code (handwritten) (2:30:39) – Rust programming language (2:39:55) – FFmpeg and Libav fork (2:48:17) – Open source burnout (2:56:04) – x264 and internet video (3:09:20) – Video compression basics (3:16:17) – CIA and fake VLC (3:26:52) – Ultra low latency streaming (3:44:20) – AV2 codec and video patents (3:54:12) – VLC backdoors (4:04:27) – Video archiving (4:11:04) – Future of FFmpeg and VLC

#495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age

Lars Brownworth is a historian, teacher, podcaster, and author specializing in Viking history, medieval Europe, and the Byzantine Empire. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep495-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep495-sc] See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/lars-brownworth-transcript [https://lexfridman.com/lars-brownworth-transcript] CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: Lars’s Website: https://larsbrownworth.com/ [https://larsbrownworth.com/] The Sea Wolves (book): https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Wolves-History-Vikings/dp/1909979120 [https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Wolves-History-Vikings/dp/1909979120] Lars’s Books: https://amzn.to/4sHY0xw [https://amzn.to/4sHY0xw] 12 Byzantine Rulers Podcast : https://12byzantinerulers.com/ [https://12byzantinerulers.com/] Norman Centuries Podcast: https://apple.co/4sgSxNi [https://apple.co/4sgSxNi] SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Larridin: Measure AI adoption in your business. Go to https://larridin.com [https://lexfridman.com/s/larridin-ep495-sc] BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep495-sc] LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep495-sc] Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep495-sc] Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep495-sc] Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ [https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep495-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (01:03) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (08:57) – The start of the Viking Age (18:50) – Viking military strategy, tactics & technology (32:33) – Ragnar Lothbrok (42:00) – The Great Heathen Army (46:42) – Rollo and Normandy (56:54) – Viking religion and Valhalla (1:07:25) – Viking explorers (1:12:33) – Vikings in North America (1:25:55) – Vikings in the East (1:45:33) – Byzantine Empire (1:54:17) – History and human nature PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast [https://lexfridman.com/podcast] – Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr] – Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8] – RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/] – Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4] – Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]

#494 – Jensen Huang: NVIDIA – The $4 Trillion Company & the AI Revolution

Jensen Huang is the co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable company and the engine powering the AI computing revolution. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep494-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep494-sc] See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/jensen-huang-transcript [https://lexfridman.com/jensen-huang-transcript] CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: NVIDIA: https://nvidia.com [https://nvidia.com] NVIDIA on X: https://x.com/nvidia [https://x.com/nvidia] NVIDIA AI on X: https://x.com/NVIDIAAI [https://x.com/NVIDIAAI] NVIDIA on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nvidia [https://youtube.com/@nvidia] NVIDIA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nvidia/ [https://www.instagram.com/nvidia/] NVIDIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nvidia/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nvidia/] NVIDIA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NVIDIA/ [https://www.facebook.com/NVIDIA/] NVIDIA on GitHub: https://github.com/NVIDIA [https://github.com/NVIDIA] Nemotron: https://developer.nvidia.com/nemotron [https://developer.nvidia.com/nemotron] SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ [https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep494-sc] Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep494-sc] LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep494-sc] Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep494-sc] Quo: Phone system (calls, texts, contacts) for businesses. Go to https://quo.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/quo-ep494-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (00:26) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (06:34) – Extreme co-design and rack-scale engineering (09:20) – How Jensen runs NVIDIA (28:41) – AI scaling laws (43:41) – Biggest blockers to AI scaling laws (45:25) – Supply chain (47:20) – Memory (53:25) – Power (58:45) – Elon and Colossus (1:02:13) – Jensen’s approach to engineering and leadership (1:07:38) – China (1:15:51) – TSMC and Taiwan (1:21:06) – NVIDIA’s moat (1:26:43) – AI data centers in space (1:30:31) – Will NVIDIA be worth $10 trillion? (1:40:40) – Leadership under pressure (1:54:26) – Video games (2:01:18) – AGI timeline (2:03:31) – Future of programming (2:17:02) – Consciousness (2:23:23) – Mortality PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast [https://lexfridman.com/podcast] – Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr] – Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8] – RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/] – Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4] – Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]

#493 – Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming

Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc] See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: The Legend of California (Steam Page): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California] Jeff’s Game Studio: https://www.kintsugiyama.com/ [https://www.kintsugiyama.com/] SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep493-sc] Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases. Go to https://blitzy.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/blitzy-ep493-sc] BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep493-sc] Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep493-sc] CodeRabbit: AI-powered code reviews. Go to https://coderabbit.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep493-sc] Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ [https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep493-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake (25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters (40:45) – EverQuest obsession (53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard (1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life (1:15:16) – One of Us (1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture (1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft (1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games (2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player (2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games (3:01:04) – Online toxicity (3:08:38) – Why Titan failed (3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks (3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes (4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking (4:04:40) – Rust (4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard (4:37:14) – Diablo IV (4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games (4:47:38) – The Legend of California (5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time (5:09:30) – AI and future of video games PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast [https://lexfridman.com/podcast] – Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr] – Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8] – RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/] – Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4] – Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]

#492 – Rick Beato: Greatest Guitarists of All Time, History & Future of Music

Rick Beato is a music educator, interviewer, producer, songwriter, and a true multi-instrument musician, playing guitar, bass, cello & piano. His incredible YouTube channel celebrates great musicians & musical ideas, and helps millions of people fall in love with great music all over again. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep492-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep492-sc] See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/rick-beato-transcript [https://lexfridman.com/rick-beato-transcript] CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: Rick’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/RickBeato [https://youtube.com/RickBeato] Rick’s X: https://x.com/rickbeato [https://x.com/rickbeato] Rick’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/rickbeato1 [https://instagram.com/rickbeato1] Rick’s Website: https://rickbeato.com [https://rickbeato.com] Rick’s Ear Training: https://beatoeartraining.com [https://beatoeartraining.com] The Beato Book: https://beatobook.com [https://beatobook.com] SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics. Go to https://upliftdesk.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep492-sc] BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://betterhelp.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep492-sc] LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep492-sc] Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep492-sc] Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep492-sc] Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ [https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep492-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (00:28) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (09:17) – Guitar solos (13:16) – Gypsy jazz and Django Reinhardt (14:48) – Bebop jazz (19:00) – Perfect pitch vs relative pitch (23:37) – Learning to play guitar (47:08) – Miles Davis (52:34) – Bass guitar (53:41) – Greatest guitar solos of all time (1:22:56) – 27 Club (1:27:37) – Elton John (1:30:51) – Metallica (1:35:21) – Tom Waits (1:41:12) – Greatest rock stars (1:44:35) – Beethoven (1:51:10) – Bach (1:54:01) – AI in music (2:07:52) – Sabrina Carpenter (2:11:23) – YouTube copyright strikes (2:16:59) – Spotify (2:27:51) – Guitars (2:32:13) – Advice PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast [https://lexfridman.com/podcast] – Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr] – Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8] – RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/] – Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4] – Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]