Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

Patrick McKenzie is joined by Clara Collier, editor and publisher of Asterisk Magazine, to discuss how we create institutions that bend towards truth. Clara explains why she launched a quarterly print magazine in the Internet age. She traces how 19th century German universities invented the modern infrastructure for rewarding knowledge production and training researchers at scale, and where our public science communication falls short of that heritage. The conversation examines why institutional trust has declined, particularly around science communication and public health, and whether we can rebuild trust in knowledge-producing institutions.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/building-institutions-that-bend-towards-truth-with-clara-collier-of-asterisk-magazine/–Sponsor: MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.comMercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Links:Asterisk Magazine: https://asteriskmag.com–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:44) The birth of Asterisk Magazine(02:58) Challenges of print media(04:41) The media landscape and Twitter's influence(06:03) The art of long-form writing(13:08) Editing and copy editing in magazines(19:33) Sponsor: Mercury(20:45) Editing and copy editing in magazines (part 2)(25:24) AI in writing and editing(30:33) The origins of research universities(34:19) The flawed promotion system in academia(34:40) The rise of research institutions(35:32) The birth of modern research culture in Germany(36:27) The global influence of German universities(40:13) The American university system vs. German system(41:50) The role of public and private partnerships in science(42:47) Challenges in science communication(56:22) The impact of COVID-19 on public trust in science(01:06:42) Historical perspectives on medical trust(01:11:15) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie is joined by Chris Best, CEO of Substack, to discuss how the platform created new economic infrastructure for independent media. They explore Substack's evolution from a simple newsletter tool to a full media network, the revenue guarantee program that attracted prominent writers, and the company's principled stance on press freedom during the "cancel culture" years. Chris explains how subscription-based business models create better incentive alignment than attention-based advertising, and discusses new features like AI-powered video production and Substack Defender, their legal protection program for writers facing lawsuits.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/how-blogging-went-legit-with-substack-ceo-chris-best/–Sponsor: MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Links:Chris Best’s Substack: https://cb.substack.com/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:53) The evolution of online publishing(01:20) Substack's business model(02:05) Challenges and opportunities in media(03:47) The role of engagement in media(06:03) The birth of Substack(08:58) Making paid newsletters accessible(10:54) Revenue guarantees and early success(13:05) Substack's impact on journalism(17:59) Freedom of the press and Substack's stance(19:24) Sponsor: Mercury(20:40) Twitter's influence on journalism(24:09) Substack's role in modern media(26:04) The impact of cancel culture on journalism(26:53) The evolution of blogging and discourse(30:53) Substack's expansion into podcasts and video(32:42) AI and the future of media production(38:20) Substack defender(42:22) The growing network and future of Substack(46:03) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie is joined again by Kelsey Piper, who has co-founded "The Argument" to revive principled liberal discourse after witnessing how coordinated social media campaigns replaced substantive disagreement in newsrooms. Their conversation traces this institutional breakdown from media to government, examining how DOGE's spreadsheet-driven governance nearly destroyed PEPFAR, America's most successful foreign aid program that had driven infant coffin manufacturers out of business across Africa. The discussion ultimately argues that rebuilding both effective journalism and competent governance requires returning to the hard work of engaging with ground-level reality rather than managing online narratives.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/prestige-media-new-media-with-kelsey-piper/–Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.comMercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Links:The Argument https://www.theargumentmag.com/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:31) The Argument(03:19) Challenges in modern journalism(06:42) The impact of social media on discourse(13:37) The role of Substack and independent media(20:13) Sponsor: Mercury(21:30) The role of Substack and independent media (part 2)(30:59) The PEPFAR program and its importance(44:01) Impact of US aid cuts on global mortality(45:25) Substitution efforts and their limitations(47:54) PEPFAR's partial continuation and challenges(51:21) Consequences of administrative decisions(54:28) Elon Musk's influence and government actions(01:00:14) Challenges in government accountability(01:15:47) Reforming administrative processes(01:24:45) The role of community input in development(01:28:28) The power of constituent voices(01:30:15) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, former interim CEO of OpenAI, who now runs Softmax AI alignment. Emmett argues that current AI safety approaches focused on "systems of control" are fundamentally flawed and proposes "organic alignment" instead—where AI systems develop genuine care for their local communities rather than following rigid rules. –Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/ai-alignment-with-emmett-shear/–Sponsor: MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Links:Softmax - https://www.softmax.com/–Timestamps:(01:26) Understanding AI alignment(04:42) The concept of universal constructors(13:45) AI's rapid progress and practical applications(19:08) Sponsor: Mercury(20:19) AI's impact on work(34:59) AI's sensory and action space(42:10) User intent vs. user request(44:35) The illusion of a perfect AI(49:57) Causal emergence and system dynamics(55:19) Reflective and intentional alignment(01:01:08) Engineering challenges in AI alignment(01:04:15) The future of AI(01:26:40) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Will Wilson, CEO of Antithesis, to discuss the evolution of software testing from traditional approaches to cutting-edge deterministic simulation. Will explains how his team built technology that creates "time machines" for distributed systems, enabling developers to find and debug complex failures that would be nearly impossible to reproduce in traditional testing environments. They explore how this approach scales from finding novel bugs in Super Mario Brothers to ensuring the reliability of critical financial and infrastructure systems, and discuss the implications for a future where AI writes increasingly more code.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/software-testing-with-will-wilson/–Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Recommended in this episode:Antithesis: https://antithesis.com/––Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:23) Database scaling and the CAP theorem(08:13) Abstraction layers and hardware reality(15:28) The problem with traditional testing(19:43) Sponsor: Mercury(23:16) The fuzzing revolution(30:35) Deterministic simulation testing(42:36) Real-world testing strategies(47:22) Introducing Antithesis(59:23) The CrowdStrike example(01:01:15) Finding bugs in Mario(01:07:37) Property-based vs conventional testing(01:09:51) The future of AI-assisted development(01:14:51) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Bean, a pseudonymous defense industry expert, to explore the intellectual crossovers between military and civilian domains. The conversation reveals how the defense industry's fundamental constraint of having only one customer (a monopsony) creates entirely different incentives than tech, leading to conservatism and 30-50 year product lifecycles. Bean argues that drones are largely modern iterations of cruise missiles we've had since the 1950s, and explains why current anti-drone defenses make swarm attacks less threatening than headlines suggest.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/defense-with-bean-of-naval-gazing/–Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.comMercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC. –Recommended in this episode:Naval Gazing: https://www.navalgazing.net/––Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:29) The overlap between tech and defense(01:35) Operations research in World War II(02:55) Mathematical insights and military strategies(05:28) The role of operations research in modern warfare(16:59) Tech and defense (Part 1)(19:48) Sponsor: Mercury(21:00) Tech and defense (Part 2)(26:07) Economics behind the defense industry(32:07) SpaceX's early challenges and achievements(33:00) The Super Hornet development story(34:39) Military procurement lessons(37:42) Aerospace industry retention rates(38:42) Lockheed Martin's dominance and supply chain(40:55) Drone technology and military applications(46:53) Anti-drone defenses and future warfare(48:01) Naval warfare and historical perspectives(01:01:03) Wrap

This week on Complex Systems, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Joel Becker from METR. They discuss groundbreaking research on AI coding assistants.Joel et al’s randomized controlled trial of 16 expert developers working on major open source projects revealed a counterintuitive finding: despite predictions of 24-40% speed improvements, developers actually took 19% longer to complete tasks when using AI tools, even though they retrospectively believed they were 20% faster. The conversation explores why even sophisticated professionals struggle to accurately assess their own productivity with AI tools, the industrial organization of software development, and the implications for AI's recursive self-improvement in research and development. It also touches on other perspectives from software developers using these tools professionally, and where we can expect them to improve rapidly.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/the-great-developer-speed-up-with-joel-becker/–Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Recommended in this episode:METR: https://metr.org/ Joel Becker’s site: https://joel-becker.com/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:34) Understanding AI evaluation methods(02:04) METR's unique approach to AI evaluation(03:10) The evolution of AI capabilities(06:44) AI as coding assistants(09:15) Research on AI's impact on developer productivity(13:55) Sponsor: Mercury(15:07) Challenges in measuring developer productivity(20:38) Insights from the research paper(31:26) The formalities of software development(32:07) Automated tools and human discussions(32:47) AI and style transfer in software(34:35) The role of comments in AI coding(36:51) The future of AI in software engineering(40:25) Economic implications of AI in software(46:53) Challenges and risks of AI in software(59:03) Security concerns with AI-generated code(01:04:59) Wrap

In this solo episode, Patrick McKenzie reads his classic essay "Seeing Like a Bank," exploring why financial institutions often appear to have no memory of previous customer interactions despite being excellent at tracking money itself. He breaks down the complex web of legacy systems, tiered support structures, and regulatory constraints that create Kafka-esque experiences for bank customers. Using the lens of institutional legibility borrowed from "Seeing Like a State," Patrick explains how banks' technical architecture and organizational design choices—from core processing systems to customer service tiers—systematically generate the dysfunction that customers experience when things go wrong.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/how-banks-actually-work/–Recommended in this episode:Patrick’s Bits about Money essay, Seeing like a bank: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/seeing-like-a-bank/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:52) Recordkeeping systems(10:20) Sponsor: Safebase(11:50) Human accountability and its malcontents(22:57) Two embedded surprises about bank staffing(27:47) Society has goals which conflict with banks being good at banking(30:52) So what can be done about this?

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Jim Weisser, a serial entrepreneur and founder of SignTime, for an in-depth exploration of Japan's software market and startup ecosystem. They discuss the unique challenges of building software in a culture that prizes stability over rapid iteration, the dominance of systems integrators, and how Japan's economic stagnation shaped its relationship with technology. The conversation covers everything from Excel-driven development processes to the recent transformation of Japan's VC landscape, offering insights for anyone considering doing business in the world's third-largest economy.–Full transcript: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/building-software-in-japan-with-jim-weisser/–Sponsor: BoxWorks 2025Discover hands-on AI data extraction techniques, network with industry experts, and hear featured speakers Vinod Khosla, Jared Kaplan, and Aaron Levie at BoxWorks 2025 in San Francisco (Sept 11-12). Use code BW25-ComplexSystems for 50% off at this link: https://bit.ly/452036h–Links:Signtime:: https://www.signtime.com/en/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:24) Exploring the Japanese software market(01:25) Challenges in the Japanese startup ecosystem(02:37) Jim Weisser's background and journey(05:14) The evolution of Japan's economy and business practices(10:15) Understanding Japan Inc. and its impact on software(10:28) The role of systems integrators in Japan(19:01) Sponsor: BoxWorks Conference 2025 (*discounted tickets for Complex Systems listeners)(20:29) Cultural differences in software development(26:06) Digital transformation and efficiency in Japan(32:44) Labor market dynamics and employment practices(35:50) Startup ecosystem and equity culture in Japan(42:53) Success stories and market potential in Japan(43:42) Corporate relationships in Japanese companies(44:10) Salesforce's success in Japan(45:44) E-commerce boom in Japan(46:33) Rakuten's evolution and strategy(48:27) Amazon's journey in Japan(49:13) Cloud services and security concerns(51:18) Sansan: Business card management(55:14) Venture capital landscape in Japan(01:05:02) Personal reflections on living in Japan(01:16:21) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by James Riney, partner at Coral Capital, to explore Japan's transformation from a $700 million startup ecosystem to today's $5-10 billion market. They discuss the cultural and structural factors that initially limited venture activity in Japan. The conversation covers unique aspects of building startups in Japan, from the quirks of being a foreign professional to why Japanese engineers love Twitter but ignore LinkedIn, plus insights into Japan's "time machine advantage" and why American-developed dev tools are going viral in Tokyo.–Read full transcript here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/startup-investing-in-tokyo/–[Patrick notes: Complex Systems now produces occasional video episodes! You can access them directly on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast. My kids inform me that I’m supposed to tell you to like and subscribe.]–Sponsor:  SafebaseLeading companies use SafeBase to eliminate up to 98% of inbound security questionnaires, automate workflows, and accelerate pipeline. Go to safebase.io/podcast–Links: Coral Capital: https://coralcap.co/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:57) The early days of Japanese startups(04:08) The rise of Coin Check(05:54) Challenges and opportunities in the Japanese startup ecosystem(16:09) Cultural and structural differences in hiring(19:47) Sponsor: Safebase(21:22) The role of content and communication in Japanese startups(31:29) LinkedIn vs. Facebook in Japanese work culture(32:38) LinkedIn's social capital issues in Japan(33:58) Cultural differences in asking for permission(34:31) Navigating Japanese regulatory clarity(36:49) The evolution of VC investment in Japan(39:54) The rise of SaaS in Japan(45:26) System integrators and software development in Japan(50:39) Challenges in Japanese tech companies(54:36) Opportunities for foreign companies in Japan(55:03) The importance of commitment in the Japanese market(57:08) Dev tools and viral adoption in Japan(59:31) Japan's influence on global tech(01:03:23) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie is joined by AI researcher Yoav Tzfati to discuss “vibe coding” - using LLMs to delegate software engineering work to AI models. Yoav runs a bootcamp teaching programming novices to build full-stack web applications using AI, without them ever looking at code. Patrick and Yoav discuss the fundamental shift in software engineering, where humans increasingly act as product managers directing AI "junior engineers," and explore the implications for the future of programming careers and the democratization of software development.–Read full transcript here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/how-ai-reshapes-software-engineering/–[Patrick notes: Complex Systems now produces occasional video episodes like this one!You can access them directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast. My kids inform me that I’m supposed to tell you to like and subscribe.]–Links:Follow Yoav Tzfati: https://x.com/yoavtzfati Yoav's bootcamp: https://www.code-bloom.app/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:32) Defining vibe coding(01:35) The evolution of software engineering with LLMs(04:07) Practical applications of vibe coding(09:37) Teaching vibe coding to novices(18:30) Future of AI in software development(21:42) Discussing timelines and model capabilities(22:12) Flappy Bird and the evolution of game development(23:27) The impact of LLMs on software engineering(24:46) Future of coding and human roles(29:47) Monitoring and error handling in software(31:20) The role of LLMs in code review and maintenance(35:12) Wireframing and project management with LLMs(36:40) The future of software engineering careers(43:07) Practical tips for software engineers(44:38) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Cate Hall, CEO of Astera Institute and author of a forthcoming book on agency, to explore how individuals can systematically develop higher agency in their lives. They discuss the selection effects that draw agentic people to fields like poker and startups, the importance of being comfortable with ignorance and feedback, and practical strategies like asking "Is there a better way to do this?" ten times daily. Cate shares insights from her journey from Supreme Court lawyer to world champion poker player, including how peer groups, emergencies, and what addicts call "the gift of desperation" can trigger step-changes in personal agency.–Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/stacking-the-odds-cate-hall/–[Patrick notes: Complex Systems now produces occasional video episodes like this one.You can access them directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast. My kids inform me that I’m supposed to tell you to like and subscribe.]–Links:Cate Hall’s Writing: https://usefulfictions.substack.com/Pre-order Cate's book on agency: https://mailchi.mp/44578760e686/book-preorder-signupAstera: https://astera.org/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro (00:28) Exploring the concept of agency(00:56) Selection effects in different fields(01:31) The tech industry evolution(02:54) Y Combinator's changing demographics(04:23) Parallels between poker and startups(15:48) The role of networking and relationships(19:12) Embracing feedback and continuous improvement(23:49) Exploring growth mindset(24:35) AI and personal improvement(27:04) Learning with AI: strategies and cautions(27:53) The value of human interaction(30:19) Professional gamblers and their unique insights(35:05) Understanding agency and its development(38:45) Triggers for increased agency(45:23) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined again by Ricki Heicklen to discuss the evolution of her trading education business, Arbor, one year after their first conversation. They dive deep into the pedagogy of trading, exploring how simulated markets teach concepts like adverse selection, team dynamics, and risk management through hands-on experience. Ricki shares war stories from the bootcamp trenches—infinite loop bugs that mirror Knight Capital's disaster, WiFi outages that create unexpected trading opportunities, and that the most successful trading teams often focus on internal team communication even more than trade execution or technical acumen.See the full transcript: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/think-like-a-trader-ricki-heicklen/–[Patrick notes: Complex Systems now produces occasional video episodes.You can access them directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast. My kids inform me that I’m supposed to tell you to like and subscribe.]–Links:Trading Camp : https://trading.camp/Metagame: https://www.metagame.games/#tickets Story of Knight Capital: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2013/34-70694.pdf–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:46) Ricki's journey from trading to teaching(01:25) The birth of Arbor and first bootcamps(03:32) Developing a trader's mindset(05:53) Understanding heuristics in trading(08:21) Adverse selection in everyday life(15:40) Insights from teaching trading bootcamps(21:07) Pedagogical approach: learning by doing(32:00) Handling mistakes and learning opportunities(36:17) Unplanned bugs and real-world lessons(39:47) Learning from Knight Capital's bug(40:24) Understanding exchange-side bugs(43:10) Risk limits and strategy separation(44:41) Importance of UI in trading bots(46:53) The Madagascar button(48:20) The big red button in manufacturing(49:45) Simulated trading and information aggregation(50:29) Sibling trading game explained(53:24) Modeling and hidden information(01:01:15) Trading behavior and market updates(01:04:38) Real-world applications and lessons(01:13:58) Surprises and market opportunities(01:16:24) Pedagogical approaches in trading education(01:17:08) Market dynamics and counterparty behavior(01:17:53) Retail vs. institutional order flow(01:19:23) Simplifying trading concepts for beginners(01:21:27) Introducing market characters and their roles(01:31:31) Team dynamics and communication in trading(01:39:13) The importance of redundancy in trading systems(01:47:52) Future of trading education and online classes(01:53:47) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie is joined by Adam Jarvis, author of the Public Service substack and a New Zealand civil engineer and public sector veteran. They discuss how political capital constraints, funding misalignment across government levels, and accumulated regulatory "scar tissue" make infrastructure projects extraordinarily difficult. The conversation reveals why replacing a water pipe now costs more in planning than the entire project did a decade ago, and how talent sorting has drained capacity from public institutions. Despite these challenges, Patrick and Adam find reasons for optimism about reforming government capacity.Complex Systems now has video episodes as well. Watch this episode and subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast–Full transcript: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/achieving-results-in-the-physical-world-with-adam-jarvis-of-public-service/–Links:Public Service Substack: https://alethios.substack.com/ –Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to Complex Systems (01:13) Understanding local government functions (03:41) Challenges in public sector project delivery (06:31) Funding complexities in public projects (09:14) The burden of regulatory and legislative constraints(17:04) Appreciating the infrastructure we take for granted (23:02) Historical and modern infrastructure challenges (30:04) Talent mobility and its impact on public sector (33:35) Public sector hiring practices (34:11) Agglomeration effects and brain drain (36:04) Aging population and resource allocation (36:59) Structural factors in public sector layoffs (37:49) Hiring and firing in the public sector (40:39) Labor mobility and job security (46:34) AI and automation in public sector jobs (52:56) Risk aversion and process overload (01:01:30) Optimism for public sector reform 

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Jennifer Li, a general partner at a16z investing in enterprise, infrastructure and AI. Jennifer breaks down how AI workloads are creating new demands on everything from inference pipelines to observability systems, explaining why we're seeing a bifurcation between language models and diffusion models at the infrastructure level. They explore emerging categories like reinforcement learning environments that help train agents, the evolution of web scraping for agentic workflows, and why Jennifer believes the API economy is about to experience another boom as agents become the primary consumers of software interfaces.–Full transcript: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/the-ai-infrastructure-stack-with-jennifer-li-a16z/–Sponsor:  VantaVanta automates security compliance and builds trust, helping companies streamline ISO, SOC 2, and AI framework certifications. Learn more at https://vanta.com/complex–Links:Jennifer Li’s writing at a16z https://a16z.com/author/jennifer-li/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:55) The AI shift and infrastructure(02:24) Diving into middleware and AI models(04:23) Challenges in AI infrastructure(07:07) Real-world applications and optimizations(15:15) Sponsor: Vanta(16:38) Real-world applications and optimizations (cont’d)(19:05) Reinforcement learning and synthetic environments(23:05) The future of SaaS and AI integration(26:02) Observability and self-healing systems(32:49) Web scraping and automation(37:29) API economy and agent interactions(44:47) Wrap

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) recorded with Zvi Mowshowitz (TheZvi) live at the LessOnline conference. They explore practical strategies for getting better results from large language models. Zvi explains how to customize AI behavior through thoughtful system prompts, while Patrick shares techniques for using LLMs as writing partners and research assistants. They discuss the evolving relationship between content creators and AI training data, touching on the emerging field of "generative engine optimization" (GEO). The conversation also covers multimodal capabilities, recursive AI use, and strategies for avoiding common failure modes like hallucination and sycophancy. –Full transcript: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/getting-better-at-llms-with-zvi-mowshowitz/–Sponsor:  VantaVanta automates security compliance and builds trust, helping companies streamline ISO, SOC 2, and AI framework certifications. Learn more at https://vanta.com/complex–Links:Don’t Worry About the Vase https://thezvi.wordpress.com/ –Timestamps:(01:08) Understanding system prompts(02:04) Customizing LLM behavior(05:58) Memory features in LLMs(10:21) Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)(15:59) Sponsor: Vanta(17:17) Art and AI: Enhancing creativity(20:36) Recursive use of AIs(25:22) Addressing LLM frustrations(27:05) Checking for hallucinations in AI outputs(28:11) Experimenting with AI models(29:44) Optimizing AI prompts and outputs(31:19) Using AI for writing and editing(32:32) AI as a research and writing partner(33:26) Prompting AI and humans effectively(39:39) Balancing AI assistance with personal voice(51:03) Wrap

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) discusses software reversing and AI's transformative impact on cybersecurity with Caleb Fenton, co-founder of Delphos Labs. They explore how LLMs are revolutionizing the traditionally tedious work of analyzing compiled binaries, the nation-state cyber warfare landscape, and how AI is shifting security from reactive to proactive defense. They cover the technical details of malware analysis, the economics of vulnerability detection, and the broader implications as both defenders and attackers gain access to increasingly powerful AI tools. –Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/machine-learning-meets-malware-with-caleb-fenton/–Sponsor:  MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Links:Delphos Labs: https://delphoslabs.com/ Virus Total: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload “Thel fraud supply chain”, Bits about Money https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/the-fraud-supply-chain/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:20) Understanding software reversing(03:52) The role of AI in software security(06:12) Nation-state cyber warfare(09:33) The future of digital warfare(16:45) Sponsor: Mercury(17:49) Reverse engineering techniques(30:15) AI's impact on reverse engineering(41:45) The importance of urgency in security alerts(42:47) The future of reverse engineering(43:21) Challenges in security product development(44:46) AI in vulnerability detection(46:09) The evolution of AI models(48:06) Reasoning models and their impact(49:06) AI in software security(49:49) The role of linters in security(57:38) AI's impact on various fields(01:02:42) AI in education and skill acquisition(01:08:51) The future of AI in security and beyond(01:12:43) The adversarial nature of AI in security(01:19:46) Wrap

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) revisits his widely-shared negotiation essay, which he notes may be the most impactful thing he's done in his career aside from VaccinateCA. The essay covers the psychology and tactics of salary negotiation, emphasizing that engineers have turned being bad at negotiation into a "perverse badge of virtue" and that the financial stakes are enormous—a small salary increase compounds over decades to six-figure differences. Patrick walks through practical advice including never giving a number first, understanding how employers actually think about compensation costs, and reframing negotiation as a professional business discussion rather than something morally questionable. –Full transcript available here:www.complexsystemspodcast.com/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-package/–Sponsor:  MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Recommended in this episode:Patrick’s essay Salary Negotiation: Make More Money, Be More Valued: https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:25) Why negotiation matters(05:21) Shifting your mindset to embrace negotiation(06:49) Your counterparty does not share your mental model of negotiation(12:46) Your negotiation started before you applied to this job(17:21) When does a salary negotiation happen?(19:38) Sponsor: Mercury(23:16) The first rule is what everyone tells you it is: never give a number first(28:45) Listen to what people tell you. Repeat it back to them.(33:22) Research, research, research(37:13) New information is valuable and can be traded for things you want(41:20) You have a multi-dimensional preference set. Use it.(44:08:) For your further perusal

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) and returning guest Ross Rheingans-Yoo discuss the strategic advantages of starting a podcast, particularly for professionals seeking to build trust, expand their networks, and support fundraising efforts. They explore the nuts and bolts of podcast production models, recording logistics, transcript creation, and how to make the experience frictionless for high-value guests. Ross shares his thought process around his newly-launched show Development and Research while Patrick gives a behind the scenes look at the makings of Complex Systems. –Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/capitalists-guide-to-podcasting-with-ross-rheingans-yoo–Sponsor:  MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Recommended in this episode:Development and Research Podcast: https://developmentandresearch.bio/ Podcast Twitter feed: @DevAndResearchRoss & Ricki’s Trading Bootcamp June 3-5: https://trading.camp/complex Ross' first appearance on Complex Systems: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GiO0KYqxJNCIdltCyhN6mRicki Heicklen on Complex Systems (our first episode!): https://open.spotify.com/episode/11kEUYRn4gXZGju232hzcg–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:18) The power of podcasting for venture capitalists(03:09) Building trust through voice (07:11) Podcast production models (16:38) Recording and equipment essentials (23:05) Sponsor: Mercury (24:18) Post-production and transcripts (32:22) Advertising vs. User experience (33:28) Creating standalone artifacts (34:20) The power of video clips (35:22) Challenges in podcast distribution (42:12) The role of guests in podcasts (47:12) Pre-recording preparation (49:22) Recording session best practices (54:22) The value of silence in conversations (56:38) Launching and growing a podcast (59:18) Trading bootcamp (1:02:27) Wrap

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Jacob Swett of Blueprint Biosecurity to discuss far UVC technology - a specialized wavelength of UV light that kills airborne pathogens while remaining safe for humans. Jacob explains how widespread deployment of this technology in schools, hospitals, and public spaces could dramatically reduce respiratory diseases and prevent future pandemics, comparing our approach to air quality with the water sanitation revolution that eliminated diseases like typhoid. They discuss the economics of implementation (starting around $30 per student annually with costs likely decreasing), the historical reasons why this technology hasn't been widely deployed, and Blueprint Biosecurity's roadmap for increasing adoption from early users to eventual regulations similar to fire safety codes. –Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/killing-viruses-with-light-with-jacob-swett/ –Sponsor:  MercuryThis episode is brought to you by Mercury, the fintech trusted by 200K+ companies — from first milestones to running complex systems. Mercury offers banking that truly understands startups and scales with them. Start today at Mercury.com Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.–Recommended in this episode: Blueprint Report: https://blueprintbiosecurity.org/u/2025/03/Blueprint-for-Far-UVC-PREPRINTv1.0.pdf –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:31) The importance of indoor air quality(01:29) Technologies for cleaner air(02:31) The promise of Far-UVC(03:10) Impact of COVID-19 on air quality awareness(04:11) Understanding Far-UVC light(06:44) Applications and benefits of Far-UVC(16:42) Challenges and adoption of Far-UVC(20:40) Sponsor: Mercury(21:53) Challenges and adoption of Far-UVC (Part 2)(23:19) Cost and benefits of Far-UVC(26:40) The broader impact of respiratory pathogens(29:41) Rediscovering the world for better health(30:05) Historical perspectives on infectious diseases(30:57) The role of sanitation and antibiotics(33:02) Miasma theory and airborne transmission(34:59) Impact of World War II on disease research(38:06) The evolution of public health priorities(42:39) Future of Far-UVC Technology(46:03) Challenges in implementing Far-UVC(56:47) The importance of rigorous studies(01:00:33) Wrap