EPISODE · Mar 25, 2026 · 1H 37M
Vitalik Buterin vs Beff Jezos: AI Acceleration Debate (E/acc vs D/acc)
from a16z crypto show · host Andreessen Horowitz
Should we push AI forward as fast as possible, or be more careful about how it develops? Two competing views are emerging: e/acc (effective accelerationism): go faster, progress is the only path forward d/acc (defensive / decentralized acceleration): accelerate, but carefully, or risk losing control In this episode of the a16z crypto show, Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum founder) and Guillaume Verdon aka "Beff Jezos" (Extropic founder & CEO,) join Eddy Lazzarin (a16z crypto CTO) and Shaw Walters (Eliza Labs founder) for a deep debate about these two perspectives and what they mean for AI, crypto, and the future. They discuss: Whether acceleration is something we can control The biggest risks of AI, from surveillance to concentration of power Why open source and decentralization may shape who benefits Whether slowing down AI is realistic or even desirable How humans stay relevant in a world of increasingly powerful systems What the next 10, 100, and 1,000 years might look like At its core, this episode asks: Can acceleration be steered, or is that beyond our control? Highlights: 00:00 Opening 07:02 Thermodynamics and first principles 16:04 Acceleration, entropy, and civilization 28:29 The core disagreement 32:42 Comparing and contrasting e/acc and d/acc 36:20 Open source, open hardware, and local intelligence 54:18 Should AI be slowed down? 1:02:35 Autonomous agents and artificial life 1:21:07 Crypto as the trust layer between humans and AI 1:35:37 Closing arguments Follow a16z crypto for more... X: https://x.com/a16zcrypto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto 📩 Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ *** As always, none of the following should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
In this episode, Vitalik Buterin, Guillaume Verdon (“Beff Jezos”) debate two competing visions for the future of AI: e/acc, which argues for pushing progress forward as quickly as possible, and d/acc, which calls for accelerating more carefully to avoid concentration of power and loss of control. They discuss whether acceleration can be steered, the risks and tradeoffs of increasingly powerful AI systems, the importance of open source and decentralization, and the role crypto may play as a trust layer between humans and AI.
NOW PLAYING
Vitalik Buterin vs Beff Jezos: AI Acceleration Debate (E/acc vs D/acc)
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.