- The video features an interview with Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist.
- Hawking discusses his work on black holes and string theory, emphasizing the concept of imaginary time.
- He expresses concerns about the dangers of artificial intelligence and its potential to outsmart humanity.
- Hawking also raises questions about the sustainability of the human race in a chaotic world.
- The interview includes some lighthearted moments and banter between Hawking and the interviewer.

John Oliver talks to Stephen Hawking in the first installment of Last Week Tonight's new "People Who Think Good" series. They cover such topics as parallel universes, artificial intelligence, and Charlize Theron.

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Across the broad expanse of history, there have been billions upon billions of idiots, as well as a handful of smart people.

We interviewed some of the latter group for our ongoing series, Great Minds, People Who Think Good.

This week's People Who Thinks Good, Stephen Hawking.

Professor Stephen Hawking is a pioneering physicist, international best-selling author, and a popular guest character on The Simpsons.

If you are looking for trouble, you found it.

His breakthrough work on black holes and string theory is considered hugely important by anyone who pretends to understand it.

An expanding universe does not preclude a creator.

I travel to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University to speak with 1 of the world's greatest living minds.

First off, congratulations on being the first subject of our Great Minds series.

Be honest, is this the single greatest honour you have ever received?

It's a little hard to read your tone of voice.

When you say that, are you being sarcastic?

If there is 1 thing you want people to understand about your work, bearing in mind that most people will never understand anything about your work, what would that thing be?

People think it's something you have in dreams, or when you're up against a deadline.

Imaginary time is like another direction in space.

It's the 1 bit of my work science fiction writers haven't used, because they don't understand it.

People are such idiots, because presumably, to my mind, you're simply talking about the theoretical measurement obtained from real time by a wink rotation of pi divided by 2 in a complex plane where t equals I times t.

It's just not that difficult to get your head around.

Let's talk about artificial intelligence.

In a recent op-ed column you said, and I quote, success in creating artificial intelligence would be the biggest event in human history.

Unfortunately, it might also be the last.

Are you saying that robots are going to destroy humanity?

And is that a scientific argument or the pitch for an amazing movie?

Artificial Intelligence could be a real danger in the not-too-distant future.

It could design improvements to itself, an outsmart us all.

I know you're trying to get people to be cautious there, but why should I not be excited about fighting a robot?

Well, OK, for a start, we don't know that, do we?

We don't know that for sure, because what could a robot do that I couldn't then fight back with by simply just unplugging him, right?

There's a story that scientists built an intelligent computer.

The first question they asked it was, is there a God?

The computer replied, there is now, and a bolt of lightning struck the plug, so it couldn't be turned off.

Holy shit, that's the most terrifying story I've ever heard.

Is it you or is it a sentient computer pretending to talk on your behalf?

Because if computers had become sentient, what better way to convince people they hadn't than by co-opting the voice of the most intelligent man on the planet?

Okay, In 2006, you said, in a world that's in chaos politically, socially, and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another hundred years?

A month later, you said, I don't know the answer, that's why I asked the question, to get people to think about it and to be aware of the dangers we now face.

So, it's now been 8 years since then, no pressure, but have you come up with an answer yet?

At least the chance of nuclear annihilation has diminished.

But there are plenty of other dangers out there.

Okay, see, that's pretty depressing, Professor, because If I can explain this to you, you're the smartest man on earth.

So if you can't come up with an answer, we are completely fucked.

Sure, you're book smart, Hawking, but are you street smart?

1 of your suppliers, Tito, was supposed to meet you behind the warehouse at midnight to give you half a kilo of medical-grade cocaine.

Tito shows up late, but he doesn't have the drugs.

He says he was jumped, but he looks high.

That's actually the smartest possible answer, because all drug kingpins know you don't do your own shit.

You've stated that you believe there could be an infinite number of parallel universes.

Does that mean that there is a universe out there where I am smarter than you?

Yes, and also a universe where you're funny.

Look, if you're so smart, what number am I thinking of?

That you've been a huge disappointment to your family.

Why is that so hard for them to understand?

Are the following things technically possible?

Life on other planets, is that theoretically possible?

Okay, What about a Schwarzschild wormhole?

In none of the infinite universes does that happen?

It's completely beyond the bounds of scientific possibility, is what you're saying?

In any of those potential universes, am I the 1 rejecting her, No.

You do realise that typing your responses is difficult for me, correct?

It's just I'm trying to play this out because I'm just trying to see if there was any hypothetical hope.

Okay, if time travel were possible, would you want to go back in time and refuse to do this interview?

Stephen Hawking, Thank you so much for your time.


Speaker 0: Across the broad expanse of history, there have been billions upon billions of idiots, as well as a handful of smart people. We interviewed some of the latter group for our ongoing series, Great Minds, People Who Think Good. This week's People Who Thinks Good, Stephen Hawking.

Speaker 1: Professor Stephen Hawking is a pioneering physicist, international best-selling author, and a popular guest character on The Simpsons.

Speaker 2: If you are looking for trouble, you found it. Yeah, just try me, you...

Speaker 1: Oh! His breakthrough work on black holes and string theory is considered hugely important by anyone who pretends to understand it.

Speaker 2: An expanding universe does not preclude a creator.

Speaker 1: I travel to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University to speak with 1 of the world's greatest living minds. First off, congratulations on being the first subject of our Great Minds series. Be honest, is this the single greatest honour you have ever received?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Good. It's a little hard to read your tone of voice. When you say that, are you being sarcastic?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: I thought so. If there is 1 thing you want people to understand about your work, bearing in mind that most people will never understand anything about your work, what would that thing be?

Speaker 2: Imaginary time. People think it's something you have in dreams, or when you're up against a deadline. But it's a well-defined concept. Imaginary time is like another direction in space. It's the 1 bit of my work science fiction writers haven't used, because they don't understand it.

Speaker 1: Ugh, idiots. People are such idiots, because presumably, to my mind, you're simply talking about the theoretical measurement obtained from real time by a wink rotation of pi divided by 2 in a complex plane where t equals I times t. It's just not that difficult to get your head around. Let's talk about artificial intelligence. In a recent op-ed column you said, and I quote, success in creating artificial intelligence would be the biggest event in human history.

Unfortunately, it might also be the last. Are you saying that robots are going to destroy humanity? And is that a scientific argument or the pitch for an amazing movie?

Speaker 2: Artificial Intelligence could be a real danger in the not-too-distant future. It could design improvements to itself, an outsmart us all.

Speaker 1: I know you're trying to get people to be cautious there, but why should I not be excited about fighting a robot?

Speaker 2: You would lose.

Speaker 1: Well, OK, for a start, we don't know that, do we? We don't know that for sure, because what could a robot do that I couldn't then fight back with by simply just unplugging him, right?

Speaker 2: There's a story that scientists built an intelligent computer. The first question they asked it was, is there a God? The computer replied, there is now, and a bolt of lightning struck the plug, so it couldn't be turned off.

Speaker 1: Holy shit, that's the most terrifying story I've ever heard.

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Hold on. Who is talking to me right now? Is it you or is it a sentient computer pretending to talk on your behalf?

Speaker 2: It's me.

Speaker 1: Yeah, but how do I know that, Professor? Because if computers had become sentient, what better way to convince people they hadn't than by co-opting the voice of the most intelligent man on the planet?

Speaker 2: You're an idiot.

Speaker 1: Yeah, but who's saying that, Stephen? You or the machine?

Speaker 2: Both of us.

Speaker 1: Okay, all right. That's actually quite reassuring. Okay, In 2006, you said, in a world that's in chaos politically, socially, and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another hundred years? A month later, you said, I don't know the answer, that's why I asked the question, to get people to think about it and to be aware of the dangers we now face. So, it's now been 8 years since then, no pressure, but have you come up with an answer yet?

Speaker 2: I still don't have an answer. Ugh. At least the chance of nuclear annihilation has diminished. But there are plenty of other dangers out there.

Speaker 1: Okay, see, that's pretty depressing, Professor, because If I can explain this to you, you're the smartest man on earth. So if you can't come up with an answer, we are completely fucked. Moving on. Sure, you're book smart, Hawking, but are you street smart? I'll give you a hypothetical.

You're a mid-level drug hustler, OK? You control around 12 city blocks. 1 of your suppliers, Tito, was supposed to meet you behind the warehouse at midnight to give you half a kilo of medical-grade cocaine. Tito shows up late, but he doesn't have the drugs. He says he was jumped, but he looks high.

What's your move, Hawking?

Speaker 2: I don't do drugs.

Speaker 0: Yeah, do you

Speaker 1: know what? That's actually the smartest possible answer, because all drug kingpins know you don't do your own shit.

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Well played, Hawking. Well played. You've stated that you believe there could be an infinite number of parallel universes. Does that mean that there is a universe out there where I am smarter than you?

Speaker 2: Yes, and also a universe where you're funny.

Speaker 1: Look, if you're so smart, what number am I thinking of? 13. It was 13. I was thinking of 13. OK, that was a lucky guess.

What am I thinking right now?

Speaker 2: That you've been a huge disappointment to your family.

Speaker 1: I wasn't thinking that. Why would I think that? You know, I'm trying as hard as I can. Why is that so hard for them to understand? Hypothetically.

I wasn't thinking that. Let's do some quick yes or no questions. Are the following things technically possible? Life on other planets, is that theoretically possible?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Okay, What about a Schwarzschild wormhole?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Okay, what about this? Me going on a date with Charlize Theron? No. What, not at all? In no universe?

No. In none of the infinite universes does that happen? No. It's completely beyond the bounds of scientific possibility, is what you're saying?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Quick follow-up question. In any of those potential universes, am I the 1 rejecting her, No. Yes.

Speaker 2: No. You do realise that typing your responses is difficult for me, correct?

Speaker 1: Okay, sure, yeah. It's just I'm trying to play this out because I'm just trying to see if there was any hypothetical hope. No. It doesn't matter. But never say never.

Okay, if time travel were possible, would you want to go back in time and refuse to do this interview?

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: You truly are an incredibly smart man. Stephen Hawking, Thank you so much for your time.

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Stephen Hawking Extended Interview: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)