man·i·fold  /ˈmanəˌfōld/  many and various.

The Manifold Conference

Steve Hsu, physicist and startup founder, gathers past guests from the Manifold podcast for two days of radical ideas and cozy conversations.

When
TBD
Where
Twin Peaks, San Francisco
Capacity
50–100 attendees
Request Invitation

About

A Phenomenal Gathering

"A Manifold Conference with all past guests on the podcast as a phenomenal gathering of this generation of edgy scientific talent."

For five years, the Manifold podcast has brought together the world's most interesting minds to explore questions at the frontier of human knowledge—from theoretical physics to evolutionary psychology, geopolitics to artificial intelligence, science fiction to high finance.

Now, for the first time, we're bringing these conversations into the physical world. A two-track conference where every attendee presents their most interesting ideas, combined with intimate dinners and a daily summit walk to Twin Peaks.

This is not a typical conference. There are no sponsors, no booths, no networking. Just the most interesting people you've never met, gathered in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Flying in makes sense.

Anywhere from 50 to 100 folk. Set up both the basement and mid floor for presentation, cozy conversations. Each day ends with a collective summit walk to the top of Twin Peaks.

Steve Hsu

Steve Hsu

Host & Curator

Theoretical physicist, entrepreneur, and host of the Manifold podcast. Steve has conducted over 200 long-form conversations with leading scientists, writers, technologists, and thinkers. Former VP of Research at Michigan State University, co-founder of several genomics companies, and a pioneer in applying machine learning to complex biological systems.

Information Processing @hsu_steve

Ascension

Strategic Partner

AGI House

Venue & Production

Speakers

Past Guests of Manifold

Scientists, writers, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who have shaped the intellectual landscape.

Steve HsuSH
Steve Hsu
Physics · Genomics
Joscha BachJB
Joscha Bach
AI · Consciousness
Robin HansonRH
Robin Hanson
Economics · Futurism
Tyler CowenTC
Tyler Cowen
Economics · Culture
Scott AaronsonSA
Scott Aaronson
Quantum · Complexity
John SchulmanJS
John Schulman
AI · Reinforcement Learning
John MearsheimerJM
John Mearsheimer
Geopolitics · Realism
Sabine HossenfelderSH
Sabine Hossenfelder
Physics · Science Comm
Ken LiuKL
Ken Liu
Science Fiction
Ted ChiangTC
Ted Chiang
Science Fiction
Samo BurjaSB
Samo Burja
Institutions · History
Richard HananiaRH
Richard Hanania
Policy · Politics
Dominic CummingsDC
Dominic Cummings
Politics · Strategy
Dan WangDW
Dan Wang
China · Technology
Misha LaskinML
Misha Laskin
AI · Robotics
Casey HandmerCH
Casey Handmer
Space · Engineering
Jaan TallinnJT
Jaan Tallinn
AI Safety · Investing
Glenn LukGL
Glenn Luk
Finance · Technology
Jeffrey SachsJS
Jeffrey Sachs
Economics · Policy
Gregory ClarkGC
Gregory Clark
Economics · History
Geoffrey MillerGM
Geoffrey Miller
Psychology · Genetics
Anna KrylovAK
Anna Krylov
Chemistry · Academia
Sebastian MallabySM
Sebastian Mallaby
Finance · VC
Bruno MaçãesBM
Bruno Maçães
Geopolitics · Tech
Kishore MahbubaniKM
Kishore Mahbubani
Asia · Diplomacy
Jamie MetzlJM
Jamie Metzl
Biotech · Geopolitics
Sahil LavingiaSL
Sahil Lavingia
Startups · Investing
Noor SiddiquiNS
Noor Siddiqui
AI · Genomics
Bobby KasthuriBK
Bobby Kasthuri
Neuroscience
Raman SundrumRS
Raman Sundrum
Physics · String Theory
Tim PalmerTP
Tim Palmer
Climate · Physics
Vlatko VedralVV
Vlatko Vedral
Quantum Physics
Klaus LacknerKL
Klaus Lackner
Climate · Engineering
John HawksJH
John Hawks
Anthropology · Evolution
Zach HambrickZH
Zach Hambrick
Psychology · Expertise
Rob HendersonRH
Rob Henderson
Psychology · Culture
KD
Katherine Dee
Internet Culture
Meghan DaumMD
Meghan Daum
Writing · Culture
Sebastian JungerSJ
Sebastian Junger
Journalism · War
Scott AdamsSA
Scott Adams
Persuasion · Media
Scott HortonSH
Scott Horton
Foreign Policy
Pascal LottazPL
Pascal Lottaz
Neutrality · IR
Ray McGovernRM
Ray McGovern
Intelligence · Policy
Theodore PostolTP
Theodore Postol
Defense · Physics
Bharat KarnadBK
Bharat Karnad
Defense · India
Lyle GoldsteinLG
Lyle Goldstein
China · Military
David GoldmanDG
David Goldman
Economics · China
Louis-Vincent GaveLG
Louis-Vincent Gave
Finance · Asia
Russell ClarkRC
Russell Clark
Finance · Macro
Vineer BhansaliVB
Vineer Bhansali
Quant Finance
John SeoJS
John Seo
Catastrophe · Risk
Molson HartMH
Molson Hart
E-commerce · China
Stephen GrugettSG
Stephen Grugett
Prediction Markets
Max DamaMD
Max Dama
AI · Trading
Taylor OganTO
Taylor Ogan
Energy · Finance
Charles MillerCM
Charles Miller
Space · Policy
Yasheng HuangYH
Yasheng Huang
China · Economics
Richard SanderRS
Richard Sander
Law · Policy
Claude SteeleCS
Claude Steele
Psychology
Dan GableDG
Dan Gable
Wrestling · Excellence
JY
Jon Y
Semiconductors · Asia
TH
TP Huang
China · Military
Kaiser KuoKK
Kaiser Kuo
China · Media
Carl ZhaCZ
Carl Zha
China · History
Simone CollinsSC
Simone Collins
Pronatalism
Philippe LemoinePL
Philippe Lemoine
Philosophy · Policy
Gilles Saint-PaulGS
Gilles Saint-Paul
Economics · Labor
Abdel AbdellaouiAA
Abdel Abdellaoui
Genetics · Statistics
Shai CarmiSC
Shai Carmi
Population Genetics
James LeeJL
James Lee
Genetics · Psychology
Stuart FiresteinSF
Stuart Firestein
Neuroscience
Mark MoffettMM
Mark Moffett
Biology · Societies
Ted SchultzTS
Ted Schultz
Entomology
Murtaza HussainMH
Murtaza Hussain
Journalism
Jian LianJL
Jian Lian
Technology
LY
Lin Yang
Technology
Kyle ChanKC
Kyle Chan
Technology
Dr. Joleen LiangJL
Dr. Joleen Liang
Medicine
Andrew SongAS
Andrew Song
Technology
Omar ShamsOS
Omar Shams
Technology
Patrick McGeePM
Patrick McGee
Journalism
Zihan WangZW
Zihan Wang
Technology
DC
Dan Collins
China
Callum WilliamsCW
Callum Williams
Economics
Jim HaslamJH
Jim Haslam
Business
Han FeiziHF
Han Feizi
China · Politics
Sean ReyesSR
Sean Reyes
Law · Politics
Paul HuangPH
Paul Huang
Taiwan
Peter ByrnePB
Peter Byrne
Science Writing
Richard LoweryRL
Richard Lowery
Finance
Raghuveer ParthasarathyRP
Raghuveer Parthasarathy
Physics · Biology
Warren HatchWH
Warren Hatch
Intelligence
Leif WenarLW
Leif Wenar
Philosophy
Michael KauffmanMK
Michael Kauffman
Pharma
James OakesJO
James Oakes
History
Robert AtkinsonRA
Robert Atkinson
Technology Policy
Kieren James-LubinKJ
Kieren James-Lubin
Technology
Victor WongVW
Victor Wong
Technology
A.J. RobisonAR
A.J. Robison
Neuroscience
Kaja PerinaKP
Kaja Perina
Psychology Today
Adam DynesAD
Adam Dynes
Political Science
Yang WangYW
Yang Wang
Mathematics
Elizabeth KolbertEK
Elizabeth Kolbert
Science Writing
Steven BroglioSB
Steven Broglio
Sports Medicine
Barbara O'BrienBO
Barbara O'Brien
Law
Andrew HartmanAH
Andrew Hartman
History
Ted ConoverTCo
Ted Conover
Journalism
Jason SnyderJSn
Jason Snyder
Neuroscience
Timothy SearchingerTSe
Timothy Searchinger
Environment
Betsy McKayBM
Betsy McKay
Health Journalism
Rebecca CampbellRC
Rebecca Campbell
Psychology
Daniel MaxDM
Daniel Max
Science Writing
Joe CesarioJC
Joe Cesario
Psychology
James ChamJCh
James Cham
VC · Technology
Ron UnzRU
Ron Unz
Publishing · Policy
Sam KersteinSK
Sam Kerstein
Philosophy
David SkrbinaDS
David Skrbina
Philosophy

Experience

What to Expect

Two-Track Presentations

Parallel sessions on two floors. "The Frontier" covers cutting-edge science and technology. "The World" explores geopolitics, economics, and society.

Cozy Conversations

Intimate fireside chats, small group discussions, and impromptu dialogues. Every attendee brings their most interesting idea to share.

Summit Walks

Each day concludes with a collective walk to the top of Twin Peaks. Conversations continue as the city lights emerge below.

Curated Meals

Lunch and dinner served family-style. Seating arranged to maximize unexpected connections.

Lightning Talks

Five-minute presentations on radical ideas. No slides, no preparation. Just the most interesting thing you've learned recently.

Unexpected Moments

Late-night jam sessions, spontaneous debates, secret speakers. The best moments can't be planned.

Schedule

The Program

Two days of presentations, panels, and conversations across two tracks.

Saturday

Day 1
8:00 AM
Breakfast & Arrival
Coffee, pastries, introductions
9:00 AM
Opening: The Age of Intelligence
Steve Hsu
10:00 AM
Consciousness, Computation, and Reality
Joscha Bach, Scott Aaronson
The Frontier
10:00 AM
The New Great Game
John Mearsheimer, Kishore Mahbubani, Dan Wang
The World
11:30 AM
The Future of AI Research
John Schulman, Misha Laskin
The Frontier
11:30 AM
Prediction Markets & Collective Intelligence
Robin Hanson, Stephen Grugett
The World
1:00 PM
Lunch
Family-style dining
2:30 PM
Genomics & Human Enhancement
Geoffrey Miller, James Lee, Shai Carmi
The Frontier
2:30 PM
America's Industrial Future
Dominic Cummings, Samo Burja
The World
4:00 PM
Lightning Talks
Casey Handmer, Noor Siddiqui, Molson Hart, Simone Collins
5:00 PM
Twin Peaks Summit Walk
Collective hike to the summit
7:00 PM
Dinner
Full dinner service
9:00 PM
Fireside: The Future of Science Fiction
Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, Meghan Daum
Intimate

Sunday

Day 2
8:30 AM
Breakfast
Coffee, light breakfast
9:30 AM
Physics at the Frontier
Sabine Hossenfelder, Vlatko Vedral, Raman Sundrum
The Frontier
9:30 AM
The China Question
Yasheng Huang, Kaiser Kuo, TP Huang, Lyle Goldstein
The World
11:00 AM
Neuroscience & The Mind
Bobby Kasthuri, Stuart Firestein
The Frontier
11:00 AM
Risk, Finance & Catastrophe
Jaan Tallinn, John Seo, Vineer Bhansali
The World
12:30 PM
Lunch
Family-style dining
2:00 PM
Evolution, Psychology & Human Nature
Rob Henderson, Zach Hambrick, John Hawks
The Frontier
2:00 PM
Defense & Security in the AI Age
Theodore Postol, Ray McGovern, Scott Horton
The World
3:30 PM
Lightning Talks II
Max Dama, Scott Adams, Mark Moffett, Katherine Dee
4:30 PM
The Great Debate: What Comes Next?
Tyler Cowen, Richard Hanania, Bruno Maçães
5:30 PM
Twin Peaks Sunset Walk
Final summit walk
7:30 PM
Closing Dinner & Reflections
Full dinner, closing remarks

Join Us at the Summit

Applications open now. Space is limited.

Request Invitation