How To Be the Smartest Person in the Room

How To Be the Smartest Person in the Room

I will provide you with seven powerful lines of text that Lex Freidman (MIT) wrote to comprehensively square the Universe, and then I will break it down so you can remember it and be, even momentarily, the smartest person in the room.

Humans are an API to ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is an API to Python.
Python is an API to C.
C is an API to assembly.
Assembly is an API to binary.
Binary is an API to physics.
Physics is an API to the machine that runs the universe.
It's computation all the way down.

Now, I will API stands for Application Programming Interface. Sounds fancy, right? It’s easy:

• Application: Just any software doing its job—like your friend who insists they’re “busy” while binge-watching cat videos.
• Interface: Think of it as a contract between two software pals. It’s like saying, “No stealing my fries without asking!”

So, when one app says, “Hey, can I have some data?” that’s a request. The other app responds, “Sure! Here’s your info, and maybe a side of fries!”

In short, APIs are like the social network for applications, where they trade requests and responses. So, the breakdown of Lex’ brilliantly insightful seven lines of text are as follows:

Humans are the remote control for ChatGPT: You push the buttons (type your questions), and ChatGPT responds—just like when you yell at your TV to change the channel. Spoiler: it doesn't listen!

ChatGPT is powered by Python: Think of Python as the coffee that keeps ChatGPT awake at night, coding and chatting while the rest of us are sleeping. It's the unsung hero, making sure everything runs smoothly.

Python is like C’s sidekick: Python might be the cool, laid-back friend, but C is the serious one—like the friend who’s always studying while you’re out having fun. They work together to get things done.

C talks to assembly: C speaks a language that’s a little more complicated—assembly language. It's like having a conversation with someone who really loves technical jargon. "Did you say 'byte'? I’m all ears!"

Assembly translates to binary: Assembly gets turned into binary, the language of computers. It's just 0s and 1s—basically the computer's version of Morse code. "Beep beep, I’m a computer!"

Binary is connected to physics: All those 0s and 1s are just a fancy way of saying, “Hey, electrons, do your thing!” It’s like telling the universe to get off the couch and do some work.

Physics runs the universe: And let’s not forget, physics is the ultimate boss. It’s like the grumpy parent who sets all the rules: “No, you can’t defy gravity today!”

It’s computation all the way down: So, from your witty banter with ChatGPT to the big bang, it’s all just layers of computation. Think of it like an infinite stack of pancakes—deliciously nerdy!