Ranveer Allahbadia - Rajiv Malhotra

1)      Rajiv discusses the advancements in artificial intelligence and the possibility that AI may surpass human scientists in discovering science. Malhotra distinguishes between intelligence and consciousness, stating that machines can become more intelligent but will not become conscious. He also warns of the potential danger of AI and how the country that dominates AI will conquer other countries, likening it to the industrial revolution and colonization. He predicts that the colonization of the world by the US and China will begin by 2030.

2)      Malhotra discusses the current global power struggle between the US and China, which he sees as a competition over who will take over the world as the dominant power. He notes that American presidents from Clinton to Obama built up China over the past 25 years, thinking that China would become like the US if given enough investment, but China instead grew to hate the US. Malhotra likens the current phase to the Industrial Revolution, in which Britain mechanized factories and took over much of the world economy through textiles and steel, leaving India as a market for their goods. Now, Malhotra predicts that AI and algorithms will become the dominant force, and the few oligarchs who control them, such as Google and Facebook, will rule the world. He believes that India should be building its own technology platform instead of bringing in American platforms and giving them more power, as China is doing with its own technology. Malhotra sees this as a return of the East India Company, where the likes of Google are the new East India Company, ruling through technology and algorithms.

3)     Rajiv discusses India's lack of investment in futuristic technologies and research and development, which has resulted in the country becoming a consumer society instead of a producer. Malhotra explains that although the country is bringing in new technology, it mostly relies on American technology, therefore increasing India's dependency on them. He states that India needs to become the owner of the technology and not just a labourer who helps them make it. Malhotra emphasizes the importance of producing and keeping the technology in India to keep the country ahead in the geopolitical game.

4)      Rajiv discusses the issue of India's policies not taking into account how other countries are siphoning away the intelligence of Indians. He urges Indians to focus on Indian startups and not sell them to foreign buyers. He mentions that the governments and industrialists should fund Indian startups and the IITs to create intellectual infrastructure to own the technology. He also added that the investment in research and development has been low and is not a priority for the Indian government. Rajiv also talked about the cultural differences between India and China, explaining that China's collective culture has taught them to sacrifice the short-term for the long-term benefits of the group. He also mentions that it is challenging for democracies like India to make decisions and execute them for the long-term due to priorities shifting about winning elections.

5)     Rajiv discusses democracy and its limitations. He argues that competitive domains such as the military, sports, and industry are not run by democracy but by those with more knowledge and expertise, who make crucial decisions. Therefore, he questions whether India's democratic system has worked or not, as it assumes that everyone has an equal say regardless of their knowledge or expertise. Malhotra proposes a presidential system that offers stability and is better suited for India, where the elected President is directly voted over parliament. He believes that Narendra Modi could become President someday, and the constitution gives the President enough authority to make the Presidency the centre of power and decision-making in the country.

6)      Rajiv argues that India has been colonized not just by the British, but also by Islamic organizations for 1200 years, which has resulted in a new language, new ways of thinking, new religion, and loyalty to Middle Eastern countries rather than to India. He believes that to counter this, India needs a century to recover itself, and strong, stable leaders in the long-term. Hechallenges the notion of left and right-wing politics and believes that India'sModi government will likely stay in power over the next decade, but people should demand that the government raise itself to the next level by changing the education policy and creating their own social models rather than adopting Western ones.

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7)      Rajiv discusses the geopolitical importance of India and how the competition between India and China will define the world geopolitically. He explains that India is strategically important, as it controls important ocean access through its ownership of the Andaman Islands and its ability to project power in the Gulf. He notes that India has a large coastline and can control the pathway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and it has high-quality ports. However, he believes that India is not doing enough in terms of investing in defense technology and should buy out young Indian high-tech companies with defense and civilian applications. He highlights the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as an avenue for investing in local technological development, so India can own its technology rather than giving it away to foreign companies.

8)      Malhotra discusses the importance of collaboration between DRDO, corporate entities, and universities in India to develop cutting-edge technology rather than relying on buying it from other countries such as the US and China. He also criticizes the Indian government for taking advice from American think-tanks and consultants, some of whom have distorted views on India, perpetuating problematic ideas about Indian history and societal issues. Rajiv emphasizes the need to detach emotions from political and geopolitical agendas while discussing issues and highlights the divide and rule policy of the British Empire, which still influences India's present.

9)      Rajiv discusses the negative rhetoric being taught to Indian students in American universities and brought back to prestigious private universities in India like Ashoka. He explains that Indian billionaires are funding this higher education and brain washing the elites in the country with an ideology called "bokism" or critical race theory. This theory is being applied to India, claiming that Dalits are the blacks of India and non-Dalits are the whites, making India a racist society. However, Malhotra argues that this is not true and that the traditional system of Varna was very different. He suggests creating quotas based on individual need and social deprivation, rather than based on caste, to create a scientific means to segregate society and give help where it is needed most.

10)  Rajiv discusses the importance of using AI technology to collect important data for the purpose of addressing caste-based and religious segregation in India. He believes that the Indian government could use this data to determine which groups need the most help and allocate resources accordingly. However, he notes that there is currently no widespread support for this idea in India and that it will likely require the involvement of younger generations and innovative thinkers. Furthermore, Malhotra challenges the notion of "brahminical privilege," arguing that in modern India, privileges and advantages are more closely tied to markers like proficiency in the English language, which can have a significant impact on job prospects and social standing.

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11)   Rajiv discusses the concept of liberalism and its application to Indian culture. He argues that true liberals should support local languages, ways of life, food, and worship rather than foreign imports. He also suggests that Indians should think for themselves rather than blindly following Western-based arguments, and that Indian leftists tend to recite the same ideology without considering opposing facts. Malhotra also addresses the topic of young people in Indian politics and suggests that the country should be run by fresh faces who are educated in technology and science, similar to the technocrats in China's Communist Party.

12)   Malhotra comments on the state of politics in India and its effects on leadership. He says that democracy can make politics a dirty game, which discourages good leaders from entering. However, he believes that scientific and military leaders could make excellent politicians because their training provides them with the necessary leadership strength. The conversation then pivots to discuss the emerging technological battle between China and the US. Malhotra explains that the US made a mistake in trying to make China wealthy and democratic, as it has only given China more power to become anti-American. He believes that the next two decades may revolve around the technological battle between these two countries, as there is a lot of animosity towards China for stealing American technology.

13)   Rajiv discusses the potential for a cyber world war and the importance of quantum computing in the arms race between the US and China. He explains that whoever achieves quantum computing will be thousands of times faster than anything currently possible, leading to better AI and encryption-breaking capabilities. This could result in chaos as encrypted systems such as electric grids, industry and transportation systems will no longer be secure. Both the US and China are competing for quantum computing technology, and control of it could shape the geopolitics of the world in asimilar way to how cannons changed the course of Indian history.

14)   Rajiv discusses the battle for Taiwan and its importance in the technology war, specifically in the field of semiconductors and quantum computing. He highlights China's growing dominance in the field of surveillance and AI through its use of cameras and facial recognition technology. Malhotra also emphasizes China's advancements in military technology, such as aircraft carriers, hypersonic planes, and robotic soldiers. He warns of a potential future where robots fight wars in the Himalayas and emphasizes the need for India to align with the US in protecting against Chinese threats.