Legendary Inventor Danny Hillis — Solving the Impossible (Plus Kevin Kelly)

Project Selection

Danny Hillis shares his strategic approach to project selection, emphasizing the importance of impact and uniqueness. He explains that projects at Applied Invention must pass three tests: excitement from a senior partner, financial viability, and a non-redundancy criterion, ensuring the project is unique and not likely to be done by others 1. This disciplined approach contrasts with his earlier days when he pursued projects without considering financial sense. Hillis acknowledges the role of visionary funders, like Jeff Bezos, who support innovative ideas and take risks 2.

   

Storytelling

Storytelling plays a crucial role in the success of inventions, as Danny Hillis learned from his experiences at Disney and with Steve Jobs. He highlights the importance of creating a narrative that connects emotionally with people, which can be more impactful than technical excellence 3. Hillis reflects on how Jobs' vision for the Macintosh was rooted in the story of user interaction, despite technical challenges 4. This storytelling approach also influenced Hillis' design of the 10,000-year clock, focusing on the visitor's experience rather than just the mechanics 5.

   

Challenges

Danny Hillis reflects on overcoming challenges and learning from failures, such as the downfall of Thinking Machines. He admits that neglecting financial sustainability led to its failure, teaching him valuable lessons about business management 6. Hillis also discusses the concept of unbundling intelligence, suggesting that AI will help us understand intelligence as a multi-dimensional space 7. Embracing uncertainty, he draws inspiration from Richard Feynman, who valued understanding concepts from first principles 8.