meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Intelligence Squared

When the Microchips are Down, with Chris Miller

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 14 November 2022

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. We live in a world which is completely dependent on the technology of microchips, which are made up of millions of transistors which are so small, about one thousandth of the size of a red blood cell. Making something this small and this complex is not something that can be easily replicated, meaning the world relies on just a handful of companies and countries to supply these chips. So how did we get here? And how is the scarcity of this resource affecting some of the world’s crucial geopolitical tensions? To find out more, we’re joined by Chris Miller, Associate Professor of International History at Tufts University and author of Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. Our host for this episode is presenter and comedian, Timandra Harkness. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/  Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber: Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interruption  One early episode per week Two bonus episodes per month A 25% discount on IQ2+, our exciting streaming service, where you can watch and take part in events live at home and enjoy watching past events on demand and without ads  A 15% discount and priority access to live, in-person events in London, so you won’t miss out on tickets Our premium monthly newsletter  Intelligence Squared Merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello, I'm journalist and presenter Ritala Shah. I want to let you know about an event

0:05.1

I'm hosting for Intelligent Squared on the 9th of October in London. I'll be talking

0:10.0

to Michael Lewis, the renowned author of best-selling books, including Moneyball, The Big Short,

0:15.8

Flash Boys and Liars Poca. We're going to be discussing his most anticipated work to

0:21.4

date, going infinite the rise and fall of a new tycoon. It's a gripping real-time narrative

0:28.2

telling the story of Sam Bankman Fried, who became the world's youngest billionaire

0:33.2

before his 30th birthday and was behind one of the most catastrophic financial meltdowns

0:38.9

of the 21st century. Lewis was granted unprecedented access to his subject, allowing him to

0:45.0

witness Bankman Fried's entire tumultuous journey. We'll learn all about this unconventional

0:50.6

figure who nonchalantly wore cargo shorts and played video games while giving interviews,

0:56.5

but remained a mystery even to his investors. What gave him such an outstanding ability to

1:02.6

make money and what led to the spectacular collapse of his empire? To hear the tale of

1:08.4

an extraordinary individual and a 21st century epic encompassing high frequency trading

1:14.6

insane amounts of money, hubris and downfall. Join us at 7pm on the 9th of October in London

1:22.2

or online. Just visit IntelligentSquared.com to find out more.

1:50.5

Welcome to IntelligentSquared. I'm Connor Boyle. Coming up on the podcast, a short history

1:56.3

of microchips. We now live in a world which is completely dependent on the technology of

2:01.7

microchips, which are made up of millions of transistors which are so small they're about

2:07.2

a thousandth of the size of a red blood cell. Making something so small and complex is not

2:12.8

something which can be easily replicated, meaning the world relies on just a handful of companies

2:18.2

and countries to supply these chips. So how did we get here and how is the scarcity of the

2:23.5

resource affecting some of the world's most crucial geopolitical tensions? To find out more,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.