Peter Diamandis, holding degrees from MIT and Harvard, has dedicated the past two decades to promoting a vision of an “abundant future” shaped by exponential technologies that aim to extend human life. As a serial entrepreneur and the founder of entities like the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University, he has established strong connections with influential business leaders, including Elon Musk.
His supporters appreciate his optimistic predictions and data-supported claims that technology has already played a significant role in alleviating poverty and enhancing global living standards. They also purchase his books. However, critics contend that his techno-utopian outlook fails to address issues of growing inequality and systemic disparities, especially in the U.S., where the bottom 50% of households possess less than 4% of the national wealth, while the top 10% hold over two-thirds.
Regardless of differing opinions on Diamandis, many see him as a compelling modern figure. In a recent discussion, the focus was on topics such as abundance and longevity, including his views on Bryan Johnson, a former associate who is attempting to reverse the aging process. Diamandis, aged 63, claims to be “biologically 39.”
The conversation with Diamandis is available for further listening, with excerpts provided. Diamandis believes we are experiencing a healthspan revolution due to technologies like AI, computation, sensors, single-cell sequencing, and cellular medicines, all contributing to understanding and potentially reversing aging. The concept of longevity escape velocity suggests a future where annually, life expectancy increases by more than a year. Diamandis, inspired by thinkers like Aubrey de Grey and Ray Kurzweil, has researched and invested in reaching this milestone within the next decade.
Addressing concerns about longevity being exclusive to the wealthy, Diamandis emphasizes accessible lifestyle choices: diet, sleep, exercise, and mindset as key components of longevity that do not incur costs. He argues that optimists live longer than pessimists, debunking the notion that longevity is only for the affluent.
Beyond basic lifestyle choices, Diamandis acknowledges that certain interventions start to require financial resources, such as medications, supplements, and advanced testing for early disease detection. He highlights epigenetic reprogramming as a promising area of longevity research, where the goal is to revert the epigenome to a more youthful state. Initially risky and costly, this technology might become broadly accessible as it matures.
Diamandis is involved in advancing longevity through the XPRIZE Foundation. The Healthspan XPRIZE, with $111 million in prize money, aims to demonstrate the reversal of functional aging in cognition, immunity, and muscle in individuals aged 60 to 80 years. With approximately 620 teams participating, the prize will be awarded by 2030, with a portion of the funds soon distributed to the top teams.
Regarding Bryan Johnson’s approach at Blueprint, Diamandis distinguishes his large-scale, scientifically backed competition from Johnson’s individual experimentation. While recognizing Johnson’s innovative efforts, Diamandis emphasizes his own focus on comprehensive global efforts to test multiple approaches to longevity.
More insights from Diamandis, including his connections with Elon Musk, collaboration with Tony Robbins in starting a health scanning company, and how he manages potential conflicts of interest, can be heard in the full interview.
