‘Narendra Modi is one of the most fascinating human beings’: Lex Fridman gears up for deep-dive podcast with PM

Expressing his eagerness to engage with the Indian leader, Fridman shared that he plans to undertake a 48-72 hour fast before the conversation, a practice he often follows for reflection and meditation.

Renowned artificial intelligence researcher and podcaster Lex Fridman is gearing up for an in-depth conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking what could be one of his most anticipated podcast episodes. Fridman, who announced his visit to India earlier in January, reaffirmed his excitement on February 8, calling Modi "one of the most fascinating human beings" he has ever studied.

Narendra Modi is one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever studied.I can't wait to talk to him on podcast for several hours in a few weeks.On top of the complex, deep history of India, and his role in it, just the human side of Modi is really interesting. For

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Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) February 7, 2025

Expressing his eagerness to engage with the Indian leader, Fridman shared that he plans to undertake a 48-72 hour fast before the conversation. Drawing a parallel between his own fasting habits and Modi’s well-documented multi-day fasts for spiritual reasons, Fridman said, "It’s a good opportunity to meditate and reflect on how lucky I am to be alive, to have this weird brain that sees beauty even in darkness, and most importantly, to appreciate the love in my life."

Fridman, who has hosted deep-dive discussions with some of the world’s most influential figures, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelensky, is expected to explore a range of topics with PM Modi. The conversation is likely to touch upon India’s advancements in artificial intelligence, digital governance, and global influence, along with flagship initiatives like Digital India and Make in India.

I will be doing a podcast with Narendra Modi (@narendramodi), Prime Minister of India, at the end of February.I've never been to India, so I'm excited to finally visit and experience many facets of its vibrant, historic culture and its amazing people as fully as I can. Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) January 18, 2025

This will be PM Modi’s second podcast appearance in recent weeks, following his debut on People by WTF, hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. In that nearly two-hour conversation, Modi shared personal anecdotes from his childhood, political journey, and approach to handling setbacks. He also responded lightheartedly to viral memes about him and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, remarking, “Wo toh chalta rehta hai” (that’s an ongoing thing). “I don’t waste my time on that.”

Fridman’s upcoming interview with PM Modi is expected to draw global attention, given his reputation for thought-provoking discussions. With over 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, his podcast has become a leading platform for exploring complex ideas with some of the most prominent minds in the world.