New travel/podcast/speaking policy

I’ve been drowning in both quantum-computing-related and AI-related talks, interviews, podcasts, panels, and so on. These activities have all but taken over my days, leaving virtually no time for the actual research (especially once one factors in time for family, and time for getting depressed on social media). I’ve let things reach this point partly because I really do love talking about things that interest me, but partly also because I never learned how to say no. I have no choice but to cut back.

So, the purpose of this post is for me to link people to it whenever I get a new request. From now on, I agree only under the following conditions:

1. For travel: you reimburse all travel costs. I don’t have to go through a lengthy process for reimbursements, but just forward you my receipts. There’s not a time limit on doing so.
2. You don’t require me to upload my slides in advance, or provide readings or other “extra” materials. (Title and abstract a week or two before the talk are reasonable.)
3. You don’t require me to schedule a “practice session” or “orientation session” before the main event.
4. For podcasts and virtual talks: you don’t require me to set up any special equipment (including headphones or special cameras), or install any special software.
5. If you’re a for-profit company: you compensate me for the time.
6. For podcasts and virtual talks: unless specified otherwise, I am in Austin, TX, in US Central time zone. You email me a reminder the day before with the time in US Central, and the link. Otherwise I won’t be held responsible in the likely event that we get it wrong.