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AI, Neurotech, and Human Irrelevance – A Three-Part Thought Experiment
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AI, Neurotech, and Human Irrelevance – A Three-Part Thought Experiment

I believe that it’s important to question the human-centric view of the future. In many parts of the world, humans are increasingly aware of their impact on future generations, on…

Japan is the Canary in the Coal Mine – The Great Virtual Escape
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Japan is the Canary in the Coal Mine – The Great Virtual Escape

Rich in tradition and material wealth, Japan’s reclusive youths are often completely uninterested in sex, relationships, or work. The country’s youth – especially men – are seeking escape from the…

Super-intelligent Machines May be Conscious, but Not Like We Are
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Super-intelligent Machines May be Conscious, but Not Like We Are

During my most recent UN speaking engagement in Shanghai, I wasn’t able to access Google (or my email), and was left with only a few books and the tabs I…

The Political Singularity – When AGI is the Only Issue on the Table
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The Political Singularity – When AGI is the Only Issue on the Table

The Political Singularity hypothesis: At some point in the 21st century, global and national politics will center entirely around the questions related to the (a) creation and (b) control of…

Lotus Eaters vs World Eaters – A Fork in the Road in the Transhuman Transition
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Lotus Eaters vs World Eaters – A Fork in the Road in the Transhuman Transition

Human nature has always been to gain control over the physical world — both in maximizing its output for our benefit (farming, mining, etc), and in lessening the risks it…

Artificial Intelligence Job Loss is a Comparatively Minor Concern
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Artificial Intelligence Job Loss is a Comparatively Minor Concern

How can you keep artificial intelligence from taking over your job? In my latest TEDx talk, I explore what I’ve learned (from hundreds of interviews) about job security in the…

What Black Mirror’s San Junipero Got Right and Wrong
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What Black Mirror’s San Junipero Got Right and Wrong

I’ve been cajoled into watching Netflix’s Black Mirror, and a friend of mine recommended watching the San Junipero episode next. As I mentioned in my last Black Morror reflection, and I…

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With VR and Neurotech, the Future of Sex May Be Just as Disturbing as the Present

I don’t watch fiction, and I don’t read fiction, almost as a rule. While I respect it as a medium, and consider it valuable in fleshing out future scenarios that…