Technoprogressive Hub Podcast

Technoprogressive Hub

The Technoprogressive Hub is fighting for a high-tech and radically democratic future. Sponsored by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and hosted by J. Hughes. technoprogressives.substack.com

  1. Science Fiction and Artificial Wombs

    1 MAY

    Science Fiction and Artificial Wombs

    Today on Technoprogressive Hub I’m speaking with Dr. Evie Kendal, a bioethicist and public health scientist at Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology. She is the author of the provocative and influential monograph, Equal Opportunity and the Case for State Sponsored Ectogenesis, in which she argued that artificial wombs are a potential requirement for genuine social and gender equality. In her latest volume, Science Fiction and the Ethics of Artificial Wombs (Bloomsbury, 2025), Dr. Kendal pivots to the “imagination as a laboratory.” She critiques the traditional bioethical reliance on sterile clinical vignettes, arguing instead that the “thick” narratives found in science fiction—from the cautionary tales of Aldous Huxley to the liberating visions of Marge Piercy and Octavia Butler—provide a more robust framework for anticipating the social and political shocks of emerging biotechnologies. Show Notes Evie Kendal’s recent publications https://experts.swinburne.edu.au/6209-evie-kendal/publications Google Scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9x0hed0AAAAJ&hl=en Equal Opportunity and the Case for State Sponsored Ectogenesis, Evie Kendalhttps://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137549877 Science Fiction and the Ethics of Artificial Wombs, Evie Kendalhttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/science-fiction-and-the-ethics-of-artificial-wombs-9781350542990/ “Artificial Womb: A Short History,” J. Hughes https://philarchive.org/rec/HUGAWA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    51 min
  2. Technoprogressive Politicians Emerge

    25 APR

    Technoprogressive Politicians Emerge

    As anxiety about data centers, AI-driven precarity, and tech oligarch authoritarianism mount, progressives have mostly responded with proposals to slow down AI. Bernie in particular has been channeling some of the existential risk concerns of Eliezer Yudkowsky, Geoffrey Hinton and Max Tegmark, and with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, promoting regulation of data center construction. On the other hand, California Congressman and US Presidential aspirant Ro Khanna, Congressional candidate Alex Bores, and Massachusetts state legislature candidate Jason Poulos have emerged with technoprogressive policy proposals, universal basic income and services, progressive taxation and sovereign wealth funds. Some Big Tech firms, like OpenAI, are also now pushing for UBI and technoprogressive policies, while others like Palantir have fully embraced a techno-libertarian/authoritarian policy agenda. Show Notes IEET Summer Course on Technoprogressive Worldbuilding - June 20-August 20, 2026 - Online The Technoprogressive Opportunity - Sept 19-20, 2026 - London UK https://www.meetup.com/london-futurists/events/314148857/ Ro Khanna’s “AI for the People” agenda https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ro-khanna-ai-democracy-blueprint/ Alex Bores’ AI Dividend https://www.axios.com/2026/04/20/alex-bores-ai-dividend-plan-wealth Alex Bores’ AI Policy Framework https://www.alexbores.nyc/files/Bores_AI_Framework.pdf Jason Poulos, MA-4 Dem candidate platform https://poulos.house/ OpenAI’s Proposed Industrial Policy https://openai.com/index/industrial-policy-for-the-intelligence-age/ Alex Karp/Palantir’s mini-manifesto https://www.businessinsider.com/palantir-manifesto-alex-karp-technological-republic-summary-2026-4 Technoprogressive Hub is an IEET-sponsored podcast/vlog produced by J. Hughes. Also check out Bread and Robots, an IEET-sponsored podcast/vlog produced by Matteo McDermant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 11min

  3. 13 APR

    Aleksandra Przegalińska on the Future of Work

    Today on Technoprogressive Hub we’re speaking with Aleksandra Przegalińska, a philosopher and social scientist of AI. Dr. Przegalińska is Vice Rector and the head of the Human-Machine Interaction Research Center at Kozminski University in Poland. Currently she is Senior Research Associate at the Center for Labour and Just Economy at Harvard University. She works on the future of work, humanoid and social robots, and wearable technologies. She is co-author of the book Collaborative Society and Debating Universal Basic Income. Links Collaborative Society (MIT Press), Aleksandra Przegalińska and Dariusz Jemielniak Debating Universal Basic Income: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives, Aleksandra Przegalińska and Robert Wright Aleksandra Przegalińska on Google Scholar Aleksandra Przegalińska on Researchgate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 7min

  4. 10 APR

    How Technoprogressive is Bernie/AOC's AI Data Center Proposal?

    This week on Technoprogressive Hub, Eli, Matteo and J discuss the legislation proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders to restrict the building of AI data centers. “Opposing AI’ is Luddite, not technoprogressive, but the sentiment against oligarchs, AI and data centers is so strong now that we may need to accept some Luddite positioning to get the Left to promote desirable AI safety and regulation. Links “Seizing the Data Center Buildout for Grid Modernization” by Jane Flagal https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/seizing-the-data-center-buildout-for-grid-modernization/ “AI data center fight blurs political lines” Axios https://www.axios.com/2026/01/16/ai-data-center-fight-blurs-political-lines “New Bernie Sanders AI Safety Bill Would Halt Data Center Construction” WIRED https://www.wired.com/story/new-bernie-sanders-ai-safety-bill-would-halt-data-center-construction/ “AI & robotics briefing: Data centres’ huge ‘water footprint’ becomes clear amid AI boom” by Katrina Krämer https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-03768-y “AI Data Centers: Big Tech’s Impact on Electric Bills, Water, and More” by Nicole Greenfield https://www.consumerreports.org/data-centers/ai-data-centers-impact-on-electric-bills-water-and-more-a1040338678/ “AI data center” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AI_data_center&oldid=1346973952 “AI, Data Centers, and the U.S. Electric Grid: A Watershed Moment” by Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/ai-data-centers-us-electric-grid “Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez push bill to impose AI data center moratorium” by Matthew Daly https://apnews.com/article/data-centers-ai-electricity-sanders-aoc-65651bd28c3d911d18eeb46cd54f4c75 “Why is Everyone So Wrong About AI Water Use?” by Hank Green This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    59 min
  5. ProWorker AI?

    24 MAR

    ProWorker AI?

    ProWorker AI? This week on Technoprogressive Hub, Eli, Matteo and J are discussing proposals for pro-worker artificial intelligence laws. Recently David Autor, Daron Acemoglu, and Simon Johnson and the UK Trades Union Council have proposed a set of regulatory and legal reforms to protect workers from automation and enhance human expertise. Arguably technoprogressive, will they only work briefly until AI surpasses human labor?  Links “Building a pro-worker AI innovation strategy” UK Trade Union Council “Can A.I. Be Pro-Worker?” by John Cassidy “Can We Have Pro-Worker AI? Choosing a path of machines in service of minds” by Daron Acemoglu, David Autor, and Simon Johnson (Hamilton Project) “Building pro-worker artificial intelligence” by Daron Acemoglu, David Autor, and Simon Johnson (NBER) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 5min
  6. Mark Walker: Philosopher for the Future

    19 MAR

    Mark Walker: Philosopher for the Future

    On Technoprogressive Hub, Dr. J. spoke with philosopher Mark Walker about moral enhancement, universal basic income, theology and technoprogressivism. Mark Walker holds the Richard L. Hedden Endowed Chair in Advanced Philosophical Studies at New Mexico State University. Links Happy-People-Pills For All by Mark Walker Free Money for All by Mark Walker Mark Walker’s Papers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 11min
  7. The Pro-Human AI Declaration

    16 MAR

    The Pro-Human AI Declaration

    The Pro-Human AI Declaration  On Technoprogressive Hub, Matteo and J react to the Pro-Human AI Declaration. Co-signed by major progressive and conservative organizations and leaders, does it finally represent a tenuous alliance of the populist Right with the progressive Left, united by anti-AI Luddism? Or is the Declaration actually a technoprogressive project dressed as Luddism? Links Pro-Human AI Declaration “Inside the secret meeting that led to the AI political resistance” by Tina Nguyen “Pro-human AI declaration brings together unlikely group calling for trustworthy tech” by Jared Perlo This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 49min

  8. 14 MAR

    Post-Labor Economics

    Post-Labor Economics With David Shapiro  David Shapiro is a futurist, author, social media producer, and one of the most prolific popularizers of post-labor economics — the argument that accelerating automation isn't a bug to be managed but a civilizational transition to be designed. Drawing on ideas ranging from universal basic income and sovereign wealth funds to the radical deflationary potential of AI-driven production, he makes the case that we are approaching a world where human labor is simply no longer the primary mechanism for distributing prosperity. Find David at Kickstarter - Patreon - Substack - Bluesky - X - LinkedIn - Youtube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit technoprogressives.substack.com

    1hr 18min
See All (13)

About

The Technoprogressive Hub is fighting for a high-tech and radically democratic future. Sponsored by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and hosted by J. Hughes. technoprogressives.substack.com

Information