Future Now Future Now - Institute for the Future
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- Society & Culture
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Brought to you by the visionary minds at Institute for the Future, this captivating series delves deep into the ever-evolving landscapes of science, technology, and culture. In each episode, IFTF's distinguished researchers engage in riveting conversations with the world's most innovative scientists, engineers, trailblazers, and thought leaders, who are redefining the course of our collective future - here and now.
In this season, "Future Now" shines a spotlight on the bold endeavors to revolutionize enterprise and business practices. Our gripping discussions explore the pursuit of more humane, inclusive, and equitable outcomes, providing you with an exclusive front-row seat to the breakthroughs that will define tomorrow.
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Future Now 015 — "Bootstrapped" author Alissa Quart
In this episode, Alissa Quart discusses her latest book, "Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream." Quart and host Marina Gorbis take a deep dive into the origins and evolution of the "bootstrapping" myth, revealing the hypocrisies and hidden dependencies that underlie this pervasive narrative. From historical figures like Emerson and Thoreau to modern-day Silicon Valley icons, Quart exposes the cracks in the self-made success story. The conversation also delves into the precarious state of the middle class, the potential of mutualism as an alternative ethos, and the importance of fostering solidarity across diverse occupations in the face of increasing economic insecurity. Join us as we explore the liberating power of debunking toxic myths and envisioning a more interdependent American dream.
IFTF: https://iftf.org/podcast
Alissa Quart: https://www.alissaquart.com/
Bootstrapped: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bootstrapped-alissa-quart -
Future Now 014 — "The Fantasy Economy" author Neil Kraus
Our guest is Professor Neil Kraus from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the author of "The Fantasy Economy: Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Education Reform Movement" In this episode, Marina Gorbis and Neil discuss the long-standing economic myths, diminishing returns on educational investments, the surplus of degree holders in low-wage job markets, and the misleading narrative of labor shortages.
The Fantasy Economy: https://tupress.temple.edu/books/the-fantasy-economy
Institute for the Future: https://iftf.org -
Future Now 013 — Exploring economic alternatives with The New Yorker's Nick Romeo
In this episode of Future Now, author and journalist Nick Romeo discussed the themes of his latest book, "The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy." (https://bit.ly/482m57j) Nick challenges the inevitability of the current economic status quo, offering a thought-provoking discourse on potential alternatives, from restructuring labor markets and corporate dynamics to innovative political interventions for city governance. If you enjoyed this episode, you should listen to Nick’s Book Talk discussion at the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on Wednesday, January 24, from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. Visit this link for more information: https://bit.ly/3tVqVoR
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Future Now 012 — Daron Acemoglu on the future of work and AI
Renowned economist and author Daron Acemoglu discusses insights and revelations from his latest book, "Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity," with IFTF Executive Director Marina Gorbis. The conversation explores the intricate relationship between technology, economic growth, and societal well-being, examining how innovations have shaped prosperity throughout history.
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Future Now 011 — Jules Terpak how AI will shape work and creativity
IFTF Emerging Media Lab director Toshi Hoo speaks with Jules Terpak, a Gen Z content creator known for her work unpacking technology and culture trends on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The conversation centers around the implications of recent breakthroughs in generative AI, particularly in how these advances may shape the future of work and creativity.
Key Points:
- Jules has been active on social media for over a decade, starting with YouTube at age 10. She's seen how platforms rise and fall, and how algorithms shape content.
- Generative AI like DALL-E is opening new creative possibilities, but still has limitations around generating longer form video.
- Social media algorithms already curate our feeds, and now generative AI will start generating personalized content at scale.
- The NPC trend (https://theconversation.com/people-are-pretending-to-be-npcs-on-tiktok-and-its-not-just-weird-its-also-lucrative-210795) on TikTok shows people mimicking repetitive AI-like behavior for views and money. An interesting signal as AI advances.
- Loneliness as a market opportunity - rise of virtual companion bots like Replika and emotional labor replacements.
- Gen Z is questioning traditional work as they've grown up exposed to influencer careers. But sustainability is a challenge. Need to find your niche fans.
- As AI advances, optimizing human-AI collaboration will be key.
- Jules is cautiously optimistic about human-AI futures with proper governance and conscious use. Focus on human needs like security.
Resources:
Jules' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JulesTerpak
Jules' Twitter: https://twitter.com/julesterpak/
Growing Digital TikTok series: https://www.tiktok.com/@julesterpak
Replika virtual companion bot: https://replika.com -
Future Now 010 — Astra Taylor on "The Age of Insecurity"
In this episode of Future Now, IFTF Executive Director Marina Gorbis speaks with author, filmmaker, and activist Astra Taylor about economic insecurity and building solidarity. They discuss Astra's new book "The Age of Insecurity," (https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-age-of-insecurity) which examines how insecurity stems from systemic forces, not individual failings. Astra and Marina explore the myth that insecurity fosters innovation, and how guaranteed assets like housing and healthcare allow civic participation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the basic assets that enable human flourishing.
Show Notes:
“Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time?” New York Times guest essay by Astra Taylor (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/opinion/inequality-insecurity-economic-wealth.html)
Astra Taylor Twitter @astradisastra (https://twitter.com/astradisastra)
The Age of Insecurity, by Astra Taylor (https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-age-of-insecurity)
Prisons We Choose to Live Inside, by Doris Lessing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_We_Choose_to_Live_Inside)
Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, by Margaret Atwood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payback:_Debt_and_the_Shadow_Side_of_Wealth)
What Is Democracy? A film by Astra Taylor (https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/whatisdemocracy)
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone (https://academic.macmillan.com/academictrade/9781250231284/democracymaynotexistbutwellmissitwhenitsgone)
Customer Reviews
Loving it!
Really enjoying the reboot of this podcast. High quality and important conversations exploring key issues that will shape the future and the actions we take today. Definitely worth a listen.
Urgent and entertaining conversations about the future!
Fantastic interview show that tackles a wide variety of urgent futures topics. The uniformly excellent interviewers and interviewees go far beyond typical hype-driven perspectives to identify the real issues and opportunities of the next decade!
Who doesn’t love to talk about the future?
I love all things future. This is a fantastic podcast about a variety of future topics and themes. Enjoy these ongoing updates from Institute for the Future!