FUTUREPROOF‪.‬ Jeremy Goldman

W. Russell Neuman is Professor of Media Technology at New York University. A founding faculty of the MIT Media Laboratory, he served as Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His recent books include The Digital Difference: Media Technology and the Theory of Communication Effects
In his new book EVOLUTIONARY INTELLIGENCE: How Technology Will Make Us Smarter (MIT Press; September 26, 2023), Neuman offers a surprisingly positive vision in which computational intelligence compensates for the well-recognized limits of human judgment, improves decision making, and increases our agency. Drawing on his vast experience, Neuman makes a convincing case about how human intelligence will coevolve with digital technology to revolutionize how we think and behave.
In today's episode, we explore the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. While many view AI with suspicion, Neuman offers a hopeful perspective. He believes that just as the wheel enhanced mobility, the rise of AI in everyday devices will revolutionize our decision-making. Neuman suggests that by embracing AI's evolutionary intelligence, we can better adapt to challenges and ensure our long-term survival. Join us as we delve into this optimistic view on AI's role in our future.

In Mid-July, I heard about how a conversational AI and metaverse company, MeetKai, was partnering with a semiconductor integration startup, Silicon Box, to unveil a digital twin of Silicon Box's new $2 billion semiconductor packaging facility in Singapore. This virtual replication in the metaverse’s goal was to help revolutionize chip manufacturing by addressing major bottlenecks, while also offering an innovative avenue for business growth, talent development, and professional training. And this got me thinking about all of the potential, exciting uses for VR and/or the metaverse in the future—not necessarily for marketing to consumers, but for plenty of other business applications just like this one. 
To that end, I tracked down James Kaplan, the co-founder and CEO of MeetKai for a discussion. 
In this episode, we discuss the concept of digital twins, how they might help us in the future, what role VR acceptance might help us develop interesting new use cases for the metaverse in coming years, and whether or not humans will care if they’re talking to a fellow human or an AI in the future. James is a sharp guy so I think you’ll really enjoy this one, so let’s jump right in!

While I've enjoyed watching Sanjay Gupta over the years on CNN, I have to say, I've learned just as much from his brother Suneel. He's a multifaceted entrepreneur, teacher, and researcher known for his profound expertise in human behavior, energy, and motivation.

The founding CEO of RISE, a healthcare startup now owned by Amazon, Gupta notably collaborated with former First Lady Michelle Obama to extend affordable health coaching to those in need. As a celebrated author, he penned the bestselling book "Backable", narrating his transformative journey from setbacks to success. His latest offering, "Everyday Dharma", released on September 5, 2023, masterfully interweaves personal anecdotes, history, science, and both Eastern and Western philosophies to guide readers towards achieving joy and success in every facet of life. Join us as we delve into the insights and stories of this captivating storyteller.

A lot of what this show talks about broadly falls under the umbrella of “what can go wrong” with our shared future—and what we can do about it. And there are a lot of GREAT things about the internet—and quite a few shady, more than unfortunate things right below the surface, including child predators and child sex abuse material, or CSAM.
Today I’m speaking with Julie Cordua, the CEO and Executive Director of Thorn, an organization co-founded with Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, focused on leveraging technology to combat child sexual abuse online—and Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, Thorn’s Director of Data Science.
In today's interview, we'll delve into the alarming intersection of AI technology and child exploitation: exploring the rise of AI-generated abusive content, the tactics of modern child predators harnessing AI tools, the prevailing threat overshadowing future AI risks, and the evolving stance of AI companies towards child safety since the inception of social media platforms. Join us as we unpack these pressing issues.

Extreme heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the USA. That’s the bad news. But the good news is we have a solution to combat it: Urban tree cover is one of the most effective ways cities can cool heat islands and save lives. The problem: tree coverage is not equitable across urban neighborhoods in the US.
That’s where the Tree Equity Alliance — a new coalition of conservation nonprofits American Forests, GreenLatinos, Groundwork USA, and One Tree Planted — comes in. It will work to advance equitable urban tree cover, AKA “Tree Equity.” New data from American Forests now shows:
Lower-income neighborhoods have 36% less tree cover and are 6 degrees warmer than wealthier neighborhoods during the hottest summer monthsCommunities of color tend to have 45% less urban canopy and are 9 degrees warmer during that same timeframe.This disparity has lasting effects on the health and economic opportunity in low-income neighborhoods. By pooling funding and resources together, the Tree Equity Alliance aims to achieve Tree Equity in 100 U.S. cities by 2030. 
To learn more about this initiative and why advocating for adequate urban tree cover in underrepresented communities is essential to fight both climate change and racial justice, I sat down with American Forests’ tree equity lead, Benita Hussain. Prior to joining American Forests, Hussain was the director of the 10 Minute Walk, a national campaign led by The Trust for Public Land which was named as a 2020 Fast Company World Changing Idea under her leadership. Hussain was an environmental policy advisor to Mayor Mike Bloomberg and to late-Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.  She and her writing have been featured in The New York Times, and The Hill, among other outlets, and she sits on multiple environmental and conservation boards.

This is part two of our conversation with Cory Doctorow, a name synonymous with tech activism, digital rights, and the future of the internet—so if you haven’t heard Part I yet, make sure to go check that out first! 
In the second part of our conversation, we'll be unpacking the shifting tide of antitrust regulations, the evolving landscape of tech monopolies, and the very essence of what it means to have digital self-determination in today's age. Plus, a sneak peek into Cory's upcoming book, 'The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.' So, whether you're a tech enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or just curious about the future of the digital world, this episode promises insights that will both challenge and enlighten. Buckle up, it's going to be a thrilling ride! Let's dive in.