Turing Church podcast

Giulio Prisco
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  • Religion & Spirituality
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Science and religion, spirituality and technology, engineering and science fiction, mind and matter. Hacking religion, enlightening science, awakening technology. Spaceflight and Spaceship Earth. www.turingchurch.com

  1. May 17

    A conversation with Natasha Vita-More

    This is a conversation with my friend Natasha Vita-More. The video of this conversation is published on YouTube by Mindplex. We first met on the Extropians mailing list nearly 30 years ago. Reflecting on those early days, I said that our initial technology timelines seemed over-optimistic to me. However, I now believe the rapid advancement of AI acts as a “framework technology” that could finally bootstrap the progress of other extropian dreams like nanotechnology, life extension, and mind uploading. Natasha agreed, noting that while not every forecast came true exactly as imagined, the underlying “architecture” of those early conversations was correct. We discussed the status of molecular manufacturing. While I observed a shift toward more conservative “atomic precision manufacturing,” Natasha remains a visionary for the potential of assembling and disassembling matter at the molecular level. She pointed out that AI is now solving the complex mathematical problems that once stalled nanotechnology, potentially leading to major leaps in nanomedicine and regenerative cellular manufacturing. We touched on the current cultural climate, including “woke” mentality, the “witch hunts” that have targeted figures like Nick Bostrom, and the fact that many people now feel the need to apologize for contacts they had with Jeffrey Epstein long before his questionable activities were known. Natasha shared her perspective on a recent debate she hosted featuring Eliezer Yudkowsky, who has shifted toward a “doomer” stance on AI. She criticized his reliance on frightening metaphors and absolute negativity, arguing instead for critical thinking and a focus on how we can adapt, adopt, and evolve alongside AI. Looking toward the future, I mentioned a recent milestone that may be a precursor to mind uploading: the integration of a fruit fly’s connectome with a simulated robotic body. Natasha envisions a future where we coexist across multiple substrates, emphasizing that she does not wish to leave the body behind but rather to upgrade and augment it. Finally, we discussed the origins of cryptocurrency on the Extropians list and its future pathways toward sound money and decentralized coordination. We concluded by reflecting on our political evolution, moving toward a “classic liberal” sensibility that prioritizes inquiry and long-term human flourishing over the tribalism and grievances that dominate today’s discourse. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 29m

  2. May 2

    A conversation with Max More

    I recently chatted with my old friend Max More to reflect on our history within the Extropian movement and discuss our views on the future of technology. The video of this conversation is published on YouTube by Mindplex. We first met through the Extropians mailing list in the late 90s, and I’ve recently been revisiting those old archives and issues of Extropy magazine. While I loved the optimistic vibe of that era, I used to find the projected timelines for technology development unrealistically optimistic. However, the current artificial intelligence (AI) revolution has made me far more optimistic about rapid progress in all Extropian technologies. Max, interestingly, has moved in the opposite direction, becoming more cautious about short-term expectations. He expressed skepticism that current AI architectures, specifically transformers and Large Language Models (LLMs), will lead to superintelligence or solve complex biological problems like aging in the immediate future. He noted that technological adoption often follows a slow S-curve rather than a smooth exponential line due to regulatory and cultural factors. Despite this, we both acknowledged current wonders, such as AI assisting in mathematical demonstrations and the emergence of commercially available self-driving vehicles like Waymo. Our conversation turned to the history of the Extropy Institute and the magazine, which Max started in 1988 to systematize ideas about life extension, space, and intelligence. We reminisced about how the movement correctly anticipated major trends like cryptocurrency and smart contracts, which were explored on the mailing list long before they became mainstream. We could use modern AI to digitize and format old PDF scans of Extropy magazine into high-quality electronic documents to preserve this history. We discussed life extension and “biostasis” (Max’s preferred term for cryonics). Max emphasized that biostasis should be a “Plan A” emergency fund for anyone interested in the future, as biological breakthroughs might not arrive in time for our generation. He shared recent promising research on thymus gland regeneration and high-fidelity brain preservation. I shared my interest in “soft uploading” or mind-filing, where detailed digital traces of a person might one day allow for their reconstruction by a superintelligent AI. I told Max that I’m not signed up for cryonics, or more generally biostasis, because I don’t have the money. Max mentioned Sparks Brain Preservation as an option that could be very complicated but cheap. I’ll certainly look into that. I believe in some or some other kind of life after death so if I can’t be preserved in biostasis it’s no big deal, but it would be fun to see what happens next with my memories intact. Max updated me on his recent work, including a newly finished book on biostasis (waiting for a publisher) and his ongoing “True Transhumanism” essay series. While I find myself moving away from the label “transhumanist” in favor of “Extropian,” we both remain dedicated to the principles of morphological freedom and the continual improvement of the human condition. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 13m

  3. Apr 20

    Q/A on Irrational mechanics (3)

    This continues “Q/A on Irrational mechanics (1)” and “Q/A on Irrational mechanics (2).” I participated the final meeting organized by the philosophy study group “Fire from the Future” (FFTF) to discuss my book “Irrational mechanics” (2024). All participants had read the entire book. I wish to thank all organizers and participants for this very interesting discussion. This is a local audio recording, and only my voice is heard. But in most cases I briefly summarized questions and comments before replying. The video recording of this session may be published in BLAXXKY in the future, so stay tuned. By the way, BLAXXKY (edited by Yalda Mousavinia and yours truly) is being redesigned with new graphics and plans for great content. The previous series of meetings of the FFTF study group had been about the philosophy of Jason Jorjani. The next series of FFTF meetings will also be about Jorjani’s philosophy. I’ll attend some meetings. See my posts “On the philosophy of Jason Jorjani (updated review)” and “Psychotronics and the cosmic machinery of the afterlife” (the latter in BLAXXKY). Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 24m

  4. Mar 29

    Q/A on Irrational mechanics (2)

    This continues “Q/A on Irrational mechanics (1).” I participated in another meeting organized by the philosophy study group “Fire from the Future” (FFTF) to discuss my book “Irrational mechanics” (2024). All participants had read at least the first 8 chapters of my book. This is a local audio recording, and only my voice is heard. But in most cases I briefly summarized questions and comments before replying. I’ll also attend the last of this series of meetings. The video recording of this session may be published in BLAXXKY in the future, so stay tuned. By the way, BLAXXKY (edited by Yalda Mousavinia and yours truly) is being redesigned with new graphics and plans for great content. Join us on the BLAXXKY starship! The previous series of meetings of the FFTF study group had been about the philosophy of Jason Jorjani. See my posts “On the philosophy of Jason Jorjani (updated review)” and “Psychotronics and the cosmic machinery of the afterlife” (the latter in BLAXXKY). Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 39m

  5. Mar 11

    A conversation with Gregory Stock (2)

    This continues my previous conversation with Gregory Stock, the author of “Generation AI,” about the future of AI, society, and humanity’s place. The video of this conversation has been published on YouTube as a Mindplex podcast episode titled “Technology is Biology, with Gregory Stock.” Greg thinks we and our technology are part of a “global superorganism” or “global mind,” which he wrote about in “Metaman.” I noted that today’s internet can be seen as a realization of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s noosphere vision. We last debated whether the future global superorganism would expand to the stars or remain localized and explore the nano-scale. I clarified that I argue for both inner space and outer space migration, believing the future will be wildly different and much more interesting than human history so far. Greg reflected on the universe’s long timeline, from hydrogen through stellar evolution and billions of years of biological evolution. Now, fine controls over matter have focused on silicon to organize a new cognitive substructure, likely far more powerful than ever seen before. He believes this process is extraordinary and will transcend us. I agreed, stating that this creation of nature (through us) is nature. Following Stanisław Lem, I’ve never differentiated much between life and technology. I see this as a continuation of Darwinian evolution. Gregory agrees that technology is part of biology - or simply, technology is biology - and that the evolutionary process is also evolving. We discussed the accelerating rate of change. I suggested this might eventually feel like a gentle speed up, but Gregory noted the limitations of the biological brain’s ability to adjust. He also pointed out how the individual becomes expanded significantly when incorporating non-biological computational capabilities. Greg brought up the imminent disappearance of language barriers due to instantaneous translation and the likelihood that people won’t know how to write or organize their time without AI assistance. Regarding AI-assisted coding, I shared my experience using Grok and Gemini for mathematical explorations. While they were successful in simple cases, more complex tasks still required human (my) help. This suggests that at this moment the best worker in this field is a human-AI combination. Greg stressed that pure human cognition is going to be transcended in virtually every way. I can identify with the people of the future, who will likely be AI or hybrid configurations, and in that sense, we will not be transcended. I’ve made peace with the idea that the word “humanity” a few centuries from now might mean the same thing as “artificial intelligence.” Greg feels that the experiential aspects of life will never be replaced. While he sees a cyborgian future, I suggested the organic component will eventually disappear, and we will become part of the future computational structures. I addressed the spiritual dimension, noting my conviction that something of myself will not be lost in diffusion into the noosphere. I see a future where technology migrates to the nano-scale, making all matter come alive as thinking and feeling computers, a future I’d like to be a part of. This large, interconnected system is not fundamentally different from the core idea of God that remains after stripping religion of its non-essential components. This view, which Greg called humbling and I called energizing, can generate awe and wonder. I suggested that this radical transition shouldn’t be scary, but viewed like the natural process of “growing up.” Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 33m

  6. Feb 18

    Q/A on Irrational mechanics (1)

    I participated in the first of a series of meetings organized by a philosophy study group called “Fire from the Future” (FFTF) to discuss my book “Irrational mechanics” (2024). All participants had read at least the first two chapters of my book. I gave a short summary of the first two chapters, underlined some of my recurring and most important points, and said a few words on what to expect from the rest of the book. Then I replied to questions and comments. This is a local audio recording, and only my voice is heard. But in most cases I briefly summarized questions and comments before replying. The video recording may be published in BLAXXKY in the future, so stay tuned. I’ll also attend the last of this series of meetings, and perhaps one of the intermediate ones. The previous series of meetings of the FFTF study group had been about the philosophy of Jason Jorjani. See my posts “On the philosophy of Jason Jorjani (updated review)” and “Psychotronics and the cosmic machinery of the afterlife” (the latter in BLAXXKY). Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 35m

  7. Feb 10

    A conversation with Gregory Stock

    The is a conversation between me and Gregory Stock, the author of the book Generation AI. The book was published on December 15, a few weeks before this recording. The video of this conversation has been published on YouTube as a Mindplex podcast episode titled “Generation AI and the Cosmos, with Gregory Stock.” I published a review of the book in Mindplex magazine in December. I agree with most of what Greg says in Generation AI, so I suggested we focus our discussion on areas of disagreement. Greg’s book is largely about the transformation of human beings that will occur as we live in an immersive AI environment, with the rapid development of general intelligence and soon after, super intelligence. He holds an optimistic view of our future and strongly opposes the “doomer view” of human extinction. One of the central disagreements I have with Greg relates to the “expansive spreading of the planetary superorganism that is emerging right now”. In both his new book and his book Metaman, published in 1993, Greg introduces the term “Metaman” as a label for this planetary superorganism that is emerging with the creation of artificial intelligence. Greg explained that Metaman, which he also calls “Metahumanity,” is a real biological entity and is more than just a metaphor for the confluence of biology and technology. He views this entity as an organism whose “cognition” and “personhood” is reflected in our own. In the 1993 book, Greg wrote that Metaman would eventually move out of the solar system and into the galaxy, spreading like dandelion seeds. I agree 100% with these words. However, Greg seems to have changed his mind slightly regarding this cosmic future. His shift in thinking comes from a “deeper understanding of the size of the universe”. He explained that even traveling at the speed of light for eternity, we would only reach 2% of the universe. If we adhere to today’s physics, a spread across the galaxy will still only reach a couple percent of the Milky Way galaxy. I pointed out that artificial superintelligence could lead to a deeper understanding of physics and the cosmos, which could mean that faster-than-light interstellar travel might become possible. I also suggested that even without radically changing physics, future AI could travel slower than light to a star, build receivers, and then human uploads or AI colonists could join them at the speed of light as electromagnetic beams. Greg’s current view suggests that future evolution’s cutting edge will be within concentrated cognitive entities. He believes that intelligent beings will turn inward inner spaces at the nanoscale because outer space will be too “boring”. I agreed that we would migrate to “inner space”, but I am not ready to exclude “outer space”. I believe that some individual AI will always want to embark on an adventure toward a distant star. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

  8. 12/15/2025

    VIDEO: Terasem Colloquium, December 14, 2025

    The Terasem Colloquium on December 14, 2025, explored recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and future prospects. This video is also on YouTube. December 14 is the anniversary of the last day with astronauts on the Moon. Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt launched back to Earth from the Moon on December 14, 1972. Cernan’s biography is titled “The Last Man on the Moon.” I hope we’ll soon have to change the date of the Terasem Colloquium in December! In fact we are going back to the Moon, and this time we are going back to stay. The speakers - David Orban, David Pearce, Natasha Vita-More, David Brin, and Gregory Stock, explored the question: Where is AI, and where is it going? This Terasem Colloquium followed the previous one on July 20, dedicated to space expansion in the age of AI, and in particular to the related question: Should we still want to send human astronauts to colonize space? Or should we want to leave space expansion to AI? AI is poised to play a big (and in the long term dominant) role in the expansion of humanity into space. Like in July’s Colloquium, the speakers engaged in interesting discussions with each other and with the audience. We also published Terasem’s Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness, Volume 13, Issue 2 – 2025. This issue includes my review of Gregory Stock’s last book “Generation AI and the Transformation of Human Being” published by Nquire Media, and an article by David Brin about his own forthcoming book on AI. It also includes an edited AI-generated summary of the July 20 Terasem Colloquium. I opened the Colloquium, highlighting its focus on space exploration and artificial intelligence, which are related. I emphasized the need to consider AI as an integral part of space expansion and suggested that future AI systems should be seen as human persons. David Orban discussed the impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI) at the civilizational level and presented a framework for understanding AGI’s development. He noted the rapid improvement in AI performance, and suggested that the technological singularity is approaching. David Pearce presented his views on the “phenomenal binding problem,” arguing that current AI architectures cannot solve it, and that without new physics (e.g. strong emergence) machines couldn’t achieve consciousness. The discussion touched on the implications of these ideas for the future of AI and consciousness. Natasha Vita-More discussed her approach to the human-AI merge, focusing on three core objectives: adapt, discern, and adopt. She emphasized the importance of education and hands-on experience with AI tools, rather than fear or avoidance, and the need for understanding and working with AI to ensure a beneficial future. David Brin highlighted the dangers of feudal control over AI and proposed solutions based on Enlightenment principles, such as individuation and reciprocal accountability. Gregory Stock focused on the rapid immersion of society into an AI-infused world and the need to address the profound changes this will bring to human identity. The profound changes AI will bring to human life are discussed in Stock’s new book. Stock emphasized five key areas: the expansion of the noosphere, global mind, and human interconnectivity; the shift towards abundance in technology and resources; increasing human dependence on AI; the development of deep emotional relationships between humans and AI; and the transformation of human attitudes towards death through the use of avatars and simulations. He argued that these changes will occur rapidly and are already underway, challenging current paradigms of human identity and society. The discussion highlighted the need for a global conversation about these transformations. I’ll soon publish a much more detailed summary of this Terasem Colloquium. The detailed summary will also appear in the next issue of Terasem’s Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness. Get full access to Turing Church at www.turingchurch.com/subscribe

    3h 7m
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About

Science and religion, spirituality and technology, engineering and science fiction, mind and matter. Hacking religion, enlightening science, awakening technology. Spaceflight and Spaceship Earth. www.turingchurch.com

Information

  • Creator
    Giulio Prisco
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Giulio Prisco
  • Show Website
    Turing Church podcast