Constellation: Making the Graphic Novel http://constellationpodcast.com Join us as we build an original science fiction world. Tue, 04 Mar 2025 04:41:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.5 Enter a simulated universe where software beings engage in classic human struggles for belonging, status, and attention, and old certainties like death and gravity are just settings to be negotiated. You can be the god of your own private world, but if find yourself feeling lonely, you might be tempted to give away some of your precious control. This podcast will take you behind the scenes with comic book authors and veteran podcasters Jon Perry (@perryjon) and Ted Kupper (@tedkupper) as they write and develop a science fiction graphic novel called Constellation, set in a metaverse unlike any you’ve seen before: neither a utopia nor a dystopia, neither real nor virtual, it is a simulation where everyone knows they are being simulated and no one much cares, where there’s no hope of leaving and no reason to, just an endless supply of human-designed worlds to create and explore. Constellation no episodic feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation) Join us as we build an original science fiction world Constellation: Making the Graphic Novel http://reviewthefuture.com/podcasts/shared/constellation-rss2.png http://constellationpodcast.com Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scififeedback@reviewthefuture.comConstellation c50: Second Draft Outline and Bonus AI Discussion http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1106 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:28:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1106 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1106#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1106 0 Armed with a completed second outline, we return for our 50th episode! This episode begins with a summary of the key changes planned for our second draft. In the next script, we’ll be fully integrating voiceover from page 1 and streamlining the way we present lobbies and the exec. We’ll also be revising Zoya’s plotline […] Armed with a completed second outline, we return for our 50th episode! This episode begins with a summary of the key changes planned for our second draft. In the next script, we’ll be fully integrating voiceover from page 1 and streamlining the way we present lobbies and the exec. We’ll also be revising Zoya’s plotline to have better logic and more forward momentum. Lastly, we’ll be adding seven mini stories as interstitials, which will expand the scope of the book and hopefully enhance the feeling that the Constellation is a vast, lived-in world.

In the second half of the episode we have a Review the Future style off-the-cuff discussion of AI trends, the SAG AFTRA strike, and the impact of recent technological developments on the relevancy of our story.

]]> Armed with a completed second outline, we return for our 50th episode! This episode begins with a summary of the key changes planned for our second draft. In the next script, we’ll be fully integrating voiceover from page 1 and streamlining the way we ... Armed with a completed second outline, we return for our 50th episode! This episode begins with a summary of the key changes planned for our second draft. In the next script, we’ll be fully integrating voiceover from page 1 and streamlining the way we present lobbies and the exec. We’ll also be revising Zoya’s plotline […] Constellation clean 1:14:57 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c49: Script Draft 1, Beat 42 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1098 Wed, 24 May 2023 18:59:18 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1098 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1098#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1098 0 Script Content:-Zoya and Csaba attend the Katallian service. They discover the portal door is locked and one way (but Ocean Songbird has a key). As early attendees they are drafted into a confession ritual.-Meanwhile the priests discover an unauthorized conjuring, which leads them to find Cranium tied up.-A struggle ensues in the church as Zoya […] Script Content:
-Zoya and Csaba attend the Katallian service. They discover the portal door is locked and one way (but Ocean Songbird has a key). As early attendees they are drafted into a confession ritual.
-Meanwhile the priests discover an unauthorized conjuring, which leads them to find Cranium tied up.
-A struggle ensues in the church as Zoya and Csaba try to escape while the Katallian authorities try to stop them. Csaba uses the conjuring stone in a haphazard way that kills people. Zoya successfully escapes and declines to help Csaba, who is left behind.

Discussion:
-Why haven’t Zoya and Csaba attended a service like this before? Is it rare? Is it perhaps their actual initiation?
-How does the conjuring stone work? Is there a rule that Zoya understands Csaba does not? Ideally we are seeking a rule that causes Csaba to misfire with it (as opposed to not being able to make it do anything at all). The rule might stem from Katallian limits on conjuring or from the stone being a stock Constellation totem object. Does Zoya understand this rule because of her experience as a world creator, or because she gathered this information since she’s been on Katall, while Csaba failed to do so?
-Zoya’s dialogue as the elephant god assumes the children already grasp they’ve been tricked for their whole lives as opposed to just finding out about that moments before.
-Does Alltaf go through with its threat against Imerologia? What are the consequences to Zoya’s actions and do we even find out about them?
-Are we adequately setting up Zoya’s care for the Applonian children earlier in the script?
-How can we make the beginning and the ending echo each other?

]]> Script Content:-Zoya and Csaba attend the Katallian service. They discover the portal door is locked and one way (but Ocean Songbird has a key). As early attendees they are drafted into a confession ritual. Script Content:-Zoya and Csaba attend the Katallian service. They discover the portal door is locked and one way (but Ocean Songbird has a key). As early attendees they are drafted into a confession ritual.-Meanwhile the priests discover an unauthorized conjuring, which leads them to find Cranium tied up.-A struggle ensues in the church as Zoya […] Constellation clean 55:05 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c48: Script Draft 1, Beats 37-41 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1092 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:43:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1092 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1092#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1092 0 Script Content:-Zoya gets caught by Alltaf and assigned the task of killing Tim-The leadup to Tim’s death from Zoya’s perspective-The aftermath of Tim’s death: burying the body and lying to Cranium-Caught by Cranium, Csaba knocks out Cranium and takes his conjuring stone-Armed with the stone, Tim and Zoya head for the portal inside the church […] Script Content:
-Zoya gets caught by Alltaf and assigned the task of killing Tim
-The leadup to Tim’s death from Zoya’s perspective
-The aftermath of Tim’s death: burying the body and lying to Cranium
-Caught by Cranium, Csaba knocks out Cranium and takes his conjuring stone
-Armed with the stone, Tim and Zoya head for the portal inside the church so they can escape Katall

Discussion:
-Conjuring staff was changed to a stone so that it can be smuggled into church.
-Do we need the scene of them getting to the church early and waiting to get in?
-What are the mechanics of the portal? What prevents Tim and Zoya from simply sprinting for it? Is it a one way door that is easier to enter than to leave? Is it only open during a key moment of the church ceremony?
-The sequence where Zoya lies about stealing the hunt-master’s axe is at odds with earlier scenes where she has ready access to an axe without needing to steal one.
-Does it make sense for Csaba to be behind a barrel when Tim and Zoya are talking? What is Csaba’s motivation for hiding?
-What is the POV of Zoya’s voiceover? We had discussed it originating from her trial testimony, but that seems probably too limiting of a rule.

]]> Script Content:-Zoya gets caught by Alltaf and assigned the task of killing Tim-The leadup to Tim’s death from Zoya’s perspective-The aftermath of Tim’s death: burying the body and lying to Cranium-Caught by Cranium, Script Content:-Zoya gets caught by Alltaf and assigned the task of killing Tim-The leadup to Tim’s death from Zoya’s perspective-The aftermath of Tim’s death: burying the body and lying to Cranium-Caught by Cranium, Csaba knocks out Cranium and takes his conjuring stone-Armed with the stone, Tim and Zoya head for the portal inside the church […] Constellation clean 41:16 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c47: Script Draft 1, Beats 32-36 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1083 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:28:34 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1083 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1083#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1083 0 Another double episode with pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:– Richard and Alexis urge Zoya to take Tim’s deal at the Gaia awards-Zoya is initiated into Alltaf-Zoya witnesses Tim trying to force his way through the Alltaf lobby-Richard and Alexis coach Zoya to have Tim complete the first task for her-Zoya shows Applonia […] Another double episode with pages from both Ted and Jon.

Script Content:
– Richard and Alexis urge Zoya to take Tim’s deal at the Gaia awards
-Zoya is initiated into Alltaf
-Zoya witnesses Tim trying to force his way through the Alltaf lobby
-Richard and Alexis coach Zoya to have Tim complete the first task for her
-Zoya shows Applonia to the Alltaf reps
-Richard and Alexis coach Zoya to have Tim complete the second task as well

Discussion:
-How do we justify Zoya entering Katall during the next phase of the story, when she has been raised to be suspicious of bad contracts? Perhaps a combination of (a) Richard and Alexis are not of the same mind on this issue and one of them is more willing to compromise and (b) Alltaf has some kind of leverage over either Imerologia or Zoya’s art career that can be used to strong arm Zoya into taking on a great risk.
-We need to find somewhere to establish what Imerologia is exactly.

]]> Another double episode with pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:– Richard and Alexis urge Zoya to take Tim’s deal at the Gaia awards-Zoya is initiated into Alltaf-Zoya witnesses Tim trying to force his way through the Alltaf lobby-Richard and A... Another double episode with pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:– Richard and Alexis urge Zoya to take Tim’s deal at the Gaia awards-Zoya is initiated into Alltaf-Zoya witnesses Tim trying to force his way through the Alltaf lobby-Richard and Alexis coach Zoya to have Tim complete the first task for her-Zoya shows Applonia […] Constellation clean 45:22 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c46: Script Draft 1, Beats 27-31 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1081 Mon, 30 Jan 2023 19:12:14 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1081 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1081#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1081 0 In this double episode, we get pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:-Tim, Zoya, and Csaba build shelters on Katall-Tim hunts for a suitable murder target-Zoya offers Tim an out (he doesn’t take it)-Tim discovers Cranium’s secret TV lair and decides to make Cranium the target-Tim goes to murder Cranium, while Zoya and Csaba […] In this double episode, we get pages from both Ted and Jon.

Script Content:
-Tim, Zoya, and Csaba build shelters on Katall
-Tim hunts for a suitable murder target
-Zoya offers Tim an out (he doesn’t take it)
-Tim discovers Cranium’s secret TV lair and decides to make Cranium the target
-Tim goes to murder Cranium, while Zoya and Csaba tag along
-Zoya kills Tim before he can kill Cranium
-Flashback to Zoya’s childhood education with Mr. Hygge and her parents

Discussion:
-Where is Tim’s head at during this period of murder planning?
-How does Tim feel about Csaba?
-Would the Katallians have IVs in their infirmary?
-Tim might justify killing a Katallian with the logic: “They’ve already chosen to die, this is just altering the timeline.”
-What tastes in television would Cranium have? If he’s not zero gen, then he’s not nostalgic, just enamored of old timey stuff for aesthetic reasons.
-Do we need to backfill Tim’s apparent contempt for Cranium and hypocrites who don’t stick to their principles? Or is it not real contempt and more just an attempt to justify what he is doing?
-Does Cranium hear Csaba say “Now, you got him!” And is it possible that Csaba was talking about Tim and not Cranium, anyway?
-How many pages are we allotting for Zoya’s flashbacks? Is the school scene too long?
-This is our introduction to Richard and Alexis so we should describe them more.
-The schooling scene needs to be a blueprint that can be referenced by two future scenes: the indoctrination of children on Applonia and Zoya’s Alltaf initiation.
-What is the underlying motivation behind Zoya’s voiceover? Makes sense for it to be anchored in the moment that she’s just killed Tim, since that’s when it begins.

]]> In this double episode, we get pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:-Tim, Zoya, and Csaba build shelters on Katall-Tim hunts for a suitable murder target-Zoya offers Tim an out (he doesn’t take it)-Tim discovers Cranium’s secret TV lair and deci... In this double episode, we get pages from both Ted and Jon. Script Content:-Tim, Zoya, and Csaba build shelters on Katall-Tim hunts for a suitable murder target-Zoya offers Tim an out (he doesn’t take it)-Tim discovers Cranium’s secret TV lair and decides to make Cranium the target-Tim goes to murder Cranium, while Zoya and Csaba […] Constellation clean 54:35 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c45: Script Draft 1, Beat 26 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1074 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:34:28 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1074 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1074#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1074 0 Tim, Zoya and Csaba enter Katall, learn about the naturalist entrance contract, witness a service that includes funeral rites and penitence for conjuring, join the Katallian religion, receive the assignment of building a shelter. Discussion: nailing down Ocean’s gender, considering whether this sequence could be shorter, proposing the addition of Tim’s voiceover, flagging the moment […] Tim, Zoya and Csaba enter Katall, learn about the naturalist entrance contract, witness a service that includes funeral rites and penitence for conjuring, join the Katallian religion, receive the assignment of building a shelter. Discussion: nailing down Ocean’s gender, considering whether this sequence could be shorter, proposing the addition of Tim’s voiceover, flagging the moment when Zoya and Csaba are momentarily alone in the lobby (which we may see dramatized in Zoya’s storyline).

]]> Tim, Zoya and Csaba enter Katall, learn about the naturalist entrance contract, witness a service that includes funeral rites and penitence for conjuring, join the Katallian religion, receive the assignment of building a shelter. Tim, Zoya and Csaba enter Katall, learn about the naturalist entrance contract, witness a service that includes funeral rites and penitence for conjuring, join the Katallian religion, receive the assignment of building a shelter. Discussion: nailing down Ocean’s gender, considering whether this sequence could be shorter, proposing the addition of Tim’s voiceover, flagging the moment […] Constellation clean 24:02 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c44: Script Draft 1, Beats 23-25 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1064 Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1064 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1064#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1064 0 Tim meets Csaba for dinner at a fancy Magnurbia restaurant, Csaba tells the story of Alltaf’s founding, Tim receives instructions for the third trial, Zoya offers Tim the chance to back out. Discussion: whether Tim should know who he’s meeting for dinner, whether Csaba should be a well-known figure, whether the voiceover should be past/present, […] Tim meets Csaba for dinner at a fancy Magnurbia restaurant, Csaba tells the story of Alltaf’s founding, Tim receives instructions for the third trial, Zoya offers Tim the chance to back out. Discussion: whether Tim should know who he’s meeting for dinner, whether Csaba should be a well-known figure, whether the voiceover should be past/present, whether the dangerous world from the founding story was randomly generated or just randomly found, and whether Csaba should give off more sinister vibes, possibly threatening Tim’s family or hazing Zoya.

]]> Tim meets Csaba for dinner at a fancy Magnurbia restaurant, Csaba tells the story of Alltaf’s founding, Tim receives instructions for the third trial, Zoya offers Tim the chance to back out. Discussion: whether Tim should know who he’s meeting for dinn... Tim meets Csaba for dinner at a fancy Magnurbia restaurant, Csaba tells the story of Alltaf’s founding, Tim receives instructions for the third trial, Zoya offers Tim the chance to back out. Discussion: whether Tim should know who he’s meeting for dinner, whether Csaba should be a well-known figure, whether the voiceover should be past/present, […] Constellation clean 38:06 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c43: Script Draft 1, Beat 22 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1062 Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:43:31 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1062 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1062#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1062 0 Visiting Pompeii, finding the clue “Come in, have a drink, stay a while”, getting attacked by a leopard, turning pain on to find the right door, turning mind altering substances on to cross the lava river, turning ejection off to unlock the final answer: “You must trust to be trusted.” Discussion: whether Tim should struggle […] Visiting Pompeii, finding the clue “Come in, have a drink, stay a while”, getting attacked by a leopard, turning pain on to find the right door, turning mind altering substances on to cross the lava river, turning ejection off to unlock the final answer: “You must trust to be trusted.” Discussion: whether Tim should struggle more to complete the puzzle, the benefits of dramatizing regeneration in this part of the script, the possibility of drawing out the stone men sequence to really emphasize the world daring Tim to eject.

]]> Visiting Pompeii, finding the clue “Come in, have a drink, stay a while”, getting attacked by a leopard, turning pain on to find the right door, turning mind altering substances on to cross the lava river, turning ejection off to unlock the final answe... Visiting Pompeii, finding the clue “Come in, have a drink, stay a while”, getting attacked by a leopard, turning pain on to find the right door, turning mind altering substances on to cross the lava river, turning ejection off to unlock the final answer: “You must trust to be trusted.” Discussion: whether Tim should struggle […] Constellation clean 27:16 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c42: Script Draft 1, Beats 18-21 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1053 Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:41:10 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1053 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1053#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1053 0 Taking the job in Applonia, posing as an elephant-headed god, building a temple for Applewhite, planting a backdoor, failing to help the Applonian people, onward to Wang’s world. Discussion: being an elephant versus just being invisible, defining the pain settings in Applonia, the meaning of “portal rights”, the nature of Tim’s moral choice, whether this […] Taking the job in Applonia, posing as an elephant-headed god, building a temple for Applewhite, planting a backdoor, failing to help the Applonian people, onward to Wang’s world. Discussion: being an elephant versus just being invisible, defining the pain settings in Applonia, the meaning of “portal rights”, the nature of Tim’s moral choice, whether this sequence should be expanded, avoiding redundancy in setting up the next trial.

]]> Taking the job in Applonia, posing as an elephant-headed god, building a temple for Applewhite, planting a backdoor, failing to help the Applonian people, onward to Wang’s world. Discussion: being an elephant versus just being invisible, Taking the job in Applonia, posing as an elephant-headed god, building a temple for Applewhite, planting a backdoor, failing to help the Applonian people, onward to Wang’s world. Discussion: being an elephant versus just being invisible, defining the pain settings in Applonia, the meaning of “portal rights”, the nature of Tim’s moral choice, whether this […] Constellation clean 45:56 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c41: Script Draft 1, Beats 15-17 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1050 Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:07:20 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1050 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1050#respond http://constellationpodcast.com/?feed=rss2&p=1050 0 Receiving the first trial, finding the trial difficult, posting an ad, finding Applewhite. Discussion: introduction of voiceover, making Applewhite weirder, drawing on the Incal for exec inspiration. Receiving the first trial, finding the trial difficult, posting an ad, finding Applewhite. Discussion: introduction of voiceover, making Applewhite weirder, drawing on the Incal for exec inspiration.

]]> Receiving the first trial, finding the trial difficult, posting an ad, finding Applewhite. Discussion: introduction of voiceover, making Applewhite weirder, drawing on the Incal for exec inspiration. Receiving the first trial, finding the trial difficult, posting an ad, finding Applewhite. Discussion: introduction of voiceover, making Applewhite weirder, drawing on the Incal for exec inspiration. Constellation clean 22:59 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c40: Script Draft 1, Beats 10-13 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1039 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 22:49:25 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1039 Obtaining Alltaf’s address, fighting through Alltaf’s lobby, signaling to Zoya, blackmailing Zoya. Discussion: rules of Alltaf’s lobby, usefulness of the Bukhari reference, communication of blackmail stakes, how secret is Alltaf? Obtaining Alltaf’s address, fighting through Alltaf’s lobby, signaling to Zoya, blackmailing Zoya. Discussion: rules of Alltaf’s lobby, usefulness of the Bukhari reference, communication of blackmail stakes, how secret is Alltaf? Obtaining Alltaf’s address, fighting through Alltaf’s lobby, signaling to Zoya, blackmailing Zoya. Discussion: rules of Alltaf’s lobby, usefulness of the Bukhari reference, communication of blackmail stakes, how secret is Alltaf? Constellation clean 41:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c39: Script Draft 1, Beats 6-9 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1035 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:34:35 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1035 Magnurbia, Tim’s defaultist son, breaking up with Arturo. Discussion: How to handle the exec visually. Magnurbia, Tim’s defaultist son, breaking up with Arturo. Discussion: How to handle the exec visually. Magnurbia, Tim’s defaultist son, breaking up with Arturo. Discussion: How to handle the exec visually. Constellation clean 37:44 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c38: Script Draft 1, Beats 4-5 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1032 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:29:43 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1032 Tim and Zoya sign on the line, Gaia Awards nominees. Discussion: making the nominees interesting, scale of the Gaias, story perspective. Tim and Zoya sign on the line, Gaia Awards nominees. Discussion: making the nominees interesting, scale of the Gaias, story perspective. Tim and Zoya sign on the line, Gaia Awards nominees. Discussion: making the nominees interesting, scale of the Gaias, story perspective. Constellation clean 54:47 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c37: Script Draft 1, Beats 2-3 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1029 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 03:00:30 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1029 Gaia awards pre-party, Tim and Arturo panic about losing, and Tim proposes a deal to Zoya. Discussion: how to reveal Tim and Arturo’s panic, should concierge be an AI, comic book visual language. Gaia awards pre-party, Tim and Arturo panic about losing, and Tim proposes a deal to Zoya. Discussion: how to reveal Tim and Arturo’s panic, should concierge be an AI, comic book visual language. Gaia awards pre-party, Tim and Arturo panic about losing, and Tim proposes a deal to Zoya. Discussion: how to reveal Tim and Arturo’s panic, should concierge be an AI, comic book visual language. Constellation clean 30:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c36: Script Draft 1, Beat 1 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1026 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 20:23:35 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1026 Tim and Arturo finish their world art project Tim and Arturo finish their world art project Tim and Arturo finish their world art project Constellation clean 37:54 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c35: Outline Part 3, Interstitials http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1023 Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:03:40 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1023 This episode outlines the additional interstitial stories that will occur throughout the book. This episode outlines the additional interstitial stories that will occur throughout the book. This episode outlines the additional interstitial stories that will occur throughout the book. Constellation clean 1:17:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c34: Outline Part 2 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1020 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 19:07:45 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1020 This episode summarizes the second half of the story. This episode summarizes the second half of the story. This episode summarizes the second half of the story. Constellation clean 1:30:59 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c33: Outline Part 1 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1017 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 19:58:13 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1017 Welcome back! This episode summarizes the first half of the story. Welcome back! This episode summarizes the first half of the story. Welcome back! This episode summarizes the first half of the story. Constellation clean 1:20:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c32: Escape from Naturalist World http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1013 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 20:57:56 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1013 what happens to Zoya, only priests have the power, coda on cult world what happens to Zoya, only priests have the power, coda on cult world what happens to Zoya, only priests have the power, coda on cult world Constellation clean 1:02:46 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c31: You Must Save One Child For Each Person You Murder http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1010 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:16:00 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1010 Zoya’s rebellion, sympathy with the cultists, the dark side of novelty Zoya’s rebellion, sympathy with the cultists, the dark side of novelty Zoya’s rebellion, sympathy with the cultists, the dark side of novelty Constellation clean 1:06:13 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c30: Zoya’s Side of the Story http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1007 Thu, 01 Apr 2021 04:50:44 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1007 deep dive into our secondary character’s pov deep dive into our secondary character’s pov deep dive into our secondary character’s pov Constellation clean 47:39 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c29: Don’t Let a Good Con Go to Waste http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1004 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 16:22:00 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1004 the club’s take, showing up together, Zoya’s perspective the club’s take, showing up together, Zoya’s perspective the club’s take, showing up together, Zoya’s perspective Constellation clean 42:35 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c28: The Only Thing We Have to Do is Die http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=1002 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 21:54:23 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=1002 the ultimate trial, club rep calls the shots, naturalist culture the ultimate trial, club rep calls the shots, naturalist culture the ultimate trial, club rep calls the shots, naturalist culture Constellation clean 1:14:11 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c27: The Puzzle is an Entire World http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=999 Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:20:39 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=999 solving a puzzle, giving up your rights, Terrell rooms solving a puzzle, giving up your rights, Terrell rooms solving a puzzle, giving up your rights, Terrell rooms Constellation clean 46:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c26: Make Your World Building Dreams Come True http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=997 Thu, 18 Feb 2021 20:36:16 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=997 finding a tip, making a backdoor, Zoya’s POV finding a tip, making a backdoor, Zoya’s POV finding a tip, making a backdoor, Zoya’s POV Constellation clean 1:02:15 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c25: Status Games Within Status Games http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=994 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 21:12:44 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=994 Tim shows up, Zoya gets involved, everyone has leverage Tim shows up, Zoya gets involved, everyone has leverage Tim shows up, Zoya gets involved, everyone has leverage Constellation clean 39:57 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c24: Kung Fu Style http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=991 Tue, 02 Feb 2021 02:24:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=991 questions of motivation, fleshing out the contract, Tim shows up questions of motivation, fleshing out the contract, Tim shows up questions of motivation, fleshing out the contract, Tim shows up Constellation clean 1:06:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c23: Outlining the Beginning http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=987 Wed, 20 Jan 2021 22:02:09 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=987 family reunion, partnership dissolution, antagonist entrapment family reunion, partnership dissolution, antagonist entrapment family reunion, partnership dissolution, antagonist entrapment Constellation clean 1:02:19 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c22: Outlining the Constellation http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=984 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 20:05:19 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=984 Tim and Zoya, bad contracts, parental pressure Tim and Zoya, bad contracts, parental pressure Tim and Zoya, bad contracts, parental pressure Constellation clean 51:16 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c21: A Short History of the Constellation http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=981 Tue, 24 Nov 2020 21:10:36 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=981 From the scan to the present From the scan to the present From the scan to the present Constellation clean 1:26:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c20: Novel Worlds Pitch Session http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=979 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:22:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=979 Art Worlds, Movements, Genres Art Worlds, Movements, Genres Art Worlds, Movements, Genres Constellation clean 1:23:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c19: Public Worlds Set Up to Solve Problems http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=975 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:25:28 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=975 Mailboxworld, Moneyworld, Wikiworld, etc. Mailboxworld, Moneyworld, Wikiworld, etc. Mailboxworld, Moneyworld, Wikiworld, etc. Constellation clean feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c18: Hobbies Don’t Count http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=972 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:25:45 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=972 Remote Work, What Stays Scarce, Work in the Constellation Remote Work, What Stays Scarce, Work in the Constellation Remote Work, Work in the Constellation Constellation clean 5:21 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c17: Religion in the Constellation http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=969 Thu, 08 Oct 2020 05:52:07 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=969 Stances toward the Simulators, Orthodox Defaultism Stances toward the Simulators, Orthodox Defaultism Stances toward the Simulators, Orthodox Defaultism Constellation clean 1:21:02 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c16: A Slug Crossing a Lawn in Realtime http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=966 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:16:10 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=966 Art Worlds, Genres and Novelty, Colonies and Awards Art Worlds, Genres and Novelty, Colonies and Awards Art Worlds, Genres and Novelty, Colonies and Awards Constellation clean 1:14:44 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c15: Rulesy and Unclear http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=963 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:01:32 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=963 Media Club: Inception, Congress Media Club: Inception, Congress Media Club: Inception, Congress Constellation clean 57:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c14: How to Commit a Murder in the Constellation http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=960 Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:02:01 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=960 Mating Under the Hood, Novelty Club, Mercy and Regeneration Mating Under the Hood, Novelty Club, Mercy and Regeneration Mating Under the Hood, Novelty Club, Mercy and Regeneration Constellation clean 1:23:43 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c13: Create the Illusion You’re Exclusive http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=958 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 05:26:04 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=958 Osmosis, Addressing the Exec, Clubs Osmosis, Addressing the Exec, Clubs Osmosis, Addressing the Exec, Clubs Constellation clean 1:12:08 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c12: Our Character Cannot Be Satisfied http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=954 Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:58:59 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=954 Builds Worlds for Status, Wants into a Club, Three Trials Builds Worlds for Status, Wants into a Club, Three Trials Builds Worlds for Status, Wants into a Club, Three Trials Constellation clean 1:15:06 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c11: Core Rules of the Constellation http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=951 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 04:42:38 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=951 New? Start here! Summary of c01-c10, Fundamental Assumptions New? Start here! Summary of c01-c10, Fundamental Assumptions New? Start here! Summary of c01-c10, Fundamental Assumptions Constellation clean 53:40 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c10: Infinite Zebras http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=948 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 04:07:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=948 Lobbies, Strobing, Consolidation and Empire Lobbies, Strobing, Consolidation and Empire Lobbies, Strobing, Consolidation and Empire Constellation clean 1:33:49 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c09: Alone in a Serengeti http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=945 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 06:17:06 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=945 2030, The Ancestral Plain, Babies and Pets 2030, The Ancestral Plain, Babies and Pets 2030, The ancestral plain, Babies and pets Constellation clean 1:18:21 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c08: The Legend of Jerry http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=941 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 23:12:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=941 Final Devs, Eating and Sleeping, Regeneration, Default Homeworld Final Devs, Eating and Sleeping, Regeneration, Default Homeworld Final DEVS, Eating and Sleeping, Regeneration, Default Homeworld Constellation clean 22:13 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c07: The Intergalactic Space Phone http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=937 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 18:50:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=937 Devs, Ted Chiang, No Interworld Communication Devs, Ted Chiang, No Interworld Communication Devs, Ted Chiang, No Interworld Communication Constellation clean 1:21:22 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c06: The Standard Clock Rate of Everything http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=934 Thu, 11 Jun 2020 05:39:58 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=934 Newborn Rights, Money World, Interworld Communication Newborn Rights, Money World, Interworld Communication Newborn Rights, Money World, Interworld Communication Constellation clean 1:48:51 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c05: Babies Are Being Born with God Powers http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=930 Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:00:06 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=930 Upload, Having Kids and Copying Minds, AI Limits Upload, Having Kids and Copying Minds, AI Limits Upload, Having Kids and Copying Minds, AI limits Constellation clean feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c04: The Simple Answer is Monkeys http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=927 Tue, 26 May 2020 20:36:21 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=927 Deleting Worlds, Personal Avatars, The Transition, Mental Aging Deleting Worlds, Personal Avatars, The Transition, Mental Aging Deleting Worlds, Personal Avatars, The Transition, Mental Aging Constellation clean 1:03:07 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c03: A Low Amount of Pain for All Eternity http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=916 Fri, 15 May 2020 19:20:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=916 Ejection, Entrance Contracts, Religions Inside the Constellation. Ejection, Entrance Contracts, Religions Inside the Constellation. Ejection, Entrance Contracts, Religions Inside the Constellation. Constellation clean 54:52 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c02: Remain Indoors http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=912 Thu, 07 May 2020 04:10:38 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=912 Corona virus, It Follows, keys and tips. Corona virus, It Follows, keys and tips. Corona virus, It Follows, keys and tips. Constellation clean 1:28:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi c01: Building an Original Science Fiction World http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=902 Thu, 30 Apr 2020 23:34:34 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=902 Introducing the broad science fiction concepts and writing principles behind our next graphic novel. Introducing the broad science fiction concepts and writing principles behind our next graphic novel. Introducing the broad science fiction concepts and writing principles behind our next graphic novel. Constellation Podcast clean 1:15:09 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 099: Review of Review the Future http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=858 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 19:36:14 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=858 After nearly 100 episodes, we’ve decided to dramatically change the format of the podcast: this episode will be the last traditional Review the Future episode! We are taking this opportunity to reflect back on six years of podcasting and review ourselves. Which predictions seem more or less correct given the passage of time? When were […] After nearly 100 episodes, we’ve decided to dramatically change the format of the podcast: this episode will be the last traditional Review the Future episode! We are taking this opportunity to reflect back on six years of podcasting and review ourselv... After nearly 100 episodes, we've decided to dramatically change the format of the podcast: this episode will be the last traditional Review the Future episode! We are taking this opportunity to reflect back on six years of podcasting and review ourselves. Which predictions seem more or less correct given the passage of time? When were we right and when were we horribly wrong? In a wide ranging discussion, we return to all of our favorite topics, from privacy to technological unemployment to the rate of technological progress. So what's next for the podcast? Upcoming episodes will focus on the writing and development of our next graphic novel, a sci fi tale we are extremely excited about. The title will change but we'll be using this same feed to broadcast, so we hope you will remain subscribed and stick with us on this new journey. Review the Future clean 54:06 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 098: Review of WALKAWAY http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=852 Wed, 22 Jan 2020 23:26:19 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=852 Cory Doctorow’s novel WALKAWAY is the subject of this episode. Ted and Jon discuss the novel’s plot (and this one is full of spoilers, so if you haven’t read it yet beware!) and the wild sci fi ideas inside: emulated brains, matter printers, post-capitalist visions of society, and a growing rift between ‘default’-dwellers who live […] Cory Doctorow’s novel WALKAWAY is the subject of this episode. Ted and Jon discuss the novel’s plot (and this one is full of spoilers, so if you haven’t read it yet beware!) and the wild sci fi ideas inside: emulated brains, matter printers, Cory Doctorow's novel WALKAWAY is the subject of this episode. Ted and Jon discuss the novel's plot (and this one is full of spoilers, so if you haven't read it yet beware!) and the wild sci fi ideas inside: emulated brains, matter printers, post-capitalist visions of society, and a growing rift between 'default'-dwellers who live in a version of the world today and the walkaway movement, that embraces abundance by largely eschewing personal property. It's a fascinating world if not always a compelling read from a literary perspective. Review the Future clean 1:04:15 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 097: Review of I AM MOTHER http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=848 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 23:45:32 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=848 Jon and Ted review I AM MOTHER, a Netflix movie directed by Grant Sputore and written by Michael Lloyd Green. The story is about a robot that raises a human child. We cover the more and less believable aspects of the story, and consider whether the chain of events dramatized seems realistic. This one is full of […] Jon and Ted review I AM MOTHER, a Netflix movie directed by Grant Sputore and written by Michael Lloyd Green. The story is about a robot that raises a human child. We cover the more and less believable aspects of the story, Jon and Ted review I AM MOTHER, a Netflix movie directed by Grant Sputore and written by Michael Lloyd Green. The story is about a robot that raises a human child. We cover the more and less believable aspects of the story, and consider whether the chain of events dramatized seems realistic. This one is full of spoilers, so watch the movie first if you'd rather not have the twists revealed. Review the Future clean 44:59 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 096: Review of BLACK MIRROR Season 5, Part 3 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=844 Thu, 03 Oct 2019 22:08:50 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=844 This episode is about Smithereens, the second episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. The episode features a hostage situation caused in part by social media addiction. Jon and Ted use this episode to discuss the increasingly governmental role played by social media and other large tech companies, and speculate about the future of devolving […] This episode is about Smithereens, the second episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. The episode features a hostage situation caused in part by social media addiction. Jon and Ted use this episode to discuss the increasingly governmental role played by s... This episode is about Smithereens, the second episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. The episode features a hostage situation caused in part by social media addiction. Jon and Ted use this episode to discuss the increasingly governmental role played by social media and other large tech companies, and speculate about the future of devolving government duties to private actors. Review the Future clean 52:14 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 095: Review of BLACK MIRROR Season 5, Part 2 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=840 Thu, 22 Aug 2019 21:48:52 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=840 This episode is about Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too, the third episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. Sure, it’s another story with emulated brain technology where it’s only applied in one narrow way, but its fun fairytale tone helps forgive that and there are a few genuinely interesting speculations, including about how musical creativity […] This episode is about Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too, the third episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. Sure, it’s another story with emulated brain technology where it’s only applied in one narrow way, but its fun fairytale tone helps forgive that and there... This episode is about "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," the third episode in season 5 of Black Mirror. Sure, it's another story with emulated brain technology where it's only applied in one narrow way, but its fun fairytale tone helps forgive that and there are a few genuinely interesting speculations, including about how musical creativity works, extracting artistic concepts from either AIs or comatose brains, and what can be done with an artist's brand without their consent. In the end it's a little muddled what is being said, but it's an interestingly complex episode. Review the Future clean 37:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 094: Review of BLACK MIRROR Season 5, Part 1 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=835 Fri, 09 Aug 2019 01:58:33 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=835 If you were waiting for an episode in which Jon says “shooting orgasmic fireballs,” today’s your lucky day. This episode we look at the STRIKING VIPERS episode of Black Mirror season 5. In it, two friends who are straight men in real life fall in love while playing avatars of differing gender (and race) in […] If you were waiting for an episode in which Jon says “shooting orgasmic fireballs,” today’s your lucky day. This episode we look at the STRIKING VIPERS episode of Black Mirror season 5. In it, two friends who are straight men in real life fall in love ... If you were waiting for an episode in which Jon says "shooting orgasmic fireballs," today's your lucky day. This episode we look at the STRIKING VIPERS episode of Black Mirror season 5. In it, two friends who are straight men in real life fall in love while playing avatars of differing gender (and race) in an immersive video game. We discuss the plausibility of such technology and the ways the episode depicts the wider world, and interrogate some of the interesting things that come up around sex and embodiment.  Review the Future clean 34:54 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 093: Review of EXHALATION, Part 2 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=831 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 16:00:07 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=831 In this episode we review the story The Lifecycle of Software Objects from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is about a pair of startup employees who train and bond with software beings created by the company they work for. It’s a metaphor for parenting, but being a longer story with several breaks in time, […] In this episode we review the story The Lifecycle of Software Objects from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is about a pair of startup employees who train and bond with software beings created by the company they work for. In this episode we review the story The Lifecycle of Software Objects from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is about a pair of startup employees who train and bond with software beings created by the company they work for. It's a metaphor for parenting, but being a longer story with several breaks in time, it also contains a richly detailed speculative world. We use it as a jumping off point to discuss ovafusion, uploaded mammals, paths to AI, and more. Review the Future clean 58:11 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 092: Review of EXHALATION, Part 1 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=827 Fri, 12 Jul 2019 05:00:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=827 In this episode we review the story The Truth of Feeling, The Truth of Fact from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is both a philosophical inquisition into memory and technology, and a carefully envisioned speculative take on an advanced video memory replacement software that surfaces memories using AI. We’ll be back in […] In this episode we review the story The Truth of Feeling, The Truth of Fact from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is both a philosophical inquisition into memory and technology, and a carefully envisioned speculative take on an advanc... In this episode we review the story The Truth of Feeling, The Truth of Fact from the collection Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The story is both a philosophical inquisition into memory and technology, and a carefully envisioned speculative take on an advanced video memory replacement software that surfaces memories using AI. We'll be back in the next episode to review another story in this book, The Lifecycle of Software Objects. Review the Future clean 1:04:11 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 091: Review of Philip K Dick’s ELECTRIC DREAMS http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=823 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 18:10:07 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=823 Crazy Diamond, the fourth episode of Amazon’s anthology of Philip K Dick adaptations, is the subject of this week’s episode. We discuss the primary technical supposition in the story, chimeric genetically engineered pig-people, and use that as a window to discuss human genetic engineering and enhancement more generally. We also discuss the elusive tone of […] Crazy Diamond, the fourth episode of Amazon’s anthology of Philip K Dick adaptations, is the subject of this week’s episode. We discuss the primary technical supposition in the story, chimeric genetically engineered pig-people, Crazy Diamond, the fourth episode of Amazon's anthology of Philip K Dick adaptations, is the subject of this week's episode. We discuss the primary technical supposition in the story, chimeric genetically engineered pig-people, and use that as a window to discuss human genetic engineering and enhancement more generally. We also discuss the elusive tone of Dick and how close this show gets to representing it. Review the Future clean 25:03 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 090: Review of AUTONOMOUS http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=818 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:11:20 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=818 We discuss Annalee Neuwitz’s novel Autonomous, a sci fi story set in a world of biotech and aggressive patent enforcement. The book is a two hander about a drug pirate named Jack Chen and a robot named Paladin who awakens and finds love. It’s thematically about the meaning of autonomy, both in terms of political […] We discuss Annalee Neuwitz’s novel Autonomous, a sci fi story set in a world of biotech and aggressive patent enforcement. The book is a two hander about a drug pirate named Jack Chen and a robot named Paladin who awakens and finds love. We discuss Annalee Neuwitz's novel Autonomous, a sci fi story set in a world of biotech and aggressive patent enforcement. The book is a two hander about a drug pirate named Jack Chen and a robot named Paladin who awakens and finds love. It's thematically about the meaning of autonomy, both in terms of political and personal freedom. We use it as a jumping off point to discuss speculation of human and robot indenture, the future of intellectual property enforcement, and more.  Review the Future clean 1:07:03 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 089: Discussion of Ray Kurzweil’s 2019 Predictions http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=812 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 19:30:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=812 We’re back! In this return episode we’re looking back at the prediction made for this year, 2019, twenty years ago in Ray Kurzweil’s 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines. This list was impressively specific and bold, and as we show not all of the predictions panned out. But is Kurzweil just a bit optimistic, […] We’re back! In this return episode we’re looking back at the prediction made for this year, 2019, twenty years ago in Ray Kurzweil’s 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines. This list was impressively specific and bold, We're back! In this return episode we're looking back at the prediction made for this year, 2019, twenty years ago in Ray Kurzweil's 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines. This list was impressively specific and bold, and as we show not all of the predictions panned out. But is Kurzweil just a bit optimistic, maybe by ten years or so, or is he fundamentally wrong? We take a pretty unscientific look at how each of his predictions fared, then give our own gut assessments of how the future's coming along. Review the Future clean 1:23:49 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 088: Discussion of Hypocralypse and the Future of Punishment http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=798 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:17:46 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=798 In this week’s discussion Ted and Jon talk about the new Robin Hanson article positing a future ‘hypocralypse’ in which useful hypocrisies become impossible to pull off because of technology. How will people and culture react? What might happen to laws and norms that are very influenced by symbolic concerns? Also they discuss the four […] In this week’s discussion Ted and Jon talk about the new Robin Hanson article positing a future ‘hypocralypse’ in which useful hypocrisies become impossible to pull off because of technology. How will people and culture react? In this week's discussion Ted and Jon talk about the new Robin Hanson article positing a future 'hypocralypse' in which useful hypocrisies become impossible to pull off because of technology. How will people and culture react? What might happen to laws and norms that are very influenced by symbolic concerns? Also they discuss the four main purposes of punishment and ways that various technical advances might better serve those purposes, and what that might look like. Review the Future clean 55:52 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 087: What is the Future of Sex Robots? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=792 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:19:32 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=792 In today’s episode, we discuss the future of sex robots. Inspired by the book Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications, we consider various benefits and harms that sex robots might have on users, society, and even the robots themselves. Will sex robots be on balance a good thing or a bad thing? Will they provide […] In today’s episode, we discuss the future of sex robots. Inspired by the book Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications, we consider various benefits and harms that sex robots might have on users, society, and even the robots themselves. In today's episode, we discuss the future of sex robots. Inspired by the book "Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications," we consider various benefits and harms that sex robots might have on users, society, and even the robots themselves. Will sex robots be on balance a good thing or a bad thing? Will they provide a safe outlet for bad behavior or possibly just embolden it? And what will be the impact of sex robots on marriage? Review the Future clean 1:23:55 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 086: Discussion of Malicious Uses of AI http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=788 Thu, 28 Jun 2018 02:29:23 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=788 A team of 26 authors just published a fascinating new report on the malicious uses of AI. Inspired by the structure and content of this report, we decided to do a podcast overview of the various ways AI might be misused in the near future. Many discussions of AI tend to focus on either unintended […] A team of 26 authors just published a fascinating new report on the malicious uses of AI. Inspired by the structure and content of this report, we decided to do a podcast overview of the various ways AI might be misused in the near future. A team of 26 authors just published a fascinating new report on the malicious uses of AI. Inspired by the structure and content of this report, we decided to do a podcast overview of the various ways AI might be misused in the near future. Many discussions of AI tend to focus on either unintended […] Constellation clean 1:26:21 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 085: Grab Bag of Short Topics http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=783 Tue, 12 Jun 2018 05:19:09 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=783 In today’s episode we tried an experiment. Lacking topics that we felt were big enough for a whole episode, we instead discussed a lot of little topics including self driving cars, the philosophy of David Deutsch, cryptocurrency in the Marshall Islands, a new paper on AI dangers, durable goods increasingly becoming services, Walmart scanning robots, […] In today’s episode we tried an experiment. Lacking topics that we felt were big enough for a whole episode, we instead discussed a lot of little topics including self driving cars, the philosophy of David Deutsch, In today's episode we tried an experiment. Lacking topics that we felt were big enough for a whole episode, we instead discussed a lot of little topics including self driving cars, the philosophy of David Deutsch, cryptocurrency in the Marshall Islands, a new paper on AI dangers, durable goods increasingly becoming services, Walmart scanning robots, and the dynamics of status in the internet age. We hope you enjoy! Review the Future clean 1:04:09 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 084: Discussion of Conversational AI and Digital Currency http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=777 Tue, 15 May 2018 19:45:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=777 In today’s episode, we discuss Google’s new conversational AI, known as Duplex. Although impressive as a tech demo, this new technology has not received the warmest of receptions. We discuss the various ethical and possibly criminal implications of robots that can convincingly fool humans over the phone. Next, we discuss a possible shift to a […] In today’s episode, we discuss Google’s new conversational AI, known as Duplex. Although impressive as a tech demo, this new technology has not received the warmest of receptions. We discuss the various ethical and possibly criminal implications of rob... In today's episode, we discuss Google's new conversational AI, known as Duplex. Although impressive as a tech demo, this new technology has not received the warmest of receptions. We discuss the various ethical and possibly criminal implications of robots that can convincingly fool humans over the phone. Next, we discuss a possible shift to a fully digital currency. Though cryptocurrency is a hot topic at the moment, we do not expect that a real digital currency is likely to resemble today's cryptocurrency. A likely digital currency would probably be centralized under government control and have resulting advantages and risks. Review the Future clean 1:06:19 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 083: Discussion of Moore’s Law and Optimism vs. Pessimism http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=773 Tue, 08 May 2018 03:34:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=773 We discuss Moore’s law and how it undergirds most futurist predictions, and what that means now that it appears to be coming to an end. We cover the benefits of predictable gains for software developers versus the low hanging opportunities to optimize. We then cover the abstract idea of optimism vs. pessimism in argumentation and […] We discuss Moore’s law and how it undergirds most futurist predictions, and what that means now that it appears to be coming to an end. We cover the benefits of predictable gains for software developers versus the low hanging opportunities to optimize.... We discuss Moore's law and how it undergirds most futurist predictions, and what that means now that it appears to be coming to an end. We cover the benefits of predictable gains for software developers versus the low hanging opportunities to optimize. We then cover the abstract idea of optimism vs. pessimism in argumentation and posit that a desire to inspire or negatively motivate to prevent leads to insincere argumentation. Review the Future clean 1:02:35 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 082: Discussion of Subvocal Recognition and Domestic Robots http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=765 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 22:13:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=765 In today’s episode we dive into the implications of two recent news stories.  The first involves an exciting new tech demo that came out of the MIT Media Lab for a device called the AlterEgo. The AlterEgo combines subvocal recognition with bone conduction tech to create the external appearance of computer-aided telepathy. Does this technology […] In today’s episode we dive into the implications of two recent news stories.  The first involves an exciting new tech demo that came out of the MIT Media Lab for a device called the AlterEgo. The AlterEgo combines subvocal recognition with bone conduct... In today's episode we dive into the implications of two recent news stories.  The first involves an exciting new tech demo that came out of the MIT Media Lab for a device called the AlterEgo. The AlterEgo combines subvocal recognition with bone conduction tech to create the external appearance of computer-aided telepathy. Does this technology have a future, and if so, what form will it take? The second news story involves the announcement by Amazon of plans to enter the domestic robotics space. With very few actual details to go over, we indulge in our typical wild speculation about the kinds of home robotics that might see use in the near future, and whether the concept of ephemeralization can be meaningfully applied to home appliances. We close out the episode by registering our predictions (hint: Alexa-roomba) of what we expect to see from Amazon's eventual product. Review the Future clean 1:01:28 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 081: Discussion of Facebook and Privacy http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=757 Sat, 14 Apr 2018 00:00:58 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=757 In today’s episode we wade into the ongoing societal conversation around social media and privacy that has been taking place in the wake of the recent Facebook scandal. But before getting started we do some follow up on previous discussion topics: existential risk and self driving cars. Next, after a quick rehash of the Cambridge […] In today’s episode we wade into the ongoing societal conversation around social media and privacy that has been taking place in the wake of the recent Facebook scandal. But before getting started we do some follow up on previous discussion topics: exis... In today's episode we wade into the ongoing societal conversation around social media and privacy that has been taking place in the wake of the recent Facebook scandal. But before getting started we do some follow up on previous discussion topics: existential risk and self driving cars. Next, after a quick rehash of the Cambridge Analytica data breach, we discuss ways to think about privacy and data and consider some of the pros and cons of government regulation in this area. Review the Future clean 1:05:07 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 080: Discussion of Self Driving Cars and Body Scanning http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=751 Tue, 03 Apr 2018 05:01:52 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=751 For the first time ever, today’s episode was recorded and uploaded on the same day, with no editing. As part of our push to get more content out quicker, we are taking steps towards a live radio format. On this podcast, we discuss coverage of the recent Uber self driving car accident. What does the […] For the first time ever, today’s episode was recorded and uploaded on the same day, with no editing. As part of our push to get more content out quicker, we are taking steps towards a live radio format. On this podcast, For the first time ever, today's episode was recorded and uploaded on the same day, with no editing. As part of our push to get more content out quicker, we are taking steps towards a live radio format. On this podcast, we discuss coverage of the recent Uber self driving car accident. What does the tone of the coverage suggest about peoples fears and willingness to adopt this new technology? Later, we discuss the imminent rise of full body scans, and their potential usefulness as clothing models, fitness trackers, VR avatars, and even fodder for bizarre art. Review the Future clean 47:24 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 079: Discussion of AI Risk http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=745 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:51:37 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=745 We discuss AI risk argument through two recent articles, one written by sci fi author Ted Chiang and one by Steven Pinker, both of which dismiss the strongest version of the arguments as put forth by Nick Bostrom and others, in this episode. Is insight the same as morality, as Chiang seems to think? Does […] We discuss AI risk argument through two recent articles, one written by sci fi author Ted Chiang and one by Steven Pinker, both of which dismiss the strongest version of the arguments as put forth by Nick Bostrom and others, in this episode. We discuss AI risk argument through two recent articles, one written by sci fi author Ted Chiang and one by Steven Pinker, both of which dismiss the strongest version of the arguments as put forth by Nick Bostrom and others, in this episode. Is insight the same as morality, as Chiang seems to think? Does Steven Pinker even understand the basics of Bostrom’s claims? Does the foom argument need to be true to worry about AI risk? And at the end, a bit of fun (before we’re all turned into paperclips). Review the Future clean 53:15 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 078: Discussion of Black Mirror and Altered Carbon http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=739 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 08:23:06 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=739 As part of our new casual discussion series, we do two mini reviews of recent science fiction TV shows. Jon shares his critiques of the the first episode of the new season of Black Mirror, while Ted offers his impressions of the new show Altered Carbon. Although we found some things to appreciate, in general […] As part of our new casual discussion series, we do two mini reviews of recent science fiction TV shows. Jon shares his critiques of the the first episode of the new season of Black Mirror, while Ted offers his impressions of the new show Altered Carbon... As part of our new casual discussion series, we do two mini reviews of recent science fiction TV shows. Jon shares his critiques of the the first episode of the new season of Black Mirror, while Ted offers his impressions of the new show Altered Carbon. Although we found some things to appreciate, in general we are not fans of these shows. We suggest reading Crystal Nights or Peripheral instead. Or maybe watching Rick and Morty.<br /> <br /> Review the Future clean 53:08 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 077: Robin Hanson on The Elephant in the Brain http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=734 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 04:02:17 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=734 Today we are rejoined by professor and friend of the podcast Robin Hanson. Robin has just co-authored a fascinating new book called The Elephant in the Brain. This book examines our hidden motives, and while it has nothing directly to do with the future, it does have significant implications for policy and institutional design. Robin […] Today we are rejoined by professor and friend of the podcast Robin Hanson. Robin has just co-authored a fascinating new book called The Elephant in the Brain. This book examines our hidden motives, and while it has nothing directly to do with the futur... Today we are rejoined by professor and friend of the podcast Robin Hanson. Robin has just co-authored a fascinating new book called The Elephant in the Brain. This book examines our hidden motives, and while it has nothing directly to do with the future, it does have significant implications for policy and institutional design. Robin is also an accomplished futurist (as exemplified by his other excellent book Age of Em) and so were able to press him on the possible future implications of his thesis and come up with some interesting answers. Review the Future clean 1:34:05 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 076: What Happens When We Design Babies? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=727 Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:39:17 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=727 In this episode we discuss the prospect of designer babies. As genetic engineering and reproductive technologies continue to advance, parents are likely to gain unprecedented control over their offspring. We discuss some of the recent progress in germ line engineering and speculate about the degree of manipulation that might be possible in the near term. […] In this episode we discuss the prospect of designer babies. As genetic engineering and reproductive technologies continue to advance, parents are likely to gain unprecedented control over their offspring. We discuss some of the recent progress in germ ... In this episode we discuss the prospect of designer babies. As genetic engineering and reproductive technologies continue to advance, parents are likely to gain unprecedented control over their offspring. We discuss some of the near term prospects for germ line engineering and speculate about the degree of manipulation that might be possible in the near term. But perhaps more importantly, we discuss some of the ethical and policy implications of such advances. Will designer babies pave the way for a healthier and happier society or are we in for a more dystopian outcome? Review the Future clean 1:19:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 075: What Happens in a World of Perfectly Fakeable Audio and Video? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=715 Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:03:01 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=715 Impressive demos promise that new technologies will democratize the kind of high-end audio and video fakery we usually associate only with blockbuster films. In this episode Jon and Ted extrapolate on that idea: what happens when many things can be faked, and everyone knows it? We discuss previous eras of forgery and modern forensics, posit an […] Impressive demos promise that new technologies will democratize the kind of high-end audio and video fakery we usually associate only with blockbuster films. In this episode Jon and Ted extrapolate on that idea: what happens when many things can be fak... Impressive demos promise that new technologies will democratize the kind of high-end audio and video fakery we usually associate only with blockbuster films. In this episode Jon and Ted extrapolate on that idea: what happens when many things can be faked, and everyone knows it? We discuss previous eras of forgery and modern forensics, posit an arms race to fake and spot fakes, and talk about the very real dangers of even momentarily misleading a diplomat or military officer -- but also how much fun this ability will be for comedians and satirists. Finally we imagine how much better Nigerian Prince scams are going to get. Review the Future clean 1:03:50 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 074: Are We Living in a Simulation? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=708 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 03:58:58 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=708 Thanks in part to Elon Musk and other popularizers, many people have encountered the notion that we might be living in a simulation. However, far fewer people are familiar with the exact details of Nick Bostrom’s “Simulation Argument”, the paper from which much of the conversation originated. In this podcast, we attempt to do justice to Bostrom’s argument by laying it […] Thanks in part to Elon Musk and other popularizers, many people have encountered the notion that we might be living in a simulation. However, far fewer people are familiar with the exact details of Nick Bostrom’s “Simulation Argument”, Thanks in part to Elon Musk and other popularizers, many people have encountered the notion that we might be living in a simulation. However, far fewer people are familiar with the exact details of Nick Bostrom's "Simulation Argument", the paper from which much of the conversation originated. In this podcast, we attempt to do justice to Bostrom's argument by laying it out in a clear and organized fashion. After accomplishing that task, we devolve into our typical ad hoc speculation. Should we be worried about being shut down? Are people living in other countries actually just illusions? What is the David Bowie Theory of Simulation and why is it so important? These questions and more on this episode of Review the Future. Review the Future clean 59:33 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X012: Future Express | Categorizing Interactive Systems http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=704 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 20:26:21 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=704 With the explosion of possibilities in new interactive systems brought by ubiquitous computing and VR, we thought it made sense to try to nail down some precise language for how to discuss all these types of systems. In this episode we explore a possible categorization schema for interactive systems along two axes: Variability and Goal-Orientation. We walk […] With the explosion of possibilities in new interactive systems brought by ubiquitous computing and VR, we thought it made sense to try to nail down some precise language for how to discuss all these types of systems. With the explosion of possibilities in new interactive systems brought by ubiquitous computing and VR, we thought it made sense to try to nail down some precise language for how to discuss all these types of systems. In this episode we explore a possible categorization schema for interactive systems along two axes: Variability and Goal-Orientation. We walk through the ways that goal structures and variable outcomes give and take power from the creator and user of an interactive system, and discuss a wide range of systems from books and movies to sports and immersive VR, but also websites, choose-your-own-adventures, triple-A video games, and many other points between. Review the Future clean 56:31 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X011: Future Express | The Replication Crisis and Challenges to Progress http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=698 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:43:01 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=698 In this episode, we have a free-ranging conversation that begins by discussing the modern replication crisis in psychology and other fields. We examine how this development might affect our views on the pace of progress generally. Amidst our many tangents, we consider the possibility of getting tech companies to share their proprietary data for the sake of science […] In this episode, we have a free-ranging conversation that begins by discussing the modern replication crisis in psychology and other fields. We examine how this development might affect our views on the pace of progress generally. In this episode, we have a free-ranging conversation that begins by discussing the modern replication crisis in psychology and other fields. We examine how this development might affect our views on the pace of progress generally. Amidst our many tangents, we consider the possibility of getting tech companies to share their proprietary data for the sake of science research and wonder if becoming an increasingly globalized society imposes coordination co Review the Future clean 53:36 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X010: Future Express | Attention Economics and Loyalty of Digital Assistants http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=692 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:19:37 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=692 In this episode, we discuss the modern Darwinian battle for attention currently playing out on the global internet. We consider some of the psychological methods that have been and will be developed for capturing and keeping people’s attention. We wonder whether the solution that will help us navigate this growing war for our eyeballs is digital assistant technology […] In this episode, we discuss the modern Darwinian battle for attention currently playing out on the global internet. We consider some of the psychological methods that have been and will be developed for capturing and keeping people’s attention. In this episode, we discuss the modern Darwinian battle for attention currently playing out on the global internet. We consider some of the psychological methods that have been and will be developed for capturing and keeping people's attention. We wonder whether the solution that will help us navigate this growing war for our eyeballs is digital assistant technology that can better help us cut through the noise. Review the Future clean 1:03:23 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X009: Future Express | What Changes Under Trump? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=686 Tue, 21 Feb 2017 08:04:45 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=686 We’re back! We really didn’t want to talk about Trump, but we felt like we had to at least address it. How does the new US president affect our future predictions? Find out in this episode. Relevant Links: PAPER: Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets We’re back! We really didn’t want to talk about Trump, but we felt like we had to at least address it. How does the new US president affect our future predictions? Find out in this episode. Relevant Links: PAPER: Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor... We’re back! We really didn’t want to talk about Trump, but we felt like we had to at least address it. How does the new US president affect our future predictions? Find out in this episode. Relevant Links: PAPER: Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets Constellation clean 47:40 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X008: Future Express | How to Train Your Personal AI and Mailbag http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=682 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 23:24:45 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=682 In this episode, we talk about how to train your AI recommendation engine to give you better results, and discuss the growth in music recommendation quality in particular. How much of the future is about the actual work of training your AI assistants? The reinforcement that you give them develops a model of you but […] In this episode, we talk about how to train your AI recommendation engine to give you better results, and discuss the growth in music recommendation quality in particular. How much of the future is about the actual work of training your AI assistants? In this episode, we talk about how to train your AI recommendation engine to give you better results, and discuss the growth in music recommendation quality in particular. How much of the future is about the actual work of training your AI assistants? The reinforcement that you give them develops a model of you but simultaneously, you develop a model of it. What about if we got an algorithm admin panel to fine tune our AIs? How will algorithms handle context? We also dive into the mailbag and discuss some of the listener feedback we've gotten. In wondering who would be the mainstream spokesperson for futurology, we ask: Who is the Neil DeGrasse Tyson of the future? Tweet us your ideas @RTF_Podcast. Review the Future clean 1:02:21 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X007: Future Express | AI in the Legal System and More on Technological Unemployment http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=678 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:09:37 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=678 In this Future Express, Jon and Ted discuss bringing AI to legal finance and whether that might push us toward rationalizing our laws. We mention the parking ticket fighting app DoNotPay, and imagine that type of technology growing to cover most legal needs, starting an arms race between assistant software and bureaucracies that will force them […] In this Future Express, Jon and Ted discuss bringing AI to legal finance and whether that might push us toward rationalizing our laws. We mention the parking ticket fighting app DoNotPay, and imagine that type of technology growing to cover most legal ... In this Future Express, Jon and Ted discuss bringing AI to legal finance and whether that might push us toward rationalizing our laws. We mention the parking ticket fighting app DoNotPay, and imagine that type of technology growing to cover most legal needs, starting an arms race between assistant software and bureaucracies that will force them to change strategy, because they are no longer protected by the inertia of time consuming obstacles. Responding to listener feedback, we reexamine the idea of elder care robots. In our continuing discussion of technological unemployment, we wonder whether the whole issue doesn't really come down to the superstar effect, and we wonder: can capitalism survive until the singularity arrives? Should it? Review the Future clean 1:12:52 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X006: Future Express | Listener Questions and Calum Chace Followup http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=670 Fri, 26 Aug 2016 13:21:17 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=670 In this Express episode Jon and Ted answer a listener question about the future of citizenship, and wonder how it will be challenged and whether it’s even necessary at all. We respond to another question asking for a beginner’s reading list. We follow up on our discussion with Calum Chace and talk through Jon’s skepticism of […] In this Express episode Jon and Ted answer a listener question about the future of citizenship, and wonder how it will be challenged and whether it’s even necessary at all. We respond to another question asking for a beginner’s reading list. In this Express episode Jon and Ted answer a listener question about the future of citizenship, and wonder how it will be challenged and whether it's even necessary at all. We respond to another question asking for a beginner's reading list. We follow up on our discussion with Calum Chace and talk through Jon's skepticism of technological unemployment problems. How long will the era of technological unemployment last? Long enough to matter or is it another blip on the road to superintelligence? Will robot housekeepers be replaced all at once or piecemeal as things like Roombas get better? Is it practical to think most people will become digital nomads or are people driven to acquire status to the point that an endless pyramid of positional goods can keep capitalism going forever? How about the meaning of an infinite movie? Review the Future clean 57:12 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 073: Can Capitalism Survive an “Economic Singularity?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=665 Wed, 10 Aug 2016 05:34:09 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=665 Author Calum Chace returns to discuss his new book, “The Economic Singularity: Artificial Intelligence and the Death of Capitalism” We discuss the likelihood of long-term technological unemployment and universal basic income, and whether the distribution challenges of our increasingly abundant economy require rethinking some of the basic elements of our current capitalist system. With something […] Author Calum Chace returns to discuss his new book, “The Economic Singularity: Artificial Intelligence and the Death of Capitalism” We discuss the likelihood of long-term technological unemployment and universal basic income, Author Calum Chace returns to discuss his new book, "The Economic Singularity: Artificial Intelligence and the Death of Capitalism" We discuss the likelihood of long-term technological unemployment and universal basic income, and whether the distribution challenges of our increasingly abundant economy require rethinking some of the basic elements of our current capitalist system. With something like 5 million people employed as drivers in the US, what will they do when AI can drive vehicles? Review the Future clean 1:23:37 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X005: Future Express | Robot Used in Dallas and Pokemon Go! http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=661 Fri, 22 Jul 2016 22:41:19 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=661 In this extra bonus Express episode we weigh in on two topics of the moment: robots being used by police to kill civilian suspects and Pokemon Go. We cover the case for ethical use of unmanned vehicles in police work and wonder about the future of lethal and improvised technological use cases in police work, […] In this extra bonus Express episode we weigh in on two topics of the moment: robots being used by police to kill civilian suspects and Pokemon Go. We cover the case for ethical use of unmanned vehicles in police work and wonder about the future of leth... In this extra bonus Express episode we weigh in on two topics of the moment: robots being used by police to kill civilian suspects and Pokemon Go. We cover the case for ethical use of unmanned vehicles in police work and wonder about the future of lethal and improvised technological use cases in police work, and then we switch gears to talk about the new AR / Location / IP sensation that's sweeping the nation. Review the Future clean 31:50 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X004: Future Express | More on Kevin Kelly’s THE INEVITABLE http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=658 Wed, 20 Jul 2016 05:09:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=658 On Future Express this time Jon and Ted follow up on their discussion of Kevin Kelly’s new book THE INEVITABLE, exploring the rhetoric and wondering whether a more straightforward economic analysis might have turned up more insight than the evolutionary arguments that Kelly relies on in parts of the book.  We discuss whether IP reform is desirable […] On Future Express this time Jon and Ted follow up on their discussion of Kevin Kelly’s new book THE INEVITABLE, exploring the rhetoric and wondering whether a more straightforward economic analysis might have turned up more insight than the evolutionar... On Future Express this time Jon and Ted follow up on their discussion of Kevin Kelly's new book THE INEVITABLE, exploring the rhetoric and wondering whether a more straightforward economic analysis might have turned up more insight than the evolutionary arguments that Kelly relies on in parts of the book. We discuss whether IP reform is desirable or possible in the near future, and we wonder whether Kevin's dismissal of intelligence explosion fears is warranted. Review the Future clean 39:12 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 072: Kevin Kelly on “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=651 Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:25:42 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=651 In our first “regular” episode in a while, we are joined by Wired cofounder Kevin Kelly to discuss his new book “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future.” The book takes 12 trends in digital technology and speculates as to what results we might see in the future as digital […] In our first “regular” episode in a while, we are joined by Wired cofounder Kevin Kelly to discuss his new book “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future.” The book takes 12 trends in digital technology and s... In our first "regular" episode in a while, we are joined by Wired cofounder Kevin Kelly to discuss his new book "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future." The book takes 12 trends in digital technology and speculates as to what results we might see in the future as digital technology, with its peculiar biases and tendencies, continues to grow into more fields. The resulting conversation was far reaching and varied, touching on the Internet as the world's largest copier and tracking machine, the difference between industrial monopolies and "natural" monopolies like Google and Facebook, the amount of privacy enjoyed by forager bands. Kevin is an internet pioneer with a long history of innovating on the web, and he's refreshingly honest about the things he got both right and wrong along the way. Review the Future clean 44:57 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X003: Future Express | ConsScale and the Threat of Cheap Weapons http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=647 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:01:35 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=647 In this week’s Future Express, we discuss the ConsScale twelve-level consciousness scale and the increasing threat of violence from ever-cheaper weaponry. ConsScale describes a continuum from molecule to supergod and attempts to place some mile-markers on the road to consciousness. We discuss the levels and try to figure out where a dog fits in. Murder is getting cheaper […] In this week’s Future Express, we discuss the ConsScale twelve-level consciousness scale and the increasing threat of violence from ever-cheaper weaponry. ConsScale describes a continuum from molecule to supergod and attempts to place some mile-markers... In this week's Future Express, we discuss the ConsScale twelve-level consciousness scale and the increasing threat of violence from ever-cheaper weaponry. ConsScale describes a continuum from molecule to supergod and attempts to place some mile-markers on the road to consciousness. We discuss the levels and try to figure out where a dog fits in. Murder is getting cheaper every day, so we wonder whether a draconian civilization with either strong weapon controls or strong surveillance is inevitable. We coin the term "Feel Good Dystopia" to describe the Huxleyan vision, and relate that not enough time travel movies feature people from the past hassling people from the present about the world. Review the Future clean 46:03 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X002: Future Express | Autonomous Weapons and Brain to Brain Interfaces http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=643 Tue, 21 Jun 2016 20:44:26 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=643 In this second ever Future Express episode, Jon and Ted each bring a different topic to the table. Jon raises the issue of banning autonomous weapons, the subject of an open letter released last year and of an upcoming UN review conference. Ted shares an article about brain to brain communication, a pathway to technologically enabled telepathy. Relevant […] In this second ever Future Express episode, Jon and Ted each bring a different topic to the table. Jon raises the issue of banning autonomous weapons, the subject of an open letter released last year and of an upcoming UN review conference. In this second ever Future Express episode, Jon and Ted each bring a different topic to the table. Jon raises the issue of banning autonomous weapons, the subject of an open letter released last year and of an upcoming UN review conference. Ted shares an article about brain to brain communication, a pathway to technologically enabled telepathy. Review the Future clean 49:02 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi X001: Future Express | More on Robin Hanson’s AGE OF EM http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=638 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 05:54:01 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=638 The first of a new type of episode, this Future Express features a looser, less polished take on some of the issues raised by Robin Hanson’s recent book The Age of Em. As an addendum to our interview with Hanson last week, this tackles Jon and Ted’s review of the book, whether or not they’d recommend it […] The first of a new type of episode, this Future Express features a looser, less polished take on some of the issues raised by Robin Hanson’s recent book The Age of Em. As an addendum to our interview with Hanson last week, The first of a new type of episode, this Future Express features a looser, less polished take on some of the issues raised by Robin Hanson's recent book The Age of Em. As an addendum to our interview with Hanson last week, this tackles Jon and Ted's review of the book, whether or not they'd recommend it to others, and looks into some criticism brought up by Scott Alexander of Slate Star Codex. We wonder about what happens to the baseline scenario if Robin's assumptions about research turn out to be too conservative, and discuss stories that might come from such unusual ideas in the book as mind theft and spur safes. Review the Future clean 1:08:33 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 071: Robin Hanson on “What Does a Future of Emulated Minds Look Like?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=628 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:59:39 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=628 We’re back! After a prolonged hiatus, Ted and Jon return joined by guest Robin Hanson, the economics professor and blogger at Overcoming Bias, who discusses the central concept of his new book, The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth. We discuss his assumption that whole brain emulations will emerge before theoretically-driven AGI, […] We’re back! After a prolonged hiatus, Ted and Jon return joined by guest Robin Hanson, the economics professor and blogger at Overcoming Bias, who discusses the central concept of his new book, The Age of Em: Work, We're back! After a prolonged hiatus, Ted and Jon return joined by guest Robin Hanson, the economics professor and blogger at Overcoming Bias, who discusses the central concept of his new book, The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth. We discuss his assumption that whole brain emulations will emerge before theoretically-driven AGI, and that this development will lead to a population explosion of "Em" minds that perfectly substitute for human labor. Will humans not be needed anymore, as Robin predicts? What will the world of ems look and feel like? Is it possible to be purely analytic when predicting the future? Review the Future clean 1:14:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 070: Review of BLACK MIRROR: WHITE CHRISTMAS http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=619 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:00:23 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=619 In today’s podcast, we review an episode of the British television series Black Mirror. Black Mirror is an anthology show that presents a dark spin on our relationship with technology. The series, despite its flaws, is highly entertaining and full of interesting thought experiments. Today we are focusing on the Christmas special, a longer episode […] In today’s podcast, we review an episode of the British television series Black Mirror. Black Mirror is an anthology show that presents a dark spin on our relationship with technology. The series, despite its flaws, In today's podcast, we review an episode of the British television series Black Mirror. Black Mirror is an anthology show that presents a dark spin on our relationship with technology. The series, despite its flaws, is highly entertaining and full of interesting thought experiments. Today we are focusing on the Christmas special, a longer episode that deals with some our favorite topics: augmented reality, privacy, and emulated brains. Although we recommend watching the episode before listening to this podcast, we do summarize the plot as we go for the benefit of people who have not yet seen Black Mirror. Constellation clean 1:14:27 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 069: What are the Possibilities of Augmented Reality? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=612 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 21:45:16 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=612 In today’s podcast we offer a broad survey of augmented reality. How will the social and economic aspects of our lives be different in a world where computers are constantly altering our vision? What are the main benefits that AR has over VR? How does one even define augmented reality anyway? Relevant Links Images from Magic Leap Patent Application Analysis of Potential AR/VR […] In today’s podcast we offer a broad survey of augmented reality. How will the social and economic aspects of our lives be different in a world where computers are constantly altering our vision? What are the main benefits that AR has over VR? In today's podcast we offer a broad survey of augmented reality. How will the social and economic aspects of our lives be different in a world where computers are constantly altering our vision? What are the main benefits that AR has over VR? How does one even define augmented reality anyway? Review the Future clean 1:13:27 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 068: Does Life Have Meaning in a World Without Work? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=606 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 23:12:35 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=606 In today’s podcast we get philosophical about work and the meaning of life. Repeat guest John Danaher steers us away from the traditional arguments surrounding technological unemployment and towards a different set of questions: Is it possible for humans to have a meaningful existence in a world where they’ve been completely sidelined by machines? Is a life […] In today’s podcast we get philosophical about work and the meaning of life. Repeat guest John Danaher steers us away from the traditional arguments surrounding technological unemployment and towards a different set of questions: Is it possible for huma... In today’s podcast we get philosophical about work and the meaning of life. Repeat guest John Danaher steers us away from the traditional arguments surrounding technological unemployment and towards a different set of questions: Is it possible for humans to have a meaningful existence in a world where they’ve been completely sidelined by machines? Is a life […] Constellation clean 1:13:35 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 067: Should You Sign Up for Cryonics? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=602 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:23:27 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=602 In today’s podcast, we discuss cryonics, a topic we only recently became interested in. After a general overview of what cryonics is and where it comes from, we try to determine whether or not cryonics is a service we would sign up for. The rational arguments in favor of cryonics seem to be very strong, and the cost of […] In today’s podcast, we discuss cryonics, a topic we only recently became interested in. After a general overview of what cryonics is and where it comes from, we try to determine whether or not cryonics is a service we would sign up for. In today's podcast, we discuss cryonics, a topic we only recently became interested in. After a general overview of what cryonics is and where it comes from, we try to determine whether or not cryonics is a service we would sign up for. The rational arguments in favor of cryonics seem to be very strong, and the cost of cryonics, while significant, is not so high as to be out of reach. However, we do still have some reservations. For now we remain "cryo-curious" - sympathetic to the technology but not yet signed up. Hopefully this episode will trigger our listeners to begin their own thought process regarding this fascinating proposition. Review the Future clean 1:08:30 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 066: George Dvorsky on “What is the Future of Human Advancement?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=594 Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:18:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=594   In today’s podcast, Jon talks with futurist and bioethicist George Dvorsky about the future of human enhancement. Topics covered include radical life extension, editing the human germline, multiplex parenting, artificial wombs, intelligence augmentation, moral enhancement, and more. What enhancements are just around the corner, and how cautious should we be when it comes to […]   In today’s podcast, Jon talks with futurist and bioethicist George Dvorsky about the future of human enhancement. Topics covered include radical life extension, editing the human germline, multiplex parenting, artificial wombs, In today's podcast, Jon talks with futurist and bioethicist George Dvorsky about the future of human enhancement. Topics covered include radical life extension, editing the human germline, multiplex parenting, artificial wombs, intelligence augmentation, moral enhancement, and more. How cautious should we be when it comes to enhancing human beings? Is there any merit to the arguments of bioconservatives or are most of their concerns lacking solid grounding? How can we get over the creepiness hurdle and begin to normalize these conversations? Review the Future clean 1:03:25 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 065: What is the Future of Virtual Assistants? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=582 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:32:33 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=582 In today’s podcast, we discuss the future of virtual assistant software. A long list of major companies and startups are racing to develop voice activated software that can help organize your life. Today’s assistant apps are still incredibly primitive, but it appears they may get considerably better in the near future. We identify and analyze three major […] In today’s podcast, we discuss the future of virtual assistant software. A long list of major companies and startups are racing to develop voice activated software that can help organize your life. Today’s assistant apps are still incredibly primitive,... In today's podcast, we discuss the future of virtual assistant software. A long list of major companies and startups are racing to develop voice activated software that can help organize your life. Today's assistant apps are still incredibly primitive, but it appears they may get considerably better in the near future. We identify and analyze three major trends that are poised to make computers into more powerful assistants: natural language interfaces, big data, and increasing autonomy. Will you be able to trust your virtual assistant not to steer you toward products you don't need? Will social interactions be increasingly influenced by the realtime suggestions of virtual advisors? Will "being good with computers" stop being a relevant descriptor once everyone has easy access to powerful natural language interfaces? Review the Future clean 1:00:06 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 064: Calum Chace on “Is it Time to Start Worrying About AI?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=575 Wed, 09 Sep 2015 06:09:49 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=575 In today’s episode, Jon speaks with Calum Chace, author of the new nonfiction book Surviving AI. The potential risk posed by superintelligent AI has recently gained unprecedented coverage in the mainstream press, thanks to the release of Nick Bostrom’s book Superintelligence and public statements by the likes of Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Stephen Hawking. In our […] In today’s episode, Jon speaks with Calum Chace, author of the new nonfiction book Surviving AI. The potential risk posed by superintelligent AI has recently gained unprecedented coverage in the mainstream press, In today's episode, Jon speaks with Calum Chace, author of the new nonfiction book Surviving AI. The potential risk posed by superintelligent AI has recently gained unprecedented coverage in the mainstream press, thanks to the release of Nick Bostrom's book Superintelligence and public statements by the likes of Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Stephen Hawking. In our discussion we explore some of the fundamental questions surrounding this issue such as: how soon will artificial general intelligence arrive? How likely is it to be dangerous? And is a hard takeoff or soft takeoff more likely? While AGI may still be a long way off, the extraordinarily high stakes suggest we should devote a few more resources to studying this highly unique issue facing humanity. Review the Future clean 1:04:12 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 063: Bonus Episode: Kickstarter Launch, Social VR, and ADVANTAGEOUS Review http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=566 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:19:11 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=566 Our Kickstarter is LIVE! In this bonus mini-episode, we discuss our sci fi graphic novel project LET GO, and how you can help. We also respond to some listener questions about social networking in virtual reality. To what extent will modern day websites be replaced by virtual counterparts?  Finally, Jon gives a short review of the indie sci fi film ADVANTAGEOUS. Relevant […] Our Kickstarter is LIVE! In this bonus mini-episode, we discuss our sci fi graphic novel project LET GO, and how you can help. We also respond to some listener questions about social networking in virtual reality. Our Kickstarter is LIVE! In this bonus mini-episode, we discuss our sci fi graphic novel project LET GO, and how you can help. We also respond to some listener feedback and Jon gives a recommendation for the indie sci fi film ADVANTAGEOUS. Review the Future clean 35:03 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 062: What is the Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=561 Wed, 26 Aug 2015 08:18:03 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=561 In today’s episode we talk about brain-computer interfaces. We discuss the range of available invasive and non-invasive sensor options, the difficulties of processing brain signals, and the wide variety of ways computers might use realtime brain data.  While it’s clear that BCIs promise incredible benefits to people who are paralyzed, it’s less clear how extensively BCIs will benefit […] In today’s episode we talk about brain-computer interfaces. We discuss the range of available invasive and non-invasive sensor options, the difficulties of processing brain signals, and the wide variety of ways computers might use realtime brain data. In today's episode we talk about brain-computer interfaces. We discuss the range of available invasive and non-invasive sensor options, the difficulties of processing brain signals, and the wide variety of ways computers might use realtime brain data. While it's clear that BCIs promise incredible benefits to people who are paralyzed, it's less clear how extensively BCIs will benefit able-bodied humans. We explore what some of those benefits (and dangers) might be. Review the Future clean 47:55 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 061: What is the Future of Movies? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=550 Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:00:04 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=550 In today’s podcast, we discuss the future of movies. We begin by addressing virtual reality and asking what impacts it will have on traditional moviemaking. In recent times, the cost of making an independent film has gone way down, and we consider whether those costs can drop even further, possibly as a result of better […] In today’s podcast, we discuss the future of movies. We begin by addressing virtual reality and asking what impacts it will have on traditional moviemaking. In recent times, the cost of making an independent film has gone way down, In today's podcast, we discuss the future of movies. We begin by addressing virtual reality and asking what impacts it will have on traditional moviemaking. In recent times, the cost of making an independent film has gone way down, and we consider whether those costs can drop even further, possibly as a result of better virtual filmmaking and machinima tools. Next, we analyze the shift towards greater serialization in movies and the rising dominance of television. Finally, we speculate wildly about the length of future movies, the effect of accelerating change on storytelling settings, personalized algorithmic movie production, and more. Review the Future clean 1:00:44 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 060: Scott Santens on “Is Basic Income Part of Our Future and Should It Be?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=533 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 06:32:52 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=533 In today’s episode we are joined by basic income advocate Scott Santens. Scott explains his version of a basic income and how it might be paid for. Although future technological unemployment might increase the need for a basic income, there are actually many reasons besides concerns about automation to adopt such a policy. We discuss the various advantages of basic […] In today’s episode we are joined by basic income advocate Scott Santens. Scott explains his version of a basic income and how it might be paid for. Although future technological unemployment might increase the need for a basic income, In today's episode we are joined by basic income advocate Scott Santens. Scott explains his version of a basic income and how it might be paid for. Although future technological unemployment might increase the need for a basic income, there are actually many reasons besides concerns about automation to adopt such a policy. We discuss the various advantages of basic income over our current social programs and consider the Alaska model as one that might be exportable to the rest of the US. Lastly, we address the issue of feasibility: basic income sounds nice on paper, but could such a program ever actually get implemented? Review the Future clean 56:02 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 059: What is the Future of Advertising? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=527 Wed, 15 Jul 2015 05:34:47 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=527 In today’s episode, we discuss the future of advertising, which we define as the ‘sale of attention.’ People mostly hate ads, but why do they? Is it possible to make ads so well targeted that people actually enjoy the experience? We discuss the remarkably constant amount of advertising as a percent of GDP over a […] In today’s episode, we discuss the future of advertising, which we define as the ‘sale of attention.’ People mostly hate ads, but why do they? Is it possible to make ads so well targeted that people actually enjoy the experience? In today's episode, we discuss the future of advertising, which we define as the 'sale of attention.' People mostly hate ads, but why do they? Is it possible to make ads so well targeted that people actually enjoy the experience? We discuss the remarkably constant amount of advertising as a percent of GDP over a long stretch of history. We ponder the ways accelerating technologies might allow for better metrics and better ad designs in the future, and we wonder whether a large-scale consumer collapse might disrupt advertising's steady growth. Speculating on the future, we imagine that nearly everything that remains scarce in the future might one day be ad-supported. Review the Future clean 1:07:04 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 058: What are the Top Ten Ways Science Fiction Fails to Predict the Future? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=518 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:09:04 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=518 In today’s episode we give a comprehensive list of the sci-fi tropes that bother us the most. While not all science fiction has an obligation to be speculative, we would like to see more science fiction that avoids certain cliches when it comes to predicting the future. We discuss the following tropes: The Prometheus Problem The Boot-in-the-face Dystopia Societal Regression […] In today’s episode we give a comprehensive list of the sci-fi tropes that bother us the most. While not all science fiction has an obligation to be speculative, we would like to see more science fiction that avoids certain cliches when it comes to pred... In today's episode we give a comprehensive list of the sci-fi tropes that bother us the most. While not all science fiction has an obligation to be speculative, we would like to see more science fiction that avoids certain cliches when it comes to predicting the future. We discuss the following tropes: The Prometheus Problem, The Boot-in-the-face Dystopia. Societal Regression, Super Now, Isolated technological Advancement, The Lone Inventor, Human Specialness, Primacy of the Real, Unnecessary Anthropomorphism, The Sofalarity<br /> To find out what these terms mean, listen to the episode! Review the Future clean 58:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 057: Nikola Danaylov on “What Do Experts Think About the Singularity?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=509 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 23:38:32 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=509 In today’s podcast we are joined by Nikola Danaylov, host of the popular Singularity 1 on 1 podcast, and a man who has interviewed 170 experts about singularity related topics. After establishing the meaning of the term singularity, we discuss the wide range of opinions held by thinkers in the field. We learn that although there is […] In today’s podcast we are joined by Nikola Danaylov, host of the popular Singularity 1 on 1 podcast, and a man who has interviewed 170 experts about singularity related topics. After establishing the meaning of the term singularity, In today's podcast we are joined by Nikola Danaylov, host of the popular Singularity 1 on 1 podcast, and a man who has interviewed 170 experts about singularity related topics. After establishing the meaning of the term singularity, we discuss the wide range of opinions held by thinkers in the field. We learn that although there is no single consensus. there are some clusterings of opinion, a few of which fall upon disciplinary lines. Nikola reveals that after doing his show for five years, he is less convinced the singularity will happen then he used to be. After walking through the various routes that could get us to a singularity, we discuss the validity of accelerating returns and the need for diversity in the future. Finally, we conclude by considering the current state of the futurist community. Review the Future clean 1:03:15 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 056: Steve Anderson on “What are the Limits of Hollywood’s Portrayal of Technology?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=496 Tue, 02 Jun 2015 18:24:49 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=496 In today’s podcast we are joined by Steve Anderson PhD, an associate professor of cinematic arts at USC. We discuss the depiction of computers and surveillance in Hollywood films and the many factors, such as the need to tell a visual story and the convenience of certain props, that contribute to Hollywood’s often skewed portrayals. We also identify ways […] In today’s podcast we are joined by Steve Anderson PhD, an associate professor of cinematic arts at USC. We discuss the depiction of computers and surveillance in Hollywood films and the many factors, such as the need to tell a visual story and the con... In today's podcast we are joined by Steve Anderson PhD, an associate professor of cinematic arts at USC. We discuss the depiction of computers and surveillance in Hollywood films and the many factors, such as the need to tell a visual story and the convenience of certain props, that contribute to Hollywood's often skewed portrayals. We also identify ways in which Hollywood both over and underestimates the power of technology and examine the inability of most films to make strong systemic critiques or imagine anything other than a human-centric future. Lastly, we look at Hollywood caricatures of both gamers and television viewers and ask if economic incentives might be partially to blame. Along the way, we mine the archive of old films and learn about some of the more fun and bizarre examples of super computers that have shown up in the history of cinema. Review the Future clean 50:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 055: What’ll be the Impacts of Perfect Speech Recognition? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=489 Thu, 21 May 2015 00:06:27 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=489 In this week’s episode, we consider the rapid progress and recent impressive demos in the realm of speech recognition technology. We consider the difference between transcribing and understanding language, and work out a thought experiment of what might change when full transcription is widely and cheaply available. We talk about the challenges facing current generation […] In this week’s episode, we consider the rapid progress and recent impressive demos in the realm of speech recognition technology. We consider the difference between transcribing and understanding language, and work out a thought experiment of what migh... In this week's episode, we consider the rapid progress and recent impressive demos in the realm of speech recognition technology. We consider the difference between transcribing and understanding language, and work out a thought experiment of what might change when full transcription is widely and cheaply available. We talk about the challenges facing current generation technologies and speculate which are likely to be improved soon and which are sticky. We wonder whether even machine-readable transcription might be enough to help search engines do things like jump you directly to a movie quote's location in a film, or to help YouTube and Facebook mine your private videos for marketing purposes. We also cover the effects on lifelogging, surveillance, interface design -- and of course, jobs. At the end of the episode, we debut a new listener mailbag feature and respond to your comments. Review the Future clean 1:02:33 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 054: Martin Ford on “Are We Heading for a Jobless Future?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=457 Mon, 04 May 2015 21:43:05 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=457 In today’s podcast, we talk with Martin Ford about his new book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future. We discuss which job sectors are most vulnerable to automation in the near future and to what degree technology might be the driving force behind troubling economic trends. Martin describes his version of a […] In today’s podcast, we talk with Martin Ford about his new book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future. We discuss which job sectors are most vulnerable to automation in the near future and to what degree technology might be ... In today's podcast, we talk with Martin Ford about his new book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future. We discuss which job sectors are most vulnerable to automation in the near future and to what degree technology might be the driving force behind troubling economic trends. Martin describes his version of a basic income, which features built-in tiers and incentives. He also responds to some of the skepticism leveled at his writing by reviewers such as Robin Hanson. All in all, we found it to be a fascinating discussion. Review the Future clean 55:02 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 053: Review of EX MACHINA http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=448 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 04:02:44 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=448 In today’s podcast, we review the new science fiction thriller Ex Machina. We talk about how this is one of the better movies we’ve seen about AI, and how in general movies seem to be getting better at handling these topics. However, we question whether the movie’s use of the phrase “Turing Test” really makes […] In today’s podcast, we review the new science fiction thriller Ex Machina. We talk about how this is one of the better movies we’ve seen about AI, and how in general movies seem to be getting better at handling these topics. However, In today’s podcast, we review the new science fiction thriller Ex Machina. We talk about how this is one of the better movies we’ve seen about AI, and how in general movies seem to be getting better at handling these topics. However, we question whether the movie’s use of the phrase “Turing Test” really makes sense, and whether the notion of a lone genius unilaterally creating a humanoid robot is very believable. Around the twenty minute mark we give a brief spoiler warning before discussing the plausibility of the movie’s ending. While we find numerous things to nitpick about, in the end we highly recommend this movie as a film all science fiction and film fans should see. Review the Future clean 39:31 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 052: What is the Future of Synthetic Meat? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=439 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 01:09:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=439 There are many reasons to reduce or eliminate meat production, and in this week’s episode we cover them and ask the question: are we soon going to be eating synthetic meat? From resources to ethics, there is tremendous pressure to bring down the costs associated with meat. We discuss the challenges tissue engineers face in […] There are many reasons to reduce or eliminate meat production, and in this week’s episode we cover them and ask the question: are we soon going to be eating synthetic meat? From resources to ethics, there is tremendous pressure to bring down the costs ... There are many reasons to reduce or eliminate meat production, and in this week's episode we cover them and ask the question: are we soon going to be eating synthetic meat? From resources to ethics, there is tremendous pressure to bring down the costs associated with meat. We discuss the challenges tissue engineers face in creating meat that is delicious and affordable, and discuss the limitations of recent successes like the famous $300,000 synthetic burger. We also discuss some of the most promising companies and approaches in the synthetic meat space. Finally we consider other future alternatives to livestock farming such as insect protein, soylent, and the eventual decoupling of our nutritional needs from the pleasure of eating. Review the Future clean 56:46 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 051: Review of VRLA Expo 2015 http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=435 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:19:52 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=435 In today’s podcast, we review our experiences at the VRLA Expo, a Los Angeles based event that showcases the latest in virtual reality entertainment.  We describe our experiences with a wide variety of Oculus and Gear VR applications and ask the question: what are the most exciting uses for this new medium? Is this just […] In today’s podcast, we review our experiences at the VRLA Expo, a Los Angeles based event that showcases the latest in virtual reality entertainment.  We describe our experiences with a wide variety of Oculus and Gear VR applications and ask the questi... In today's podcast, we review our experiences at the VRLA Expo, a Los Angeles based event that showcases the latest in virtual reality entertainment. We describe our experiences with a wide variety of Oculus and Gear VR applications and ask the question: what are the most exciting uses for this new medium? Is this just the next generation of 3D gaming? Or are we witnessing the birth of an all new artistic medium with its own yet-to-be-hashed-out strengths and weaknesses? We also recount our impressions of various interface and feedback solutions from companies like Leap Motion, Sub Pac, and Stompz. Review the Future clean 53:46 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 050: Jesse Lawler on “What is the Future of Brain Enhancement?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=427 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:28:17 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=427 Intelligence is the most powerful force in the world, and humans are increasingly losing out to computers in various intellectual pursuits. Can you take a pill that will make you smarter? If you could, would you? We would, and so would our guest Jesse Lawler, the host of the excellent podcast Smart Drug Smarts. We […] Intelligence is the most powerful force in the world, and humans are increasingly losing out to computers in various intellectual pursuits. Can you take a pill that will make you smarter? If you could, would you? We would, Intelligence is the most powerful force in the world, and humans are increasingly losing out to computers in various intellectual pursuits. Can you take a pill that will make you smarter? If you couldn't, would you? We would, and so would our guest Jesse Lawler, the host of the excellent podcast Smart Drug Smarts. We cover the gamut of currently available substances that are claimed to have the effect of enhancing intelligence. We discuss how current drugs and supplements, seemingly being taken by college students in droves, on the market are not exactly silver bullet 'smart' pills but rather push us in one direction or another, with trade-offs. We also discuss some of the more speculative technology coming down the pike, and what might be the next big thing in nootropics. Review the Future clean 51:53 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 049: Mark Lewis on “Have We Reached Peak Education?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=418 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 21:47:28 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=418 On today’s podcast, Trinity University computer science professor Mark Lewis joins us to talk about his concept that we’ve reached ‘Peak Education.’ He argues that we cannot educate our way out of technological unemployment. If, in order to have a job, you have to be able to program, what does that mean for those of us […] On today’s podcast, Trinity University computer science professor Mark Lewis joins us to talk about his concept that we’ve reached ‘Peak Education.’ He argues that we cannot educate our way out of technological unemployment. If, On today's podcast, Trinity College computer science professor Mark Lewis joins us to talk about his concept that we've reached 'Peak Education.' He argues that we cannot educate our way out of technological change and the skill bias that occurs in the economy of developed nation. If, in order to have a job, you have to be able to program, what does that mean for those of us who are never going to be great programmers? Humans are slow learners, and we already spend a quarter of our lives in school. Can the scale of changes from the n now ever be duplicated? What will it take? Enhanced brains, smart drugs, or just better pedagogy? Review the Future clean 51:07 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 048: Sarah Perry on “Should We Have Control Over Our Consciousness?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=408 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 04:07:40 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=408 Is life a sacred gift or a burden? In this episode, we welcome Sarah Perry, author of Every Cradle is a Grave, to discuss the right to control one’s consciousness. Paramount among consciousness rights is the right to die; we discuss the state of suicidal legality and the cultural and technological impediments to suicide. We also […] Is life a sacred gift or a burden? In this episode, we welcome Sarah Perry, author of Every Cradle is a Grave, to discuss the right to control one’s consciousness. Paramount among consciousness rights is the right to die; we discuss the state of suicid... Is life a sacred gift or a burden? In this episode, we welcome Sarah Perry, author of Every Cradle is a Grave, to discuss the right to control one's consciousness. Paramount among consciousness rights is the right to die; we discuss the state of suicidal legality and the cultural and technological impediments to suicide. We also discuss the connection between radical life extension and suicide. Then we move into the control of states of consciousness, from drug use to mood enhancement, and discuss whether the right to commit suicide exists in a world where suffering has been abolished. Finally we discuss the ethics of simulated consciousness, and wonder where the authority might lie to, for example, delete an emulated mind. Review the Future clean 1:02:38 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 047: David Pearce on “What is the Future of Suffering?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=383 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:14:08 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=383 In this episode, philosopher, author and cofounder of H+ David Pearce joins us to discuss his concept of the hedonistic imperative, which is the argument that we have a moral obligation to end the suffering of not just all humanity but all sentient life. We discuss his terms “Hedonic Set Point” and “Hedonic Treadmill” and […] In this episode, philosopher, author and cofounder of H+ David Pearce joins us to discuss his concept of the hedonistic imperative, which is the argument that we have a moral obligation to end the suffering of not just all humanity but all sentient lif... In this episode, philosopher, author and cofounder of H+ David Pearce joins us to discuss his concept of the hedonistic imperative, which is the argument that we have a moral obligation to end the suffering of not just all humanity but all sentient life. We discuss his terms "Hedonic Set Point" and "Hedonic Treadmill" and how these phenomena combine to keep most people at about the same amount of happiness, even if they win the lottery or lose the use of their legs. We discuss the feasibility of using prenatal screening to raise our children's hedonic set points, and the farther-off possibility of using in-vivo genetic modification or future drug therapies to raise our own. It's a fun and wide-ranging conversation that we think you're going to really like. Check it out! Review the Future clean 59:28 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 046: James Hughes on “What is Technoprogressivism?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=361 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:00:46 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=361 In this episode, we talk with Trinity College professor and Institute for Ethics in Emerging Technology (IEET) founder Dr. James Hughes about the political term Technoprogressive and the recent Technoprogressive Declaration he helped develop (and we here at RTF have signed). Hughes contextualizes the movement as a new, techno-optimistic wing of the traditional Enlightenment liberal project, and […] In this episode, we talk with Trinity College professor and Institute for Ethics in Emerging Technology (IEET) founder Dr. James Hughes about the political term Technoprogressive and the recent Technoprogressive Declaration he helped develop (and we he... In this episode, we talk with Trinity College professor and Institute for Ethics in Emerging Technology (IEET) founder Dr. James Hughes about the political term Technoprogressive and the recent Technoprogressive Declaration he helped develop (and we here at RTF have signed). Hughes contextualizes the movement as a new, techno-optimistic wing of the traditional Enlightenment liberal project, and portrays Technoprogressivism as the left wing counterpart to the noisy Libertarian wing of the futurist movement. We talk about the position of the technoprogressive movement on a host of issues, including universal basic income, longevity enhancement, and how to promote a techno-optimistic viewpoint specifically within the American Left, which has developed a sometimes-justified suspicion of technological solutions to problems. Review the Future clean 1:10:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 045: Dave Ross on “What is the Future of Comedy?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=352 Mon, 29 Dec 2014 20:55:02 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=352 In this episode we talk with comedian Dave Ross about the ways the technology is impacting the world of stand-up comedy. We discuss how cellphone cameras are disrupting the age-old process of working out jokes in small rooms and about how, soon, virtual reality might be displacing or devaluing live performances. We discuss the problem […] In this episode we talk with comedian Dave Ross about the ways the technology is impacting the world of stand-up comedy. We discuss how cellphone cameras are disrupting the age-old process of working out jokes in small rooms and about how, soon, In this episode we talk with comedian Dave Ross about the ways the technology is impacting the world of stand-up comedy. We discuss how cellphone cameras are disrupting the age-old process of working out jokes in small rooms and about how, soon, virtual reality might be displacing or devaluing live performances. We discuss the problem of writing jokes via computer and a theory of humor called "Benign Violation Theory" that might animate the efforts of future AI comedians. Finally we discuss how technology provides new avenues to test jokes and be discovered, but simultaneously the massive amount of access and competition makes it harder than ever to rise to the top. Review the Future clean 42:39 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 044: Jason Ganz on “What is the Future of Virtual Reality?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=345 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 21:25:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=345 In this episode we talk to guest Jason Ganz of Agora VR. You may know Jason from his role as a moderator on the Futurology subreddit and as a co-host on the Futurology podcast. He’s an enthusiastic VR supporter and we had a wide-ranging, informative conversation we think you are going to find fascinating. We cover some of […] In this episode we talk to guest Jason Ganz of Agora VR. You may know Jason from his role as a moderator on the Futurology subreddit and as a co-host on the Futurology podcast. He’s an enthusiastic VR supporter and we had a wide-ranging, In this episode we talk to guest Jason Ganz of Agora VR. You may know Jason from his efforts as a moderator on the Futurology subreddit and the Futurology podcast. He's an enthusiastic supporter and we had a wide-ranging, informative conversation we think you are going to find fascinating. We cover some of the newest advances in the rapidly exploding VR space, including the Oculus rift and the Google Cardboard project, omnidirectional treadmills, haptics, new sensors from Leap Motion and the new fibre-optic in-eye monitor being developed by Magic Leap. We discuss the obvious upsides to better VR technology as well as the ways ephemeralizing experiences might add to technological unemployment and superstar economic effects. We also touch on age-old media canards like addiction and problems with realistic violence, and whether the coming VR multiverse is more likely to be an open-source competitive paradise or a nightmare walled-garden "Zuckerverse." Review the Future clean 1:27:33 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 043: Review of THE IMMORTALISTS http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=335 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:42:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=335 In this episode, we review the new documentary THE IMMORTALISTS, which is out in New York and opens December 11 in Los Angeles. The film covers the efforts toward radical life extension of two prominent figures, Aubrey de Grey and Bill Andrews. We discuss the quality of the representation in the film, of both the […] In this episode, we review the new documentary THE IMMORTALISTS, which is out in New York and opens December 11 in Los Angeles. The film covers the efforts toward radical life extension of two prominent figures, Aubrey de Grey and Bill Andrews. In this episode, we review the new documentary THE IMMORTALISTS, which is out in New York and opens December 11 in Los Angeles. The film covers the efforts toward radical life extension of two prominent figures, Aubrey de Grey and Bill Andrews. We discuss the quality of the representation in the film, of both the science behind radical life extension and the people who are the film's subjects. We decide this movie might not have a lot of new information for those who are already interested, but will introduce the concept of radical life extension to the uninitiated more fairly than most of what's come before. We have some criticisms, but overall it's a positive review: Proponents of life extension should welcome this film into the cultural dialogue. Review the Future clean 45:29 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 042: John Danaher on “Will the Future be Ruled by Algorithm?” http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=331 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 22:55:16 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=331 In this episode we talk with guest John Danaher, a lecturer at National University of Ireland, Galway and blogger. He has coined the term ‘Algocracy’ to describe a future state of rule by algorithm. We define the term and talk about how modern day algorithms like dating websites, military drones, and tax fraud detection are growing […] In this episode we talk with guest John Danaher, a lecturer at National University of Ireland, Galway and blogger. He has coined the term ‘Algocracy’ to describe a future state of rule by algorithm. We define the term and talk about how modern day algo... In this episode we talk with guest John Danaher, a lecturer at National University of Ireland, Galway and blogger. He has coined the term 'Algocracy' to describe a future state of rule by algorithm. We define the term and talk about how modern day algorithms like dating websites, military drones, and tax fraud detection are growing in influence, creating the possibility for algorithmic decision making to unseat democratic institutions and even personal will. Can we really say we are in a democracy if opaque, incomprehensible systems are making many important choices for us? How can we be certain that the algorithm has our interests at heart? Review the Future clean 1:08:13 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 041: What are the Reasons to Protect Privacy? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=277 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:01:42 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=277 In this episode we build on our previous podcast on privacy by examining, from a philosophical point of view, what the instrumental and intrinsic benefits to privacy are. Is there some fundamental, moral reason to protect privacy, or is it simply a way to prevent various misuses of data? If misuse is the real issue, would a […] In this episode we build on our previous podcast on privacy by examining, from a philosophical point of view, what the instrumental and intrinsic benefits to privacy are. Is there some fundamental, moral reason to protect privacy, In this episode we build on our previous podcast on privacy by examining, from a philosophical point of view, what the instrumental and intrinsic benefits to privacy are. Is there some fundamental, moral reason to protect privacy, or is it simply a way to prevent various misuses of data? If misuse is the real issue, would a co-veillance society be trustworthy enough to simply give up privacy? Or is it intrinsically wrong, like torture? We also discuss how privacy and security are often at odds with each other, and how privacy can be understood as an issue of information flow. Review the Future clean 46:56 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 040: What is the Future of Education? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=270 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 23:05:42 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=270 In this week’s podcast, we discuss the future of education. We examine the advantages and disadvantages of MOOCs and other online courses, and in the process we identify four distinct educational challenges: communicating information, fostering motivation, certifying knowledge, and building community. We also stress the importance of returning to first principles and asking fundamental questions about what the purpose […] In this week’s podcast, we discuss the future of education. We examine the advantages and disadvantages of MOOCs and other online courses, and in the process we identify four distinct educational challenges: communicating information, In this week's podcast, we discuss the future of education. We examine the advantages and disadvantages of MOOCs and other online courses, and in the process we identify four distinct educational challenges: communication of information, motivational structure, certification, and community. We also stress the importance of returning to first principles and asking fundamental questions about what the purpose of education is. At the end of the episode we discuss the possibility of augmented reality to revolutionize the practice of "learning by doing." Review the Future clean 51:12 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 039: What is Transhumanism? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=264 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:11:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=264 In this episode, we discuss the meaning and origins of the term ‘transhumanism.’ We summarize the primary transhumanist goals of increased longevity, greater intelligence, and enhanced wellbeing. We also explore some of the other implications of transhumanist philosophy, such as a commitment to rationalism, morphological freedom, respect for sentience, and avoidance of existential risk. Relevant Links The Transhumanist Declaration David Pearce on […] In this episode, we discuss the meaning and origins of the term ‘transhumanism.’ We summarize the primary transhumanist goals of increased longevity, greater intelligence, and enhanced wellbeing. We also explore some of the other implications of transh... In this episode, we discuss the meaning and origins of the term 'transhumanism.' We summarize the primary transhumanist goals of increased longevity, greater intelligence, and enhanced wellbeing. We also explore some of the other implications of transhumanist philosophy, such as a commitment to rationalism, morphological freedom, respect for sentience, and avoidance of existential risk. Review the Future clean 54:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 038: Can We Predict the Future? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=257 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:38:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=257 This week’s podcast asks about the benefits and problems associated with both hard “mathematical” prediction and soft “storytelling” prediction. We discuss the limits of mathematical prediction in terms of theory, randomness, chaos, and non-computability. We discuss the limits and benefits of storytelling and scenario planning as predictive tools as well, and we also discuss the self-reference […] This week’s podcast asks about the benefits and problems associated with both hard “mathematical” prediction and soft “storytelling” prediction. We discuss the limits of mathematical prediction in terms of theory, randomness, chaos, This week's podcast asks about the benefits and problems associated with both hard "mathematical" prediction and soft "storytelling" prediction. We discuss the limits of mathematical prediction in terms of theory, randomness, chaos, and non-computability. We discuss the limits and benefits of storytelling and scenario planning as predictive tools as well, and we also discuss the self-reference problem, which can apply to both types of prediction. Finally we discuss the fictional discipline of psychohistory, and wonder whether truly working prediction machines could exist without lacking transparency. Review the Future clean 36:34 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 037: What is the Future of the Sharing Economy? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=253 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 01:15:42 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=253 This week’s episode is about the sharing economy. We discuss the term and try to decide if the companies that use it are really doing anything new or just using a buzzword to screw workers and evade regulations. We discuss Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Fold.it, Couchsurfing, Seti@Home, Streetbank, Zipcar, eBay, and craigslist. Are these sites really just […] This week’s episode is about the sharing economy. We discuss the term and try to decide if the companies that use it are really doing anything new or just using a buzzword to screw workers and evade regulations. We discuss Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Fold.it, This week's episode is about the new Sharing Economy. We discuss the term and try to decide if the companies that use it are really doing anything new or just using a buzzword to screw workers and evade regulations. We discuss Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Fold.it, Couchsurfing, Seti@Home, Streetbank, Zipcar, eBay, and craigslist. Are these sites really just sophisticated barter systems? If so, what about math trades and offer networks? Is the sharing economy, like outsourcing, just a waystation on the way to the much more profound automation economy? Review the Future clean 42:29 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 036: What is the Future of Hell? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=250 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 03:04:28 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=250 In this week’s episode, we wonder if it’s technologically possible to create eternal suffering and torture someone forever in a digital hell. We cover the question of why someone might torture a digital being or nano-enabled Prometheus. Punishment? Spying? Research? Is the persuasive power of hell justification enough? Is it unethical to cause pain to simulated people? Is a […] In this week’s episode, we wonder if it’s technologically possible to create eternal suffering and torture someone forever in a digital hell. We cover the question of why someone might torture a digital being or nano-enabled Prometheus. Punishment? In this week's episode, we wonder if it's technologically possible to create eternal suffering and torture someone forever in a digital hell. We cover the question of why someone might torture a digital being or nano-enabled Prometheus. Punishment? Spying? Research? Is the persuasive power of hell justification enough? Is it unethical to cause pain to simulated people? Is a right to die connected to the desire to live forever? At the end of the podcast, we discuss and ultimately dismiss the proposition called Roko's Basilisk (WARNING: some people are very disturbed by Roko's Basilisk.). Review the Future clean 48:31 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 035: How Do You Filter Content in an Age of Abundance? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=245 Mon, 15 Sep 2014 21:18:36 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=245 We’re back with a new podcast about the growing challenge of digital curation. Every day we digitize more content. As the pile of data grows ever larger, how are we going to find the stuff we actually want? What is it going to take for recommendation algorithms to actually get good? In the future will there be ratings […] We’re back with a new podcast about the growing challenge of digital curation. Every day we digitize more content. As the pile of data grows ever larger, how are we going to find the stuff we actually want? We're back with a new podcast about the growing challenge of digital curation. Every day we digitize more content and as the pile of data grows ever larger, how are we going to find the stuff we actually want? What is it going to take for recommendation algorithms to actually get good? In the future will there be ratings and reviews for literally everything? Is the power of gatekeepers going to get stronger or weaker? Review the Future clean 50:07 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 034: We’ll Be Back in September http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=241 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 06:54:48 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=241 Now that we’ve completed 33 episodes, it’s time for us to take a short break. But don’t worry – we’ll be back in early September with new episodes, new discussion topics, and possibly a few surprises. If you only started tuning in recently, now might be a good time to go back and catch up on […] Now that we’ve completed 33 episodes, it’s time for us to take a short break. But don’t worry – we’ll be back in early September with new episodes, new discussion topics, and possibly a few surprises. If you only started tuning in recently, Now that we've completed 33 episodes, it's time for us to take a short break. But don't worry - we'll be back in early September with new episodes, new discussion topics, and possibly a few surprises. If you only started tuning in recently, now might be a good time to go back and catch up on old episodes. As always, thanks for listening! Review the Future clean 3:20 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 033: What’ll be the Impacts of Self Driving Cars? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=236 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:28:12 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=236 Everyone knows by now that self driving cars are coming soon. Somewhere in the next 3-20 years, the human driver will become a thing of the past. What will happen when these capabilities come online? We talk through the obvious and not so obvious consequences of self driving car technology, from unemployment of taxi drivers […] Everyone knows by now that self driving cars are coming soon. Somewhere in the next 3-20 years, the human driver will become a thing of the past. What will happen when these capabilities come online? We talk through the obvious and not so obvious conse... Everyone knows by now that self driving cars are coming soon. Somewhere in the next 3-20 years, the human driver will become a thing of the past. What will happen when these capabilities come online? We talk through the obvious and not so obvious consequences of self driving car technology, from unemployment of taxi drivers to reclaiming parking spaces from idle vehicles -- and ultimately theorize that the ownership model will change drastically. Review the Future clean 48:17 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 032: Are we Wielding Technology or Yielding to It? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=232 Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:44:15 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=232 In this more conversational episode, we discuss the abstract dichotomy of wielding technology rather than yielding to it. We discuss this wielding/yielding metaphor with regard to form factors, for example how is using a smart phone different from augmented reality glasses, or what’s the fundamental difference between a high functioning AI assistant that can act […] In this more conversational episode, we discuss the abstract dichotomy of wielding technology rather than yielding to it. We discuss this wielding/yielding metaphor with regard to form factors, for example how is using a smart phone different from augm... In this more conversational episode, we discuss the abstract dichotomy of wielding technology rather than yielding to it. We discuss this wielding/yielding metaphor with regard to form factors, for example how is using a smart phone different from augmented reality glasses, or what's the fundamental difference between a high functioning AI assistant that can act for you versus an Intelligence Augmentation technology such as nanobots in the brain that can do your thinking for you. Ultimately we discuss how yielding feels creepier than wielding and how product and societal design can influence whether someone feels more like they are yielding or wielding. Review the Future clean 33:37 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 031: Who are the Top Ten Living Futurists? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=225 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:59:32 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=225 In this week’s podcast we list the top ten living futurists. These are people who are highly influential in the area of futurology, either for being skillful popularizers or originators of major new ideas. Listen and find out if you agree with our choices. And if you think we made any major mistakes (either misguided inclusions or omissions) please […] In this week’s podcast we list the top ten living futurists. These are people who are highly influential in the area of futurology, either for being skillful popularizers or originators of major new ideas. Listen and find out if you agree with our choi... In this week's podcast we list the top ten living futurists. These are people who are highly influential in the area of futurology, either for being skillful popularizers or originators of major new ideas. Listen and find out if you agree with our choices. And if you think we made any major mistakes (whether misguided inclusions or omissions) please let us know via an email or a comment. Review the Future clean 39:01 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 030: What is the Future of Emotional Computing? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=221 Mon, 21 Jul 2014 20:26:19 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=221 In this week’s podcast we tackle Emotional (sometimes called Affective) Computing — when computers read and respond to human emotions. We discuss the types of sensory data computers can read, like faces and inflection but also heat-mapping and pupil dilation. We also discuss how this capability might lead to a future that’s worse for liars […] In this week’s podcast we tackle Emotional (sometimes called Affective) Computing — when computers read and respond to human emotions. We discuss the types of sensory data computers can read, like faces and inflection but also heat-mapping and pupil di... In this week's podcast we tackle Emotional (sometimes called Affective) Computing -- when computers read and respond to human emotions. We discuss the types of sensory data computers can read, like faces and inflection but also heat-mapping and pupil dilation. We also discuss how this capability might lead to a future that's worse for liars but better for the impulsive or depressed. Will better emotional computing lead to video games that adjust their difficulty to keep you from getting too frustrated or to movies that never let anyone get bored? Review the Future clean 44:30 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 029: What is Mind Uploading? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=215 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:46:19 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=215 In today’s podcast, we discuss the possibility of “mind uploading,” or emulating a human brain inside a computer. We begin with a survey history of the concept, and then transition into a discussion of the sea of philosophical and ethical questions that uploading inevitably raises. Is whole brain emulation a realistic path to personal immortality […] In today’s podcast, we discuss the possibility of “mind uploading,” or emulating a human brain inside a computer. We begin with a survey history of the concept, and then transition into a discussion of the sea of philosophical and ethical questions tha... In today’s podcast, we discuss the possibility of "mind uploading," or emulating a human brain inside a computer. We begin with a survey history of the concept, and then transition into a discussion of the sea of philosophical and ethical questions that uploading inevitably raises. Is whole brain emulation a realistic path to personal immortality or just a glorified version of having kids? If a terminally ill person signs a release allowing their brain to be scanned, can you legally hold the copy to the terms of this same agreement? What will PETA have to say about the first successful animal uploads? Review the Future clean 52:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 028: Review of Thomas Piketty’s CAPITAL IN THE 21ST CENTURY, Part 2: Futurist Perspective and Criticism http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=210 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 23:12:54 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=210 In this second part of our review of Capital in the 21st Century, we look at Thomas Piketty’s ideas from the point of view of speculation and futurism, and consider some of the criticisms of the book. Last week in Part 1, we covered the book’s basic ideas about how to measure and talk about […] In this second part of our review of Capital in the 21st Century, we look at Thomas Piketty’s ideas from the point of view of speculation and futurism, and consider some of the criticisms of the book. Last week in Part 1, In this second part of our review of Capital in the 21st Century, we look at Thomas Picketty's ideas from the point of view of speculation and futurism, and consider some of the criticisms of the book. Last week in Part 1, we covered the book's basic ideas about how to measure and talk about inequality, so if missed that check it out first. In this follow-up we cover Picketty's demographic projections and whether they hold up in a world of AGI or emulated brains, as well as whether Baby Boomers will live forever and perpetually own the world. We also cover criticisms such as Larry Summers's and wonder whether his argument isn't more Marxist than he indicates. Review the Future clean 33:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 027: Review of Thomas Piketty’s CAPITAL IN THE 21ST CENTURY, Part 1: Summary http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=206 Mon, 30 Jun 2014 21:16:01 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=206 In this part one of our review of Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century, we cover the book in detail and summarize its arguments and conclusions. In the next part, to be released next week, we will look at Piketty’s ideas from the point of view of speculation and futurism, and consider some of […] In this part one of our review of Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century, we cover the book in detail and summarize its arguments and conclusions. In the next part, to be released next week, we will look at Piketty’s ideas from the point of view ... In this part one of our review of Thomas Picketty's Capital in the 21st Century, we cover the book in detail and summarize its arguments and conclusions. In the next part, to be released next week, we will look at Picketty's ideas from the point of view of speculation and futurism, and consider some of the criticisms of the book. But this part will cover the book's basic ideas about how to measure and talk about inequality, its data sets, the illusion of meritocracy, "Vautrin's lesson" from Balzac's Pere Goiriot, and will explain the relationships Picketty theorizes among the capital-income ratio, the rate of return on capital, and the growth rate of the economy, as well as the savings rate. Review the Future clean 50:43 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 026: What is Ephemeralization? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=200 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 21:20:38 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=200 In today’s podcast, we discuss Buckminster Fuller’s term ephemeralization. Many people today are searching for words to describe the tremendous power of technologies to do more with less. Modern expressions like “dematerialization,” “software is eating the world,” and “digitization of everything” can in many ways be subsumed by Fuller’s original term. Relevant Links: Video on […] In today’s podcast, we discuss Buckminster Fuller’s term ephemeralization. Many people today are searching for words to describe the tremendous power of technologies to do more with less. Modern expressions like “dematerialization, In today's podcast, we discuss Buckminster Fuller's term ephemeralization. Many people today are searching for words to describe the tremendous power of technologies to do more with less. Modern expressions like "dematerialization," "software is eating the world", and "digitization of everything" can in many ways be subsumed by Fuller's original term. Review the Future clean 19:54 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 025: What Does Utopia Look Like? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=194 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 23:14:22 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=194 We’d all like to live in a better future, and for ages men have imagined what a theoretical best future might be like. What would a utopian society truly look like? Does the answer lie in external approaches like abundance, decentralization and transparency, or internal approaches like drugs, wireheading and genetic engineering? Is it even […] We’d all like to live in a better future, and for ages men have imagined what a theoretical best future might be like. What would a utopian society truly look like? Does the answer lie in external approaches like abundance, We'd all like to live in a better future, and for ages men have imagined what a theoretical best future might be like. What would a utopian society truly look like? Does the answer lie in external approaches like abundance, decentralization and transparency, or internal approaches like drugs, wireheading and genetic engineering? Is it even possible to formulate a Theory of Fun for human beings, that would define the contours of a world that could exist in perfect equilibrium where the people living in that world never die or get bored? Review the Future clean 1:02:30 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 024: Will the Future be More or Less Unequal? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=188 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 20:05:26 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=188 In this podcast we examine the issue of inequality from the point of view of game design and ask whether a variety of resources are likely to become more or less unequal in the future. In addition to the obvious monetary dimension, we also discuss inequality as it relates to fame, user base, creativity tools, […] In this podcast we examine the issue of inequality from the point of view of game design and ask whether a variety of resources are likely to become more or less unequal in the future. In addition to the obvious monetary dimension, In this podcast we examine the issue of inequality from the point of view of game design and ask whether a variety of resources are likely to become more or less unequal in the future. In addition to the obvious monetary dimension, we also discuss inequality as it relates to fame, user base, creativity tools, communication, health, and other resources that affect quality of life. Ultimately we decide that inequality will increase in resources that by their nature propagate themselves, like money and fame, and will likely decrease in resources that are close to reaching a point of diminishing returns, such as food and communication. Review the Future clean 29:48 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 023: What is the Future of Net Neutrality? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=184 Mon, 26 May 2014 22:08:09 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=184 In this week’s podcast we talk about the big topic of Network Neutrality. We define the term and talk about the differences between neutral and biased (or ‘diverse’) networks. We cover the history of the phone network, the Carterfone, and neutrality regulations in the U.S. We also cover the two major reasons to prefer a […] In this week’s podcast we talk about the big topic of Network Neutrality. We define the term and talk about the differences between neutral and biased (or ‘diverse’) networks. We cover the history of the phone network, the Carterfone, In this week's podcast we talk about the big topic of Network Neutrality. We define the term and talk about the differences between neutral and biased (or 'diverse') networks. We cover the history of the phone network, the Carterfone, and neutrality regulations in the U.S. We also cover the two major reasons to prefer a neutral internet: the more commonly mentioned threats to innovation and free speech that biased networks engender, and the less commonly discussed technical reason that dumb networks are more efficient and therefore faster. With the FCC in the process of gutting what's left of net neutrality in the U.S. right now, it's important to understand this seemingly dry issue that, as the internet takes over more and more of our lives, gets more and more important. Will we wake up and require network neutrality through our political process? Is it possible to create neutral mesh networks through unlicensed spectrum? Will we simply accept the costs to freedom and innovation that biased networks will bring? Review the Future clean 1:03:31 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 022: Will the Future be Dominated by Games? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=176 Tue, 06 May 2014 00:11:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=176 On this podcast, we talk about games and the future. Eric Zimmerman has pronounced this the “Ludic Century” and has said the 21st century will be defined by games. We approach this idea from three points of view: first we talk about games as an entertainment medium and whether they might grow relative to passive entertainment […] On this podcast, we talk about games and the future. Eric Zimmerman has pronounced this the “Ludic Century” and has said the 21st century will be defined by games. We approach this idea from three points of view: first we talk about games as an enterta... On this podcast, we talk about games and the future. Eric Zimmerman has pronounced this the “Ludic Century” and has said the 21st century will be defined by games. We approach this idea from three points of view: first we talk about games as an entertainment medium and whether they might grow relative to passive entertainment like reading or watching video. Second, we talk about the emerging field of game design theory and what it can learn from, and teach to, existing social sciences like psychology and economics. Finally we discuss the far future of radical abundance and how life in that world might resemble a game in many ways. Review the Future clean 37:12 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 021: What Are the Different Types of Intelligence Augmentation? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=171 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 00:16:16 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=171 In this very short episode we do a simple thought experiment set at a mathematics competition. Three characters, each with a very different apparatus of enhanced intelligence, compete. One is highly educated, one is enhanced to be able to learn more quickly, and one offloads the complex tasks to an AI or crowd-sourced network. We […] In this very short episode we do a simple thought experiment set at a mathematics competition. Three characters, each with a very different apparatus of enhanced intelligence, compete. One is highly educated, In this episode we do a simple thought experiment set at a mathematics competition. Three characters, each with a very different apparatus of enhanced intelligence, compete. One is highly educated, one is enhanced to be able to learn more quickly, and one offloads the complex tasks to an AI or crowd-sourced network. We discuss the pros and cons of these three approaches and consider what that holds for future developments. What would you rather be: an educated, enhanced, or offloading mind? Review the Future clean 13:00 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 020: What is the Future of Television? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=166 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 03:49:42 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=166 What is the future of television? Will today’s golden age continue? We discuss the current television model and why TV hasn’t been disrupted to the degree film and other media have, the real scarcity and artificial limits that are keeping it there, and make a prediction about the next ten years of television content. We […] What is the future of television? Will today’s golden age continue? We discuss the current television model and why TV hasn’t been disrupted to the degree film and other media have, the real scarcity and artificial limits that are keeping it there, What is the future of television? Will today's golden age continue? We discuss the current television model and why TV hasn't been disrupted to the degree film and other media have, the real scarcity and artificial limits that are keeping it there, and make a prediction about the next ten years of television content. We also discuss charging viewers on a cliffhanger, superstar effects after unbundling, and bifurcation of budgets. Will serial video lose its flow as it moves online? Or might a combination of recommendation algorithms and massive online film libraries create a deadly-compelling flow similar to "The Entertainment" from David Foster Wallace's INFINITE JEST? Review the Future clean 29:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 019: Who Controls a Future of Decentralized Technologies? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=163 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:59:51 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=163 There is no doubt  decentralized powerful technologies are coming, and the conventional wisdom is that you cannot control these things easily. In this episode, we discuss drugs, security, and general purpose computing as decentralized technologies that resist control. Will it be possible to control nearly invisible life-logging technologies of the future? What about gun control […] There is no doubt  decentralized powerful technologies are coming, and the conventional wisdom is that you cannot control these things easily. In this episode, we discuss drugs, security, and general purpose computing as decentralized technologies that... There is no doubt decentralized powerful technologies are coming, and the conventional wisdom is that you cannot control these things easily. In this episode, we discuss drugs, security, and general purpose computing as decentralized technologies that resist control. Will it be possible to control nearly invisible life-logging technologies of the future? What about gun control in a world of 3-D printing? What do surveillance and piracy have in common? What do you think would allow us to keep our freedom while protecting against existential risks? Why do they freeze the pre-criminals in Minority Report? This topic gets big fast, so hold on to your hats! Keep the emails and comments coming, we love to hear from you! Review the Future clean 41:44 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 018: What is the Future of Money? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=158 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:48:04 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=158 In this week’s podcast we discuss money as a technology that has progressed through several versions. What’s wrong with our current version of money, and what might we do better in a future version? What are the pros and cons of modern day cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Freicoin? Is the uncertain nature of future […] In this week’s podcast we discuss money as a technology that has progressed through several versions. What’s wrong with our current version of money, and what might we do better in a future version? What are the pros and cons of modern day cryptocurren... In this week's podcast we discuss money as a technology that has progressed through several versions. What's wrong with our current version of money, and what might we do better in a future version? What are the pros and cons of modern day cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Freicoin? Is the uncertain nature of future economic growth an argument for a dynamic currency with faucets and sinks? Or will a deflationary currency be the perfect choice in a world of abundance where money is less necessary? Is it possible to build a basic income into the design of a currency? And will governments and rich people even allow any of this monetary experimentation to happen in the first place? Join us in the discussion of this and many other questions by emailing feedback@reviewthtefuture.com or posting a comment below. Review the Future clean 37:10 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 017: What New Job Opportunities Will Exist in an Automated Future? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=154 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:47:41 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=154 Today’s episode focuses on a thought experiment — assuming technological unemployment happens and capitalism continues in its current form, what new platforms might allow average folks to monetize the remaining scarce resources? What kind of jobs and economic platforms might arise in a future of automated labor? We discuss current platforms like Kickstarter and Etsy […] Today’s episode focuses on a thought experiment — assuming technological unemployment happens and capitalism continues in its current form, what new platforms might allow average folks to monetize the remaining scarce resources? Today's episode focuses on a thought experiment -- assuming technological unemployment happens and capitalism continues in its current form, what new platforms might allow average folks to monetize the remaining scarce resources? What kind of jobs and economic platforms might arise in a future of automated labor? We discuss current platforms like Kickstarter and Etsy and we wonder about their continued robustness. We also propose a platform for monetizing the attention of the unemployed, discuss the possibility of monetizing slack computing resources through Distributed Autonomous Corporations. We discuss the wisdom of making many small bets over single large bets and wonder whether a distributed black mail platform is in our future. Review the Future clean 29:58 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 016: What is Super-Now Prediction? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=147 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 01:36:49 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=147 Today on the podcast we talk about a simple way to predict the future — simply exaggerate current trends. But this doesn’t lead to accurate prediction, it leads to “Super-Now” predictions where everything is shinier, faster, or on steroids, but nothing is actually new. We cover a lot of classic and modern Sci Fi that […] Today on the podcast we talk about a simple way to predict the future — simply exaggerate current trends. But this doesn’t lead to accurate prediction, it leads to “Super-Now” predictions where everything is shinier, faster, or on steroids, Today on the podcast we talk about a simple way to predict the future -- simply exaggerate current trends. But this doesn't lead to accurate prediction, it leads to "Super-Now" predictions where everything is shinier, faster, or on steroids, but nothing is actually new. We cover a lot of classic and modern Sci Fi that fails in this regard and talk about several of the people who are pushing back against the conventional wisdom that the more things change, the more they stay the same. We discuss the movies SLEEPER, STAR WARS, WALL-E, IDIOCRACY and work by Greg Egan, Cory Doctorow, David Marusek, Ramez Naam, Ray Bradbury, Gary Shteyngart and Albert Brooks. Review the Future clean 24:54 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 015: What Would be the Cultural Impacts of Increased Longevity? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=143 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:55:07 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=143 In this episode, we ask how culture would be impacted by radically increased lifespans. We go over the main arguments made by longevity research experts like Aubrey De Grey and Ray Kurzweil, and we discuss Sonia Arrison’s book 100+. We discuss expanded health spans and acknowledge that a right to die would be even more […] In this episode, we ask how culture would be impacted by radically increased lifespans. We go over the main arguments made by longevity research experts like Aubrey De Grey and Ray Kurzweil, and we discuss Sonia Arrison’s book 100+. In this episode, we ask how culture would be impacted by radically increased lifespans. We go over the main arguments made by longevity research experts like Aubrey De Grey and Ray Kurzweil, and we discuss Sonia Arrison's book 100+. We discuss expanded health spans and acknowledge that a right to die would be even more important in a world with such technology. What kind of impacts would this type of technology have on work, leadership, inequality, social services, and family? Would we design high-efficiency people to defeat starvation? Would term limits apply to immortal individuals? Are we heading for a nightmare world where the poor are condemned to death and the rich live forever? Review the Future clean 49:54 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 014: How Might We Respond to Technological Unemployment? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=137 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:53:13 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=137 In this podcast we return to the idea of technological unemployment: if it’s happening, what should we do? We consider three ways technological unemployment might be defeated: rising standards of living might outrun inequality, education and cognitive enhancement might solve our retraining problems, or new platforms and needs might emerge and create new demands. But […] In this podcast we return to the idea of technological unemployment: if it’s happening, what should we do? We consider three ways technological unemployment might be defeated: rising standards of living might outrun inequality, In this podcast we return to the idea of technological unemployment: if it's happening, what should we do? We consider three ways technological unemployment might be defeated: rising standards of living might outrun inequality, education and cognitive enhancement might solve our retraining problems, or new platforms and needs might emerge and create new demands. But if that doesn't happen, we have three types of options. We cover the range of options from recidivism to artificial scarcity, to enhanced social safety nets. Review the Future clean 41:31 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 013: What is the Future of Communications Interfaces? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=131 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 02:27:47 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=131 In this week’s podcast, we discuss common communications and computer interfaces in science fiction and ask whether those AI assistants and videophones really make sense. We retell David Foster Wallace’s story about the failure of the videophone from Infinite Jest, and we argue that Samantha from Her would be just as annoying as Microsoft Clippy. […] In this week’s podcast, we discuss common communications and computer interfaces in science fiction and ask whether those AI assistants and videophones really make sense. We retell David Foster Wallace’s story about the failure of the videophone from I... In this week's podcast, we discuss common communications and computer interfaces in science fiction and ask whether those AI assistants and videophones really make sense. We retell David Foster Wallace's story about the failure of the videophone from Infinite Jest, and we argue that Samantha from Her would be just as annoying as Microsoft Clippy. We also wonder whether the mind-to-mind connections in Nexus are as likely to take off as a future Snapchat might be. Review the Future clean 33:25 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 012: How Plausible is Dystopia? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=126 Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:01:43 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=126 In this week’s podcast we evaluate the relative plausibility of four dystopias commonly seen in science fiction: Post-Apocalypse, Alien/AI Oppression, Boot-in-the-Face, and Brave New World. These are all fun settings for exciting stories, but which makes the most sense from the perspective of speculation? Relevant Links Aldous Huxley’s Letter to George Orwell Decline of Scarcity […] In this week’s podcast we evaluate the relative plausibility of four dystopias commonly seen in science fiction: Post-Apocalypse, Alien/AI Oppression, Boot-in-the-Face, and Brave New World. These are all fun settings for exciting stories, In this week's podcast we evaluate the relative plausibility of four dystopias commonly seen in science fiction: Post-Apocalypse, Alien/AI Oppression, Boot-in-the-Face, and Brave New World. These are all fun settings for exciting stories, but which makes the most sense from the perspective of speculation? Review the Future clean 23:27 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 011: Review of McAfee and Brynjolfsson’s SECOND MACHINE AGE http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=105 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 22:29:15 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=105 In this extra-long podcast, we review the important new book from MIT’s Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson, THE SECOND MACHINE AGE: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. The first half is a detailed, Cliffs-Notes version of the book’s arguments for those that have not read it; others may want to skip to […] In this extra-long podcast, we review the important new book from MIT’s Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson, THE SECOND MACHINE AGE: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. The first half is a detailed, In this extra-long podcast, we review the important new book from MIT's Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson, THE SECOND MACHINE AGE: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. The first half is a detailed, Cliffs-Notes version of the book's arguments for those that have not read it; others may want to skip to our criticisms, which begin in earnest at 00:38. The book details how technological progress is driving growth of both 'bounty' and 'spread,' and makes a compelling argument for the possibility of technological unemployment occurring. It also makes suggestions for the long and short term, and there is where we have most of our disagreements with the authors. Review the Future clean 1:16:04 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 010: What Will Remain Scarce in the Future? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=99 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:18:23 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=99 In this week’s podcast, we do the thought experiment of what happens in a theoretically super-abundant future: what things remain scarce and still retain economic value? Further, as we approach that point, where are the safe areas to try to find work? We list all the scarce goods we can think of in four categories: […] In this week’s podcast, we do the thought experiment of what happens in a theoretically super-abundant future: what things remain scarce and still retain economic value? Further, as we approach that point, where are the safe areas to try to find work? In this week's podcast, we do the thought experiment of what happens in a theoretically super-abundant future: what things remain scarce and still retain economic value? Further, as we approach that point, where are the safe areas to try to find work? We list all the scarce goods we can think of in four categories: scarcities of time such as Attention, Convenience, First Release, Novel Real-time Experiences, Originals, Potential, scarcity of space such as Land, scarcities of matter like Computation and Raw Materials, and scarcities of what we call human interaction like Empathy, Goodwill, Belonging, Privacy, and Status. Review the Future clean 37:28 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 009: Is Storytelling More Difficult in a World of Accelerating Change? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=95 Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:35:31 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=95 On the podcast this week, we discuss the state of narrative in a world where technological change is accelerating. We start with William Gibson’s now decade-old attempt to write recent-past rather than near-future speculative work and continue to talk about the perceived rise in period, future and ambiguous time periods in contemporary films and novels. […] On the podcast this week, we discuss the state of narrative in a world where technological change is accelerating. We start with William Gibson’s now decade-old attempt to write recent-past rather than near-future speculative work and continue to talk ... On the podcast this week, we discuss the state of narrative in a world where technological change is accelerating. We start with William Gibson's now decade-old attempt to write recent-past rather than near-future speculative work and continue to talk about the perceived rise in period, future and ambiguous time periods in contemporary films and novels. We suggest that trend might continue as the present technological moment becomes more and more of a moving target. Review the Future clean 24:58 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 008: Review of Tyler Cowen’s Average Is Over http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=87 Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:03:05 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=87 Today’s podcast reviews Tyler Cowen’s new book Average is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation. The book’s thesis is that machine intelligence and other factors are driving a trend toward much greater inequality in America. We discuss Tyler’s conservative political persuasion and the relative plausibility of his near future vision. Will […] Today’s podcast reviews Tyler Cowen’s new book Average is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation. The book’s thesis is that machine intelligence and other factors are driving a trend toward much greater inequality in America. Today's podcast reviews Tyler Cowen's new book Average is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation. The book's thesis is that machine intelligence and other factors are driving a trend toward much greater inequality in America. We discuss Tyler's conservative political persuasion, the book's relevance to discussion of technological unemployment, and hyper-competent man-machine "freestyle" chess teams. Will we build a favela in Texas? How cool it would be to attend a freestyle NASCAR rally? Will free wifi really be enough to keep the bottom 85% from revolting? Review the Future clean 49:58 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 007: Review of Spike Jonze’s HER http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=82 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 20:21:29 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=82 In this week’s podcast, we review Her, Spike Jonze’s entertaining new movie about a human-AI relationship. How well does it hold up from the point of view of speculation? Is the world fully realized and consistent? Do the characters seem like they inhabit the world of the film? We discuss the construction of a near-future Los […] In this week’s podcast, we review Her, Spike Jonze’s entertaining new movie about a human-AI relationship. How well does it hold up from the point of view of speculation? Is the world fully realized and consistent? In this week's podcast, we review HER, Spike Jonze's entertaining new movie about a human-AI relationship. How well does it hold up from the point of view of speculation? Is the world fully realized and consistent? Do the characters seem like they inhabit the world of the film? We discuss the construction of a near-future Los Angeles out of Pudong skyscrapers and consider some elements of its future world that the movie did not address. Review the Future clean 34:55 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 006: What is an Intelligence Explosion, and Will It Kill Us All? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=75 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 20:34:38 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=75 An Intelligence Explosion is the idea that a greater-than-human intelligent machine will quickly design a greater-than-itself intelligent machine, and so on, until very rapidly the intelligence of artificial systems greatly outstrips that of humanity. Is this hard takeoff scenario realistic? Is it possible? Is there any way to encourage future super-intelligent machines to be friendly? […] An Intelligence Explosion is the idea that a greater-than-human intelligent machine will quickly design a greater-than-itself intelligent machine, and so on, until very rapidly the intelligence of artificial systems greatly outstrips that of humanity. An Intelligence Explosion is the idea that a greater-than-human intelligent machine will quickly design a greater-than-itself intelligent machine, and so on, until very rapidly the intelligence of artificial systems greatly outstrips that of humanity. Is this hard takeoff scenario realistic? Is it possible? Is there any way to encourage future super-intelligent beings to be friendly? Review the Future clean 28:37 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 005: Are We Addicted to Technology? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=69 Tue, 24 Dec 2013 03:46:14 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=69 It’s easy to find alarmist articles fretting about how addicted to technology we are becoming. It’s true that we are increasingly reliant on technology and many of us spend exorbitant numbers of hours staring at screens. But is it fair to describe this behavior as addiction? What does it mean to be addicted to technology? […] It’s easy to find alarmist articles fretting about how addicted to technology we are becoming. It’s true that we are increasingly reliant on technology and many of us spend exorbitant numbers of hours staring at screens. It's easy to find alarmist articles fretting about how addicted to technology we are becoming. It's true that we are increasingly reliant on technology and many of us spend exorbitant numbers of hours staring at screens. But is it fair to describe this behavior as addiction? What does it mean to be addicted to technology? If technology addiction is a real problem, will it get worse or better in the future as technology continues to improve? Review the Future clean 24:42 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 004: Are Generation Gaps Going to be Relevant in the Future? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=64 Mon, 16 Dec 2013 20:43:13 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=64 When we were growing up, kids knew how to use the internet and adults didn’t. Should we expect that our kids will have a similar experience? Are generation gaps declining as access expands, attitudes change, longevity increases, and interest trumps age as an indicator of knowledge?  Rebellion largely seems irrelevant and the only exception to […] When we were growing up, kids knew how to use the internet and adults didn’t. Should we expect that our kids will have a similar experience? Are generation gaps declining as access expands, attitudes change, longevity increases, When we were growing up, kids knew how to use the internet and adults didn't. Should we expect that our kids will have a similar experience? Are generation gaps declining as access expands, attitudes change, longevity increases and interest trumps age as an indicator of knowledge? Rebellion largely seems irrelevant and the only exception to that we could imagine is rising inequality. Review the Future clean 32:47 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 003: Is Privacy Dead? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=60 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 20:36:57 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=60 We ask “Is privacy coming to an end, and if so, what does that mean exactly?” We examine progress in the areas of always-on surveillance and lifelogging, facial recognition, and other technologies that are eroding traditional spheres of privacy. Might this lead to tyranny or to greater tolerance? Is a transparent, sousveillance society that watches […] We ask “Is privacy coming to an end, and if so, what does that mean exactly?” We examine progress in the areas of always-on surveillance and lifelogging, facial recognition, and other technologies that are eroding traditional spheres of privacy. We ask "Is privacy coming to an end, and if so, what does that mean exactly?" We examine progress in the areas of always-on surveillance and lifelogging, facial recognition, and other technologies that are eroding traditional spheres of privacy. Might this lead to tyranny or to greater tolerance? Is a transparent, sousveillance society that watches back the answer? Review the Future clean 39:04 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 002: Should We Be Worried About Technological Unemployment? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=52 Mon, 02 Dec 2013 21:46:35 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=52 What is technological unemployment, and should we be worried about it? Hosts Jon Perry and Ted Kupper discuss the problems associated with technological unemployment and some possible responses in this episode . Relevant Links Decline of Scarcity Article: A Detailed Critique of Race Against the Machine Decline of Scarcity Article: Ten Responses to the Technological Unemployment Problem Economic Possibilities […] What is technological unemployment, and should we be worried about it? Hosts Jon Perry and Ted Kupper discuss the problems associated with technological unemployment and some possible responses in this episode . What is technological unemployment, and should we be worried about it? Hosts Jon Perry and Ted Kupper discuss the problems associated with technological unemployment and some possible responses in this episode . Review the Future clean 27:16 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi 001: Is Technological Progress Accelerating? http://constellationpodcast.com/?p=40 Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:40:55 +0000 http://reviewthefuture.com/?p=40 In this first episode of the REVIEW THE FUTURE podcast, we speculate on the topic of accelerating technological returns. If technological progress is truly accelerating, that has wide reaching implications. Relevant Links Decline of Scarcity Article: Is Technological Progress Accelerating or Not? Peter Thiel’s Founder’s Fund: What Happened to the Future? The Law of Accelerating […] In this first episode of the REVIEW THE FUTURE podcast, we speculate on the topic of accelerating technological returns. If technological progress is truly accelerating, that has wide reaching implications. In this first episode of the REVIEW THE FUTURE podcast, we speculate on the topic of accelerating technological returns. If technological progress is truly accelerating, that has wide reaching implications. Review the Future clean 33:52 feedback@reviewthefuture.com (Constellation)Technology,Privacy,Singularity,Transhumanism,Automation,Artificial,Intelligence,AI,genetics,robotics,progress,accelerating,returns,comics,comix,graphic,novel,scifi