Social media harms and attention economics

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Today, I'm speaking with Jaron Lanier, a pioneer in VR, about where it will take us next to expand human consciousness. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jaron Lanier explores how technology reshapes perception, identity, and the future of humanity. From the psychology of virtual reality to the energy demands of modern AI, we trace how today’s tools influence what it means to be human—and what kind of humans we might ultimately become.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

00:01:52 Lanier warns AI may reduce human uniqueness.

00:09:23 VR can alter how we perceive and inhabit our bodies.

00:12:58 VR faces biological limits like cyber-sickness.

00:28:43 Reality and VR both distort perception in useful ways.

00:40:20 AI’s rapid growth is driving major energy demands.

00:54:59 Apple’s original “iPhone” idea was partly inspired by Lanier’s VR headset.

01:00:53 Talmudic tradition shows the value of preserving multiple perspectives.

01:14:59 Human senses are both extremely precise and deeply flawed.

01:31:10 Tech culture often mimics medieval-style philosophical debates.

01:41:45 Social media harms users by manipulating attention.

01:51:26 Technology shapes the kind of humans we choose to become.

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