The Future of Humanity and Self-Evolution

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This chapter explores the question of what humanity is and how we are evolving, not just genetically, but also through technology and science. It discusses the importance of generative thinking and the impact of technologies like recombinant DNA and generative AI on our ability to change ourselves and generate new ideas.

Will artificial intelligence change what it means to be human? Cancer physician, researcher, and author Siddhartha Mukherjee joins the podcast to help rethink how we understand human health—and the ways AI can help. Sid talks about using AI to emancipate patients from disease as well as enhance patient health and wellbeing. He also discusses the risks that come along with incorporating AI into the medical world and how new technologies in medicine are ushering in a “new human.” Plus, Sid and Reid pose a thought exercise: if there were five spots on a spaceship about to be sent off to restart humanity, which professions would get those seats?

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

6:22 - Hellos and intros

8:50 - What excites Sid most about cancer research right now

13:08 - Bringing CAR T-cell therapy to India

15:48 - Reflections on AI and medicine

19:31 - Can we make something completely new in medicine with AI?

22:01 - Pi explains AlphaFold

23:35 - What risks are worth taking to accelerate science?

25:23 - The New Human

32:36 - Enhancement vs. Emancipation

39:43 - Sid’s thoughts on the meaning of humanity writ large

47:04 - Which professions should be on the spaceship that’s sent off to restart humanity?

54:18 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jimenez. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer and Editor. Special thanks to Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Yan Ma, and Little Monster Media Company.