Rewriting Sci‑Fi to Shape Better AI Futures

Beatrice asks what fiction should change; Nathan recommends more positive branching narratives that highlight collective agency and hinge points.

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Episode notes

In this special crossover episode from Beatrice Erkers' Existential Hope podcast, The Cognitive Revolution's host explores the crucial, often-neglected question of building a positive vision for the future in the AI era. The discussion delves into what a new social contract and daily life could look like, covering transformative applications from self-driving cars and personalized tutoring to democratizing access to expertise and radically improving health. Listeners will gain insights into fostering higher societal expectations for progress, understanding Eric Drexler's "comprehensive AI services," and the profound impact of fiction in shaping AI's future.

LINKS:

Generative deep learning antibiotic design
Why Tool AIs become Agent AIs
Existential Hope Podcast

Sponsors:

Google AI Studio:

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PRODUCED BY:

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CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Sponsor: Google AI Studio

(00:31) About the Episode

(02:43) Introducing Nathan Labenz

(03:50) A Positive AI Future (Part 1)

(12:23) Sponsors: Shopify | Tasklet

(15:31) A Positive AI Future (Part 2)

(15:31) Excitement for Self-Driving

(19:25) Visions for 100 Years

(24:58) Near-Term Transformative AI