Purpose, automation, and existential risk

Chris and Don consider universal basic income, purpose loss, and how AI-driven ease creates new societal challenges.

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Episode notes

In this episode, Chris Do sits down with futurist and creative AI researcher Don Allen Stevenson III for a wide-ranging conversation on emerging technology, spatial computing, and how subjective realities will reshape the way humans interact with the world. Don shares his journey from DreamWorks Animation to becoming a leading voice on accessible creativity, discussing the tools, interfaces, and philosophies that drive his work.

They explore how animation-style thinking can change how people learn, create, and communicate visually. Chris and Don also dig into the emotional, ethical, and cultural implications of AI-powered technologies and the personal stories that fuel Don’s mission.

Timestamps

(00:00) — Intro
(04:12) — Bob Ross influence explained
(08:58) — Subjective reality breakdown
(13:47) — Shared whiteboard in mixed reality
(18:15) — Facial recognition future tools
(22:03) — Bias, avatars, and public perception
(26:44) — Social signaling and safety cues
(31:20) — Futurist optimism vs realism
(36:02) — Ethical concerns in AI progress
(40:55) — Tech companies and IP conflicts
(45:12) — Government pressure and innovation race
(49:58) — Identity, profiling, and digital overlays
(54:37) — Memory augmentation through wearables
(59:16) — Practical vs dystopian use cases
(01:03:40) — Human inconsistency with privacy
(01:08:12) — Convenience tipping points for adoption
(01:12:47) — Safety, misuse, and large-scale risks
(01:16:25) — Why sub-optimism shapes the future
(01:20:10) — Final thoughts on ethical tech