New Scientist Podcasts
CultureLab: Where billionaires rule the apocalypse: Naomi Alderman’s ‘The Future’
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Naomi Alderman's book, The Future, explores the implications of billionaires hiding in bunkers during a cataclysm and criticizes their lack of responsibility to improve conditions for others.
- Alderman highlights the importance of understanding the limitations of artificial intelligence and the need for critical thinking and personal agency, cautioning against overreliance on AI for decision-making.
Deep dives
Overview of the Future
The podcast episode discusses Naomi Alderman's book, The Future, which explores the story of billionaires escaping a cataclysm by hiding in bunkers. The author explains that she was inspired by an article discussing technology billionaires building bunkers and wanted to explore the implications of such actions. She critiques the notion that escaping a disaster exempts the wealthy from the responsibility of improving conditions for others. The book also delves into the human fascination with fresh starts and the desire to see what comes after an apocalypse. Alderman believes that this desire for a new beginning stems from our evolutionary past as hunter-gatherers and the yearning for a regular fresh start. Additionally, the podcast discusses the importance of indigenous knowledge and the need to respect and learn from indigenous cultures for a more fulfilling and sustainable life.
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