Daniel Schmachtenberger || Towards a Radical Cultural Enlightenment

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Feb 24, 2022

Daniel Schmachtenberger, co-founder and CEO of DeepMind, dives into the profound influence of exponential technology on society. He discusses how organizations often exploit these advancements for profit, leading to polarization and eroding trust in institutions. The conversation emphasizes the need for radical cultural enlightenment to address modern challenges. Schmachtenberger also explores the balance between personal growth and societal dynamics, advocating for innovative governance and collaborative solutions to enhance collective intelligence and resilience.

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INSIGHT

Exponential Tech's Power

Exponential technology surpasses all other forms of power, guaranteeing its dominance.
Groups developing this technology shape the future, regardless of others' visions.

INSIGHT

Tech's Double-Edged Sword

Technology improves metrics we measure but worsens others, like psychological well-being.
Ubiquitous psychopathology, including anxiety and addiction, is an externality of our tech.

INSIGHT

Exploiting Asymmetry

Large tech companies exploit asymmetric power over individuals.
They manufacture demand, appealing to lower instincts like addiction for profit.

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In this episode, I talk to social philosopher Daniel Schmachtenberger about exponential technology and its effects on our current world. According to Daniel, organizations that harness the power of modern tech rarely use it for good–like how social media companies boost polarizing content to maximize user engagement–leading to a distrust of science and destabilized democracies. To overcome humanity’s current existential threat, Daniel argues we all need to work towards a radical cultural enlightenment. We also touch on the topics of collective intelligence, human development, power, responsibility, and civilization.

Bio

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue. The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.

Motivated by the belief that advancing collective intelligence and capacity is foundational to the integrity of any civilization, and necessary to address the unique risks we currently face given the intersection of globalization and exponential technology, he has spoken publicly on many of these topics, hoping to popularize and deepen important conversations and engage more people in working towards their solutions.

Website: consilienceproject.org

Topics

02:52 Techno-optimism vs techno-pessimism

04:28 Definition of exponential technology

08:39 Is the world getting better from tech?

10:37 The radical asymmetry of power

13:58 Decoupling rewards from development

25:19 A new social media algorithm

28:56 Tribal politics, certainty, and perspective taking

33:55 Developing better cognitive capacities

42:06 Rights and responsibilities in a liquid democracy

46:23 The next phase of open societies

49:26 The Consilience Project

52:23 The need for cultural enlightenment

56:13 Creating an antifragile world

58:49 Collective intelligence

1:00:39 Establish expertise and credibility in institutions

1:05:24 The unique existential threat of the 21st Century

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