TechStuff Year In Tech: Will There Be An AI Catastrophe In 2026?
Jan 2, 2026
Nicholas Thompson, Journalist and CEO of The Atlantic, dives into the fascinating intersections of technology and spirituality. He discusses the intriguing idea of AI potentially overriding or enriching religious experiences. The conversation covers pressing concerns about AI's inscrutable models, investor optimism contrasted with public fear, and the actual impacts of AI on jobs. Thompson also predicts a looming 2026 crisis focused on AI explainability, highlighting the urgent need for transparency in AI systems and their ethical implications.
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Discovering A Complicated Family Memoir
- Nicholas Thompson found his father's unpublished memoir full of unexpected and inappropriate content that complicated his relationship with him.
- The memoir revealed his father's sexual life and eccentricities, forcing Thompson to reconcile love and forgiveness with uncomfortable truths.
Running As A Spiritual Practice
- Thompson uses running as a practice to access deeper spiritual reflection and to remember his father.
- Running provides a counterpoint to short attention spans and social media's distractions.
AI And The Future Of Spirituality
- AI could supplant religion by providing answers, but it lacks the communal and historical bonds of faith.
- Alternatively, AI might spur humility by reflecting human creation back at us and deepen spiritual reflection.