Kevin Kelly is a renowned author, futurist, and technologist who has spent the past few decades exploring the intersection between technology, culture, and society. He is perhaps best known for his work as the founding executive editor of Wired magazine, which helped to shape the conversation around the internet and digital technology in the 1990s and 2000s.
Over the years, Kelly has authored several books, including "Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World" and "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future." He has also been a prolific writer and speaker on topics such as artificial intelligence, the future of work, and the impact of technology on society.
Our most recent conversation focused on Kevin's latest book, "Excellent Advice for Living," which is a collection of 450 wisdom tweets that offer practical guidance on how to live a fulfilling life. Each tweet represents a nugget of wisdom that he has gleaned over his many years of experience as a writer, thinker, and futurist.
We also explored his journey from founding Wired magazine to his present work, and how his thinking about technology and society has evolved over the years. He explained why he has become increasingly interested in the idea of "protopia," and why this state of constant improvement and progress is the gateway to greatness.
Kevin's unwavering optimism is singular and has the power to make you question your deepest assumptions - particularly about the future you envision for yourself. Our conversation touched upon a variety of topics including the following questions:
- How his optimism was tested during the Covid-19 Pandemic and the lessons that emerged?
- How does the current state of work resemble the future of work he imagined in 2000?
- The most important thing he's been wrong about/right about during the past few years?
- Where his best ideas come from?
- The traits that define the most accomplished Asian entrepreneurs, and what we can gain from them?
- His recipe for greatness?
- His most defining characteristic?