The Political Scene | The New Yorker What Do We Know About How the World Might End?
8 snips
Jun 5, 2024 
Rivka Galchen, a staff writer at The New Yorker, delves into existential risks like climate change, nuclear warfare, and AI in a course at the University of Chicago titled 'Are We Doomed?' She explores how to handle a bleak future and the perspectives of young people. The podcast discusses the importance of understanding and addressing potential catastrophic events, nonlinear outcomes, and strategies to tackle doomsday threats within the political system.
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Synthetic Bioweapons
- The potential for AI to create synthetic bioweapons is alarming.
- AI could combine the infectiousness of one pathogen with the lethality of another.
Youthful Optimism
- Despite discussing existential threats, students in the class remained optimistic.
- Their youth might contribute to a sense of the world's plasticity and potential for change.
Apolitical Approach
- Students in the "Are We Doomed?" class showed little interest in partisan politics.
- They preferred broader discussions about systemic issues and patterns.