Show Me the Receipts: the Futures of AI Super-intelligence

11 snips

Aug 12, 2025

In a thought-provoking discussion, the hosts explore how AI-driven digital twins could reshape university campuses. They critically analyze Mark Zuckerberg's claims about achieving super-intelligence and dissect the hype surrounding it. The conversation touches on the limitations of technology in solving societal issues and emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives. They navigate the complexities of AI's impact on humanity, discussing ethical implications and the unpredictable nature of current AI systems. It's a blend of excitement and caution in our evolving relationship with intelligent machines.

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INSIGHT

AI Fills Empty Spaces In Digital Twins

Andrew Maynard notes AI can fill empty scenes by guessing who belongs there, changing how we visualize spaces like university campuses.
Treat AI-generated “people” as design choices, not documentary truth.

ANECDOTE

Podcast As Free Public Scholarship

Andrew Maynard and Sean thank listeners and stress the podcast’s role translating complex scholarship for a wider public.
They treat free access to expert conversations as a public good that expands civic understanding.

INSIGHT

Question Bold Superintelligence Claims

Sean quotes Mark Zuckerberg saying "developing super intelligence is now in sight" and flags it as high‑stakes marketing for investors.
The hosts urge skepticism and demand evidence before accepting existential claims.

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In this wide‑ranging summer episode, Sean and Andrew begin with the strange calm of an almost‑empty university campus and ponder how AI‑assisted “digital twins” could let us re‑imagine academic spaces once the students return. A quick shout‑out to Modem Futura’s growing global audience segues into a critical look at the latest AI headlines—especially Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that “developing super‑intelligence is now in sight.” The hosts unpack what super‑intelligence and AGI actually mean, tracing the gap between marketing hype, investor pressure, and the messy reality of today’s large language models. They explore technological solutionism, “wicked problems,” and why engineering alone can’t fix societal ills such as poverty, conflict, or education. The conversation turns to the fragility of current AI platforms: sudden model tweaks, hallucinations, and shifting tool menus that make it hard for professionals—or teachers—to rely on them day‑to‑day. Throughout, Sean and Andrew keep circling back to the show’s core question: what does it mean to be human when intelligent machines can already mimic art, prose, and problem‑solving?Their answer: cultivate diverse voices, interrogate the stories tech companies tell, and demand receipts before surrendering agency. Whether you’re excited or anxious about AI, this episode offers both enthusiasm for new tools and a sober roadmap for navigating the hype.

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Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFutura

Host Bios:

Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU Bio
Sean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU Bio
Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.

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