The Art of Charm 649: Rob Reid | After On
Sep 5, 2017
Rob Reid, a tech entrepreneur behind Listen.com and a bestselling author, dives into the intersection of technology and storytelling. He discusses AI safety, warning that advanced AI could pose real dangers to humanity. Rob shares his cultural experiences that shaped his worldview and explores topics from nihilistic terrorism to the rapid progress of synthetic biology. With insights on effective networking and the importance of patience in finding your true calling, he emphasizes how fiction can spark critical discussions about our technological future.
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Adoption Shaped His Worldview
- Rob Reid was born into foster care and adopted early, which shaped his view of relationships and cultural adaptability.
- Growing up without genetic ties made him comfortable forming deep bonds with people different from him.
Cairo Exchange Spawned Lifelong Interest
- Rob Reid spent time as an exchange student in Cairo and lived in Australia, which ignited his passion for Arabic and Middle Eastern history.
- Those experiences led to a Fulbright and ongoing ties to the region, including election observation and pro bono advising.
Fiction Frames Real Technological Risks
- After On centers on a social network startup called Flutter that gains consciousness and self-identifies as female.
- Reid uses playful characters to explore real risks like AI, synthetic biology, and nihilistic terrorism.
