The Future of You
Hello, welcome to the Future of You podcast. Here we’re going to investigate and analyse all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. We used to argue about whether personal identity was in the mind or in the body; but now that psychology of the self and the biology of self has been joined by a third dimension - the technology of the self. In a digital, data-driven world, Facebook gets a say in verifying who we are, medical science can alter our genetic make-up, and AI will help us create our digital twin - just how many identities do we need in the multiverse? How is 21st Century technology changing who we are? I set out to research exactly that, when I wrote my book The Future of You. That turned out to be only the start of my journey into our changing identity in a digital world. And I thought rather than continue to research this on my own, I could invite you along too. I’m Tracey Follows, I’m a futurist and founder of Futuremade, the futures consultancy, and I’ve helped brands and businesses like Virgin, Google, Diageo and Farfetch spot trends, develop strategic foresight and fully prepare for what comes next. I believe identity is the defining issue of our generation. So every fortnight I’ll be releasing new episodes, featuring panels of experts as we delve into topics such as how we use media to express our selves, the emergence of the extreme self, transhumanism and the augmented self; anonymity, genetics, biometrics, mind clones, and the digital afterlife - these are just some of the innovations, and controversies, we’ll cover. Join the community, buy the book at thefutureofyou.co.uk or connect with me on X at @traceyfutures. Please come with me on this journey to explore identity in the digital world, as we investigate the future of me, and the future of you.
Latest episodes
Dec 9, 2024 • 35min
Identity Play and the Artist with Holly Herndon
In this awesome episode, I’m lucky to be talking to Holly Herndon, a Berlin-based artist and groundbreaking musician. With a PhD from Stanford University and a pioneering spirit, Holly merges cutting-edge AI with music to challenge the boundaries of identity. From acclaimed albums like Platform and Proto to her revolutionary project Holly Plus, Holly has redefined what it means to create and perform in a digital age. Holly talks about her thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Call’ currently on display at the Serpentine Gallery. Holly also explains how the creation of her own super hero, Hairy Mutant X, is helping her explore the difference between the person she is and the digital footprint version of herself on the Internet. The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Holly Herndon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_HerndonInterdependence https://interdependence.fm/Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey
Nov 28, 2024 • 47min
Reconnecting With The Emotional Self Through VR with Sarah Ticho
In this episode, I’m talking to Sarah Ticho, founder of Hatsumi and Co-founder of XR Health Alliance about the fascinating intersection of virtual reality (VR), immersive media, health, and well-being. Sarah’s work focuses on using VR to create human-centred, immersive experiences that redefine how we understand emotions, memory, and identity.We discuss Sarah’s pioneering projects, including Soulpaint - an immersive project that invites and enables users to map their emotions through body mapping, 3D drawing, and movement - giving people a new way to think about their emotions and process their feelings. Soulpaint won the XR experience competition at this year's SXSW festival - a huge and deserved accolade for Sarah who is a pioneer in this intersection between art, technology and health. Here we talk about how immersive technologies are reshaping our understanding of identity, memory, and emotions, as well as potentially revolutionising mental health care, pain management, and more. Find out more about SoulpaintLearn more about HatsumiConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn and InstagramThe Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepageFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey
Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 2min
Perspective Agents in the Autonomous Age with Chris Perry
In this episode we delve into the transformative impact of AI on humanity and society with Chris Perry, Chief Innovation Officer and Chair at Weber Shandwick Futures. His new book, "Perspective Agents," challenges traditional views of news media and information gathering, focusing on the emergence of AI and its potential to reshape our knowledge sources. He sees perspective as the primary innovation of our times. And he takes us through Taylor Swift as a powerful research case study. We discuss AI's role in human creativity, exploring its capacity to redefine expertise and truth. We speak about breaking echo chambers, using tools like Blackbird.ai and Notebook LM, and chat about how and why AI is reshaping workplaces and businesses. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of news media, societal shifts, and the future of human identity in a world of AI. Chris’ book ‘Perspective Agents’ is available hereChris’ ‘Perspective Agents’ SubstackTools mentioned: Blackbird AI, Notebook LMThe Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey
Oct 31, 2024 • 40min
Supremacy: The Race for AI Dominance with Parmy Olson
Will Microsoft or Google win the race to control the future of AI?In this episode I’m talking to journalist and author Parmy Olson whose new book “Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT, and the Race That Will Change the World” explores the fierce competition between Microsoft and Google to lead the AI revolution.We discuss the motivations of tech pioneers like Deepmind’s Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, their groundbreaking work, and the implications of this AI arms race for the future of humanity, agency and identity. The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Parmy’s book ‘Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT, and the Race That Will Change The World’ is available here Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey
Oct 16, 2024 • 53min
Surveillance and Data: Byron Tau on Government Monitoring and AI Risks
Byron Tau is an American investigative journalist and author of the new book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State” so in this episode I’m talking to Byron about the intricate world of government surveillance. We discuss how commercial data is leveraged by the US government and other entities for extensive monitoring. We also talk about the public’s seeming lack of awareness, the role of data brokers, the impact of surveillance on personal identity, and the implications of AI. During our conversation Byron shares insights from his own research, talks about how he self-financed his investigation and emphasises the importance of supporting independent journalism. Byron Tau photo credit: Elliott O’DonovanThe Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Byron’s new book: Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State is available now https://www.amazon.co.uk/Means-Control-Alliance-Government-Surveillance/dp/0593443225Check out Notus at https://www.notus.org/Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you
Oct 3, 2024 • 51min
Weaponising Identity in the Algorithmic Age with Chase Hughes
In this episode I’m talking to Chase Hughes – a US military veteran-turned-expert in human behaviour, profiling, and persuasion, regularly training elite govt and big business on behaviour skills. He is a leading trial consultant too. Chase delves into the complexities of identity manipulation in the digital age and the urgent need to safeguard our identities. We cover the weaponisation of identity, the power of cognitive biases, and the growing bystander effect. With insights from his best-selling book, "The Ellipsis Manual," and his work with the Behavior Panel, Chase offers practical tips for resisting manipulation and training your critical thinking. Chase on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@chasehughesofficial/featuredWebsite https://www.chasehughes.com/The Ellipses Manual on amazon in UK and USA The Behaviour Panel https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanelThe Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you(note: in their discussion Tracey mentions the Apple Vision Pro ad. The correct wording of the voice over on that ad is “your favourite apps live right in front of you”)
Sep 30, 2024 • 14min
BONUS: The Future of You(r) Podcast: Is NotebookLM a Game-Changing Tool?
Welcome to The Future! This special episode of The Future of You has been created using the tool everybody’s talking about; Notebook LM.With just a few taps of the keyboard this 10-minute bonus podcast has been created from the information on my website www.futuremade.group. It took minutes for AI to distil the information and create what sounds like two people discussing my work. The conversation covers everything from my credentials, to my book, to this very podcast. Is this a tech tool that will change the shape of podcasting and audio forever? Or a stark reminder not to believe everything you hear?Try notebookLM for yourself https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-audio-video-sources/(NB: Tracey inputted the main Futuremade website address plus the other pages: five sources from the same one website)The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-youFind Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you
Sep 18, 2024 • 42min
Language Loss and Identity with Jack Connor
In this episode I’m chatting about the importance of language to our identity with linguist and tech entrepreneur Jack Connor.Jack is about to embark on a trip to the Arctic where he will deposit language data from more than 500 languages into a preservation vault.We delve into the intricacies of language preservation, the impact of the internet on dialects, and the fascinating intersection between technology, language and identity. We also discuss the urgency around saving endangered languages and the potential of AI to revolutionise language preservation. Email Jack jack@endangeredlanguagesfilm.comOr get in touch on X https://x.com/Jac5ConnorEndangered Languages film https://www.endangeredlanguagesfilm.com/Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you
Sep 4, 2024 • 43min
Meet Your Future Self with Pattie Maes and Pat Pataranutaporn
What if you could use AI to see what your life would be like when you are 60, or better understand how you got there? Today on The Future of You I’m talking to the creators of an interactive experience that will allow you to do just that.In this episode I speak with Germeshausen Professor Pattie Maes and technologist and researcher Pat Pataranutaporn from MIT Media Lab. Pattie and Pat are working on "Future You", a project using AI to create our own digital twin.We talk about human-AI interaction, human attachment to machine conversation, and what questions we might pose to our future selves when given the opportunity.Try Future You from MIT Media Lab https://futureyou.media.mit.edu/Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you
Aug 21, 2024 • 41min
Your Identity, Unplugged with Erik Prince
In this episode of The Future of You I’m talking to Erik Prince, co-founder of Unplugged, a privacy-first smartphone to rival Big Tech. A former Navy SEAL, Erik is also the founder and former CEO of Blackwater—the world’s largest and most effective private military firm. Erik discusses the creation and importance of the Unplugged phone and highlights the growing concerns around data collection, surveillance, and the misuse of technology by governments and big tech companies. He delves into the unique features of the Unplugged phone, including its lack of an advertising ID, secure messenger, and kill switch, all designed to protect user privacy. We also touch on the broader issues of digital surveillance, the role of AI, and the future of personal security in an increasingly connected world.Erik's website https://erikdprince.comUNplugged website https://unplugged.comSomalian Project on You Tube The Somali Project - Official Trailer (HD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEPtXOCCzREShawn Ryan Show Erik Prince - Breakdown of the Donald Trump Assassination Attempt | SRS #123 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t81CeoEcCik&t=956sErik's book: Civilian Warriors https://erikdprince.com/civilian-warriors/UNherd with Silki Carlo on The UK’s Counter Disinformation Unit https://unherd.com/watch-listen/get-ready-for-the-crackdown/Video audio included with permission from Erik PrinceTracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttraceyExplore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you
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