The Future of You
Tracey Follows
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 6, 2022 • 1h 11min
The Age of Profilicity and Identity Politics with Hans-Georg Moeller and Sam Gilbert #5
Is the huge variety of social platforms and settings in which we present ourselves creating a multiplicity of our identities, demanding that we moderate our personalities? And is that such a bad thing?From the Chinese philosophy suggesting that sincerity trumps authenticity, to the future technologies ushering in an era of profilicity, the norms that surround identity are changing during our lifetime.Joining me to help foresee where our technology of identity is heading - in this truly international episode - are Hans-Georg Moeller, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Macau, and Sam Gilbert, an Affiliated Researcher with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.This episode of The Future of You covers:Use of data to create a picture of someone’s identity, and how that could be used for wider public benefitThe multiplicity of identity through social media sites with different norms and expectationA modern sense of profilicity, and how that links with ancient Chinese philosophiesHow AI might allow us to curate identity in a new way with a novel sense of self-insightThe need to leave authenticity behind in favour of situational sincerityThis episode does contain a brief discussion eluding to self-harm, suicide, and how we might use data to identify those in need. If you or somebody you know is in need, Samaritans are available by phoning 116 123.The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBBThe TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU:https://www.thetbdconference.com/Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/
Mar 23, 2022 • 1h 1min
The Evolution of Identity over Generations with Dr Eliza Filby and Dr Ian Pearson #4
Dr Eliza Filby, historian, and Dr Ian Pearson, futurist, discuss the influence of generational changes on identity. They explore topics such as AI's role in representing personalities, individuality in the future workplace, and the potential end of class as an identity marker.
Mar 9, 2022 • 1h 5min
The Transhumanist Future of a Radical Identity with Zoltan Istvan & David Wood #3
Join Zoltan Istvan and David Wood as they discuss the future of transhumanism, including modifying our bodies, immortality, and personal identity. They explore the lack of female representation in transhumanism, the implications of longevity and cryonic suspension, and the possibility of conscious transfer. The chapter also touches on rational decision making, future technologies, and the importance of understanding their impact on our identities.
Feb 23, 2022 • 59min
Media and the Quest for Identity with Andrew McLuhan and Henry Jenkins #2
Henry Jenkins and Andrew McLuhan, director of The McLuhan Institute and grandson of philosopher Marshall McLuhan, discuss the impact of media on identity in a captivating conversation. They explore topics such as the rapid change of media assaulting our sense of self, the role of social media in raising essential issues about race and gender, the violence associated with language surrounding identity, and the intimate nature of podcasts compared to radio.
Feb 23, 2022 • 51min
How Virtual Worlds Shape our Real Identities with Richard Bartle & David Birch #1
Richard Bartle, Co-Creator of MUD, and David Birch, FinTech expert, explore virtual identities, tokenization, the interplay between digital and physical worlds, and the difference between credentials and biometric identification in this captivating episode. They discuss how characters in virtual worlds differ from our real-world identity, the gamification of personalities on different platforms, and the potential impact of biometrics on identification. This thought-provoking conversation also touches on the exploration of gender in virtual worlds and the liberating and constraining aspects of gaming on individual identity.
Dec 22, 2021 • 3min
Welcome to "The Future of You" - Trailer
The podcast explores how emerging technologies are changing our identity in a digital world. Topics include multiple identities, the influence of technology on our sense of self, and the impact of emerging technologies on our identity.
