Future Tense

Andrew Stokols, an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, shares insights on the political experiment of Xiong'an, emphasizing its role in Xi Jinping's vision. Eliot Brown, a Wall Street Journal reporter, highlights Neom's ambitious plans and the daunting financial challenges it faces, including cost overruns and limited public response. Dr. Nicholas Wright, a neuroscientist, discusses how understanding brain mechanisms can prevent conflicts, advocating for self-awareness in leadership and military practices to enhance decision-making and cooperation.

Dr. Jean-Michel Claverie, an expert on ancient viruses, discusses how thawing permafrost could release dangerous pathogens, detailing the revival process in the lab. Dr. Christine Pratt explains her work at the European Virus Archive, emphasizing the need for global cooperation in pandemic preparedness. Meanwhile, Dr. Aaron Bernstein connects climate change to emerging infectious diseases, highlighting how habitat shifts increase spillover risks. Together, they stress the urgency of proactive measures to prevent future pandemics and the pivotal role of decentralized archives.

In this conversation, Dr. Shababa Selim, an expert on microplastics, discusses the challenges of tackling global plastic pollution following the failure of a treaty. Professor Paul Fennell shares insights on decarbonizing cement production and the complexities of implementing carbon capture technologies. Meanwhile, clinical psychologist Professor Jill Newby warns about the risks of seeking mental health advice from AI chatbots, noting their potential for misleading users. Dr. Pratik Sachdeva elaborates on how these chatbots reflect societal values and the dangers of relying on them for emotional support.

In an engaging discussion, Professors Neil Selwyn, Phillip Dawson, Rupert Wegerif, and Dragan Gasevic tackle education's evolving landscape in the wake of generative AI. They explore the initial panic in academia, the challenges of assessing student abilities when AI can produce work, and the push for critical thinking through dialogue. The experts propose that AI can act as a learning partner rather than a shortcut, while also warning against over-reliance. They emphasize the need for robust evidence on integrating AI in education, focusing on promoting deep learning over mere outputs.

Henry Farrell is a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, discussing how social media distorts group beliefs and shapes political behavior. John Tasioulas, a philosopher and ethicist from Oxford, warns about AI's potential to undermine democratic values, emphasizing the need for participatory governance in tech. Additionally, Marcus Beard introduces "slopaganda," highlighting how low-quality, AI-generated political content can fragment media consumption and threaten shared democratic discourse.

Join experts Michael Milford, a robotics director at Queensland University of Technology, Milad Haghani, an urban resilience associate professor, and sociolinguist Abdesalam Soudi from the University of Pittsburgh. They dive into the current state and commercial uses of autonomous vehicles, touching on Tesla’s camera-based approach versus LiDAR systems. They discuss the social language of driving, how contextual cues can confuse AI, and consumer reluctance towards driver-assist technologies, revealing the complexities of acceptance and regulation in the evolving landscape of self-driving cars.

In this conversation, Dr. James Cohen, an expert on online language practices, delves into 'algospeak,' a creative linguistic response to content moderation. Philip Seargeant, a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics, critiques the flawed idea of a universal language and discusses the limitations of AI translation. Dr. Sali Tagliamonte reveals how teenage women are at the forefront of language change, driving innovation through social media. Together, they explore the interplay between technology and language, highlighting its dynamic evolution.

Dr. Annette Kroen, a Senior Research Fellow specializing in urban challenges, teams up with Dylan Reid, an urbanist and co-founder of Spacing Magazine. They unpack the critical shortage of amenities in new suburbs, highlighting the risk of social isolation. Reid critiques the disconnected design of residential areas that lack main streets, weakening community ties. The duo emphasizes the need for walkable neighborhoods and accessible services to create livable environments, making a case for smart density that protects green space while enhancing urban resilience.

Professor Peter Dawson leads digital heritage at the University of Calgary, and Adam Lowe heads the Factum Foundation in Madrid. They explore the urgent preservation of Herschel Island's cultural legacy amid climate change. The duo discusses creating 'digital twins' using high-tech tools like lidar to capture heritage sites in stunning detail. They also delve into the importance of recording ancient artifacts, merging digital and physical restoration, and utilizing AI to explore cultural narratives, ensuring future generations can connect with their history.

Professor Martin Brueckner critiques the misconception that Australia is swiftly decarbonizing, emphasizing rising emissions from fossil fuel exports. Alison Reeve discusses the challenges facing green hydrogen development, including investment hesitance and competing technologies. Madoc Sheehan highlights crucial resource constraints and water needs for hydrogen production. Meanwhile, Professor Matthew Hill presents innovative membrane technologies for hydrogen storage, paving the way for potentially safer and cost-effective transport solutions.