The Futurists

Media cartographer Evan Shapiro publishes the definitive chart of the global media industry cited by every pundit and trade publication. After 20 years of disruptive change, the media industry is evolving so quickly beyond recognition that Evan’s chart has emerged as the universal scorecard to keep track of who owns what. Evan joins the Futurists to decipher the chaos in streaming, television, socials and cinema. Topics include: the importance of audience fragmentation across media formats and platforms; the consequences of consolidation; why Big Tech is trouncing Big Media;  why Netflix is worth more than Disney, Comcast, WarnerBros Discovery, and Paramount combined;  YouTube as the new era of cable TV;  why 60% of all advertising dollars flow through three companies;  Disney’s genius move with ESPN;  and Evan’s surprising answer to the question: which is the only major media company that has managed the transition to the digital age?

Mike Woodward, bestselling author of techno-thrillers and caretaker of the Tom Clancy franchise, dives into the chilling scenarios of future naval warfare between the United States and China. He outlines how competition for control over AI technology could ignite large-scale conflict, ultimately leading to a dramatic showdown at sea. Woodward discusses critical vulnerabilities in the U.S. Navy and innovative military strategies, while drawing insights from his novel 'Red Tide' to highlight the intersection of geopolitical tensions and modern combat challenges.

This week The Futurists welcomes celebrated experimental astrophysicist Prof Brian Cox. Prof Cox dives into why our understanding of black holes and what it means for quantum information theory could change our fundamental understanding of the universe and usher in a new era of scientific advancement. Cox is one of the most articulate scientists in the world today and this interview proves once again that in an age where science faces ongoing attacks from political forces and media that our future lies in embracing knowledge and applied intelligence. It could be said that we are at the event horizon of something new and extraordinary.

In this week’s episode Steve Suarez from Horizon X Quantum and one of the speakers at the Futurists Summit discusses the reality of the famed Q-Day or Quantum Day – a date sometime in the near future when Quantum computers can break our existing RSA encryption technologies exposing banks, government and military to significant cyber security risk. How real is it and how can we prepare our institutions for this change? Suarez and Brett get into it.

Think about the place where you live. Every inch of every city and suburb has been designed by other humans. For better or worse, their choices determine how the world around you works, and how you live and navigate through it.  Jeff Speck is the world’s leading exponent of the concept of the “walkable city”, human-centered urban centers.  In this episode of the Futurists, Jeff shares his inspiring vision of the city of the future. Topics include; the New Urbanism, how cities foster society, the impact of the automobile on the organization of society, the goals of city planning and urban design, organic neighborhood evolution versus top-down zoning, the consequences of the 1969 World’s Fair, how lifespans increased when factories were separated from living quarters, how mass transit systems shape the growth of cities, and how automation and robotics will shape the city of the future.

Mark Pesce, a noted futurist and founder of Wisely AI, dives deep into the complex relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. He discusses the alarming phenomenon of 'chat GPT psychosis' and critiques AI mediocrity, arguing that reliance on technology doesn't replace human effort but adds to it. Pesce emphasizes the importance of understanding knowledge, truth, and the dangers of 'vibe coding' in software development. He warns against the societal impact of siloed information and the rising challenges of disinformation in today’s world.

This week Brett interview he founder of the world’s first data savings account and data wallet ecosystem, Andre Vellozo of Drumwave. Vellozo makes a compelling case that GDPR and data privacy regulations won’t work in the age of AI, that we need data ownership structures and the ability to monetize our data, especially related to digital twin models like AI-based healthcare. Drumwave maintains that owning your own data and deploying it in the emerging autonomous world might eliminate the need for UBI and other such proposals. Do you know where your data is? 

Zoltan István holds the distinction of being the first Transhumanist to run for President of the United States.  Now Zoltan has set his sights on the Governor’s office in California, a $4 trillion economy that ranks as the fourth-largest in the world, and the leader in global innovation. Zoltan joins the Futurists this week to discuss his plan to replace Gavin Newsom. He answers some pressing questions about the future risks and opportunities faced by the biggest US state.

Dan Schwarz, CEO and co-founder of FutureSearch.ai, discusses the future of AI-powered forecasting. He reveals how hybrid human-AI systems are surpassing traditional methods, while pure AI approaches still struggle. Topics include the potential pitfalls of AI predictions and the surprising long-term implications for industries. Dan emphasizes the need for a blend of human insight and machine intelligence to enhance accuracy, explore the concept of collective intelligence, and navigate the complexities of forecasting in technology.

Jon Snoddy is the CEO and founder of Operative Games, where he fuses gameplay with generative AI to create stories that permit the audience to interact with and engage with virtual characters. To create immersive story worlds, Jon draws on his long experience as a theme park designer, an R&D expert for movie studios, and a technologist at National Public Radio.