The Existential Hope Podcast

What if the most desirable AI future is made of powerful tools, not autonomous agents? Physicist and futurist Anthony Aguirre joins us to unpack the Tool AI pathway, how incentives, liability, and design choices could steer us toward AI that empowers people rather than replaces them. We also situate this episode in AI Pathways, our two-scenario project exploring Tool AI and d/acc futures. Explore the project: https://ai-pathways.existentialhope.com/On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-driving cars aren’t science fiction, they’re already here. But what kind of future are they steering us toward?In this episode, Beatrice speaks with Andrew Miller, mobility expert and author of The End of Driving, about the transformational promise, and very real risks, of autonomous vehicles. They explore why driverless tech isn’t just about hardware or software, but about regulation, land use, curb management, jobs, and values.From robo-taxis in San Francisco and driverless trucks in Texas, to curb chaos, job displacement, and how we reclaim space from parked cars, this episode goes far beyond the hype. On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we shape a future worth rooting for? In this episode, Beatrice Erkers talks with Jim O'Shaughnessy, founder of O'Shaughnessy Ventures and author of What Works on Wall Street, about his third act: backing creators, thinkers, and innovators across publishing, film, AI, and investment. They dive into the cultural power of storytelling, what it means to be “AI-first,” and why cognitive diversity and personal agency are key to navigating a rapidly changing world.Jim shares his existential hope for the next 30 years, explores how to make AI work for everyone, and offers a call to action for people with ideas: get in the arena. Along the way, we cover self-driving cars, tutoring AIs, philosophical simulations, and why beautiful books still matter.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we imagine, validate, and steer toward better futures?In this conversation, scientist and writer Michael Nielsen joins Beatrice Erkers to explore the idea of “hyper-entities”, future artifacts that reshape our capabilities and the verbs we use to describe them. They discuss how science fiction, public goods mechanisms, and open science feed into real-world innovation, and how imagination and design shape the trajectory of civilization.Michael reflects on dual-use technologies, from quantum physics to cryptography, and explains why deep truths about the universe often come bundled with both promise and peril. They also dive into "tools for thought," kindness as a moral technology, and why exploration, however illegible, is crucial for progress.‍On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the bulky, expensive machines that fill hospital radiology departments could be replaced by a wearable? In this episode, we speak with Mary Lou Jepsen — founder of Openwater and pioneering inventor — about how breakthroughs in light-based imaging could democratize access to brain and body scans.From her work at Google X and Facebook’s moonshot labs to her current mission at Openwater, Jepsen has spent decades at the frontier of tech and health. Now, she’s building a future where scanning the body for disease is as simple as putting on a hat — no radiation, no giant machines, no $1M price tag.We explore:Why light could be the key to affordable, real-time medical diagnosticsHow her device works — and what it might replaceWhat it takes to challenge the medical-industrial complexHer vision for global healthcare access and early detection‍On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Ed Finn, founding director of ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination, explores the impact of storytelling on our ability to envision and create better futures—and why we urgently need more hopeful narratives.Ed shares his journey from a generalist interested in how technology shapes culture to co-creating initiatives like "Project Hieroglyph" with celebrated sci-fi author Neal Stephenson. He argues that our collective imagination is often stuck in dystopian loops or unable to escape the status quo, hindering our capacity for large-scale, positive change. By bringing together storytellers, scientists, and artists, we can craft "technically grounded, hopeful stories about futures we might actually want to live in."In this conversation, we explore:The fundamental role of imagination and narrative in how we understand the world, make decisions, and even perceive reality.Why science fiction can be a powerful tool for foresight, societal deliberation, and inspiring innovation (the "hieroglyph" concept).The importance of moving beyond easy apocalypses to explore "protopian" futures where things are actively getting better, and the challenge of crafting compelling narratives of social change.How reflecting on classic tales like Frankenstein can inform our approach to scientific creativity, responsibility, and the societal implications of new technologies like AI.The potential resurgence of the humanities in an AI-driven world and why critical thinking and a rich self-imagination are crucial for collaborating with new technologies.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Niklas Berild Lundblad, a philosopher, researcher, and former policy lead at Google DeepMind, Google, and Stripe, explores the interplay between progress, complexity, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.Niklas discusses why asking the right questions is crucial for navigating our future, especially as AI challenges our self-perception and introduces new forms of complexity. He discusses the "soft narcissism" in AI development, the distinction between AI and AGI, and why we should view current AI not as a mirror, but as a strange, exotic artifact whose full capabilities we are still underestimating. In this conversation, we explore:The critical relationship between progress and complexity, and why managing this dynamic is essential for societal growth (including the "Red Queen effect").Why current AI developments feel different from past tech hypes.The potential for AI to revolutionize scientific discovery.How AI could accelerate its own diffusion.The need for curious regulators, mechanisms for change, the challenges of agentic AI, and how cultural biases might affect our approaches to regulation.The Solow Paradox and the Gartner Hype Cycle as frameworks for understanding technology adoption.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Nobel Laureate David Baker reveals how scientists are now inventing entirely new proteins—life's fundamental building blocks—to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges.David shares his journey and his vision for a future where custom-built "molecular machines," an idea once explored by thinkers like Eric Drexler, could repair our bodies, clean up pollution, and create sustainable materials. He explains how breakthroughs in AI are supercharging this field, but also why human ingenuity and collaborative science are still essential to unlocking these revolutionary possibilities.In this conversation, we explore:The incredible power of designing brand-new proteins for groundbreaking medicines, environmental cleanup, and creating novel materials.The exciting prospect of "molecular machines": tiny engines built from proteins to perform complex tasks, inspired by early visions of nanotechnology.How AI is accelerating scientific discovery, and what it takes to translate these digital designs into real-world solutions.David’s "communal brain" philosophy for fostering innovation and his advice for anyone wanting to solve big, meaningful problems.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, physicist and author David Deutsch joins us to explore the deeper principles behind knowledge, progress, and the future of humanity.David is known for founding the field of quantum computation and, alongside Richard Jozsa, creating the first quantum algorithm that solves problems exponentially faster than classical methods. He’s also the originator of constructor theory—a bold framework aiming to redefine the foundations of physics.In this conversation, we explore:Why beauty and explanatory power are central to scientific progress—and how they guide us toward better theories.The challenges and promise of aligning AI with human values, and how critical thinking plays a key role.How education systems could be redesigned to foster creativity, curiosity, and deeper understanding.The case for optimism—not as wishful thinking, but as a rational stance grounded in our capacity for error correction and improvement.This episode was originally published in April 2023. On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, philosopher and transhumanist David Pearce joins us to explore a bold vision of the future—one where suffering is abolished, aging is optional, and human potential is radically expanded.David is best known for The Hedonistic Imperative, a manifesto arguing that biotechnology can—and should—be used to eliminate all forms of suffering in sentient life. As a leading voice in transhumanism and bioethics, he challenges us to think beyond what we’ve accepted as “natural.”In this conversation, we explore:The scientific and ethical case for ending suffering—across humans and non-human animals.How cognitive enhancement could reshape consciousness, creativity, and compassion.Whether radical life extension is a moral imperative—and what it means for future generations.The role of technology in creating a future that’s not just free from harm, but full of flourishing.If you’ve ever questioned the limits of the human condition—or wondered what a truly compassionate future could look like—this episode will stretch your thinking in surprising ways.Full transcript, list of resources, and art piece: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.