Modem Futura

It’s Halloween in the future — and things are getting weird. In this special Modem Futura mini-episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard unleash a spooky edition of their improv game “Futures Improv: Tech or Treat.” Fueled by AI-generated prompts, the duo riffs on haunted algorithms, mirrors that remember, and nightmare-mode neural interfaces. What happens when defunct social-media bots resurrect long-dead posts to tag the living? Could a smart mirror one day show you not your reflection, but who you might have been in another timeline? And what if a brain-computer interface glitch traps you inside your worst fear?Equal parts eerie and thought-provoking, this Halloween special blurs the line between speculative fiction and real emerging tech. From discussions of digital afterlives to emotional manipulation through neuro-stimulation, Sean and Andrew turn classic horror tropes into futures-thinking experiments — all with the trademark humor and curiosity that define Modem Futura. Whether you’re a technologist, futurist, or Halloween enthusiast, this bite-sized episode invites you to imagine what’s lurking just beyond the edges of innovation. -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----

Dive into the fascinating world of AI as the hosts discuss a global survey revealing widespread public concern more than excitement. Discover why Americans lead the anxiety chart, contrasting trust levels in AI regulation between the EU and the U.S. Higher education's pivotal role is highlighted, with calls for transparency and experimentation to build trust. The conversation playfully shifts to Futures Improv, tackling imaginative scenarios about memory economies and digital preservation. It's a mix of critical analysis and creative fun!

Exploring the intersection of AI and retail, the hosts discuss Walmart's partnership with ChatGPT and how it could redefine online shopping. They dive into the implications of AI-driven economics versus traditional profit models, questioning whether we’re stuck in an 'AI bubble.' Reflecting on themes from Andrew's new book, they ponder how to engage with AI while maintaining our humanity. The conversation touches on synthetic media fatigue, the role of values in AI, and even whimsical futures where subscription-based immortality exists. Equal parts insightful and entertaining!

Celebrate a year of insightful dialogue on themes like AI, robots, and space futures! The hosts recap their journey, emphasizing community over transactions. Dive into discussions on liquid media and the tension between AI tools and human connection. Humor shines in a playful 'Futures Improv' with scenarios like AI pets outsmarting real pets and autonomous cars demanding meditation. They also highlight the implications of AI in creative work and tease exciting upcoming tech topics. Join the conversation!

This week, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome venture capitalist and AI Salon founder Jeffrey Abbott to launch the new book AI and the Art of Being Human—a practical, hands‑on guide to thriving with AI while rediscovering what matters most. Together, they unpack where the idea came from, why they fast‑tracked the project, and how they co‑created with AI (moving from ChatGPT to Anthropic’s Claude) using a “shared compass,” voice training, and a living “lore book” to keep characters and story arcs consistent. Instead of dry case studies, the book uses vivid, cinematic global vignettes and 21 simple tools (from reflection prompts to the “conductor triangle” of data–context–intuition) to help readers shift away from competing with AI and toward value rooted in relationships, meaning, and personal dharma. The team also explores the four‑posture compass—Curiosity, Clarity, Intentionality, and Care—and how compassion and responsible innovation thread through every chapter (right down to a physical pocket card). Beyond writing, the episode pulls back the curtain on indie publishing (Waymark Works), the realities of e‑book production, and why the book is available via Amazon and mainstream book channels—alongside a call to grow intentional communities through AI Salon’s 70+ chapters worldwide. It’s an honest, practical, and hopeful conversation about building protopian futures with AI—without losing yourself.Learn more about the book: Book Launch Website [Web]Pre-Order on Amazon [Web]Jeffrey Abbott - LinkedIn -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew sit down with veteran educator Tara Menghini to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the formative years of K–6 learning. Tara brings over 25 years of classroom experience and a passion for helping young learners build healthy technology habits from the very start. Together, they discuss the growing comfort children have with iPads compared to pencils and scissors, the tension between hands-on physical learning and digital fluency, and the importance of teaching balance rather than banning screen time. Tara shares vivid classroom examples—from coding without screens to design-thinking projects—that cultivate creativity, resilience, and judgment while preparing kids for a future in which AI is ever-present. The conversation also dives into the myths of “digital natives,” how children imagine AI as robots or companions, and why it’s crucial to guide them in understanding both the promises and perils of new technologies. Along the way, the group touches on privacy concerns, digital citizenship, group chat anxieties, and the role parents must play in AI literacy. It’s a thoughtful, often funny, and deeply human look at what it means to introduce the next generation to technology that will define their world.Links: Tara Menghini [LinkedIn]Doug Unplugged [Book / TV series]Nerdy Birdy Tweets [Book]  -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----

In this lively milestone episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into the strange cultural moment where AI hype collides with social backlash. The conversation begins with Apple’s latest tech updates—live translation in AirPods and cinematic filmmaking features in the iPhone 17 Pro—before shifting gears into the growing online phenomenon of the term “clanker.” Originally a Star Wars slur for battle droids, “clanker” has become a pejorative for AI systems—and increasingly, for people who use them. Sean and Andrew unpack how this meme-like insult is evolving into a marker of distrust, frustration, and resistance toward generative AI tools.Drawing comparisons to the 1990s “Frankenfood” moment, when public sentiment turned sharply against GMOs, they explore whether “clanker” could become AI’s equivalent trigger for social pushback. The hosts discuss the psychology of labeling, from Non-GMO food stickers to potential “Non-AI” labels on creative work, and how signals of authenticity—or lack thereof—shape public trust. They also dig into deeper risks: what happens when personal relationships, workplace trust, and even grief are outsourced to AI-generated messages? Along the way, they introduce the sister term “slopper”for low-quality AI content, debate whether AI-literate etiquette is keeping pace with use, and preview looming copyright battles, including Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement with authors.As always, Sean and Andrew bring a mix of humor, cultural critique, and futures thinking, asking what these small linguistic shifts reveal about the possible, probable, and preferable futures of human-AI coexistence. -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----

Traffic tech irony takes center stage as the hosts discuss how innovations often don’t solve congestion issues without a systems approach. Futures thinking emerges as a mindset, emphasizing possible outcomes and collective engagement. The conversation intertwines playful scenarios—like living on Mars—with meaningful discussions on risk and ethics. Backcasting is highlighted as a way to navigate towards preferred futures while considering vulnerable communities. Finally, ideas on integrating futures thinking into education spark a vision for empowered learning.

In this episode of Modem Futura, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into Andrew’s book Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies, and the course it inspired, The Moviegoer’s Guide to the Future. Together, they explore how blockbuster films—from Jurassic Park and Minority Report to Limitless, Ex Machina, Elysium, and Contact—become more than entertainment: they serve as mirrors reflecting society’s hopes, fears, and ethical dilemmas around technology. The conversation ranges from the philosophical weight of Never Let Me Go and its meditation on mortality, to the prescient warnings of predictive policing in Minority Report, and the unsettling manipulations of AI in Ex Machina. Along the way, Sean and Andrew highlight how film and media shape our perceptions, act as cultural playgrounds for exploring futures, and inspire debates that spill far beyond the classroom.They also reflect on the communal experience of movies, the tension between science and storytelling, and the importance of using narrative as a vehicle to unpack complex issues like AI ethics, biotechnology, inequality, and human agency. What emerges is not just a tour through iconic sci-fi films, but a passionate argument for why stories matter in helping us navigate the possible, probable, and preferable futures of being human.Links: The Moviegoer’s Guide to the Future (FIS 338) [Official Course Page] Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies [The Book on Amazon]Films from the Future: an authors note [Andrew's website] -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard take to the skies—literally exploring the promise and pitfalls of eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). From personal one-seat “flying pod” drones to futuristic air taxis, eVTOLs are being touted as the next leap in personal and urban transportation. But do they represent a bold solution to gridlock and emissions, or a risky Jetsons-inspired fantasy?We dive into the history of flying car dreams dating back to the 1940s, the technological advances in drones, batteries, and sensors that make eVTOLs possible today, and the regulatory landscape beginning to emerge around their use. Along the way, we weigh the benefits—time savings, lower emissions, new mobility options—against serious challenges, including safety risks, infrastructure needs, urban noise, environmental impacts, and questions of equity and access. What happens when futuristic transport serves the few rather than the many? And how might this reshape the very design of our cities and societies?By comparing the rise of automobiles to the uncertain future of aerial mobility, we ask listeners to consider not just canwe build these systems, but should we—and under what conditions. Is this the start of a new era of human flight, or another techno-fantasy with unintended consequences?Links:NASA AAMM [Website]FAA Regulatory Info [Website] Special Acknowledgment We'd like to acknowledge the partial funding support provided by the US Department of Transportation-sponsored Travel Behavior and Demand National University Transportation Center led by The University of Texas at Austin. The Center, of which Arizona State University is a consortium member, has helped make this podcast episode, and the research we're discussing, possible. -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----