Modem Futura

Sean and Andrew dive into whether AI can genuinely aid in tackling climate change and other ecological crises. They discuss the significant energy and resource demands of AI technologies, highlighting the paradox of being part of the solution while potentially deepening the crisis. The conversation touches on real-world AI applications in scientific research and the importance of integrating human behavior into AI models. They also explore AI's potential as a facilitator for global cooperation and the ethical challenges related to reliance on technology for sustainability.

Dive into the intriguing world of the metaverse where physical and digital realities blend. Explore the fascinating concept of a 'metaverse stack' that layers augmented and virtual experiences. Discover how AI generates infinite worlds and how our perceptions of reality might shift. The discussion raises critical points on digital sustainability and ownership in virtual spaces, pondering whether companies will dominate this new frontier. Join in on the debate about how education and personal permissions could evolve in this ever-expanding digital landscape.

Wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, the hosts explore the exciting realm of spatial computing. They break down the differences between spatial computing, VR, and AR, while detailing how the headset's sensors map the physical world. From enhancing productivity with virtual workspaces to immersive video experiences, they highlight practical applications. They also discuss comfort, motion sickness, and the tech's accessibility benefits. Imagining a future of shared digital spaces for remote collaboration, they emphasize critical consumer choices in this evolving landscape.

This Halloween special dives into eerie tech futures with supernatural twists. Imagine a haunted algorithm resurrecting old social media posts—sentimental glitch or creepy harassment? What if smart mirrors could reveal alternate versions of yourself? The duo explores the creepy concept of neural interfaces that could trap you in nightmares. Plus, they ponder the implications of AI-driven digital afterlives—therapeutic or invasive? Get ready for a blend of humor and spine-chilling speculation, perfect for both tech lovers and Halloween fans!

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.-----