London Futurists
London Futurists
Anticipating and managing exponential impact - hosts David Wood and Calum ChaceCalum Chace is a sought-after keynote speaker and best-selling writer on artificial intelligence. He focuses on the medium- and long-term impact of AI on all of us, our societies and our economies. He advises companies and governments on AI policy.His non-fiction books on AI are Surviving AI, about superintelligence, and The Economic Singularity, about the future of jobs. Both are now in their third editions.He also wrote Pandora's Brain and Pandora’s Oracle, a pair of techno-thrillers about the first superintelligence. He is a regular contributor to magazines, newspapers, and radio.In the last decade, Calum has given over 150 talks in 20 countries on six continents. Videos of his talks, and lots of other materials are available at https://calumchace.com/.He is co-founder of a think tank focused on the future of jobs, called the Economic Singularity Foundation. The Foundation has published Stories from 2045, a collection of short stories written by its members.Before becoming a full-time writer and speaker, Calum had a 30-year career in journalism and in business, as a marketer, a strategy consultant and a CEO. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, which confirmed his suspicion that science fiction is actually philosophy in fancy dress.David Wood is Chair of London Futurists, and is the author or lead editor of twelve books about the future, including The Singularity Principles, Vital Foresight, The Abolition of Aging, Smartphones and Beyond, and Sustainable Superabundance.He is also principal of the independent futurist consultancy and publisher Delta Wisdom, executive director of the Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation, Foresight Advisor at SingularityNET, and a board director at the IEET (Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies). He regularly gives keynote talks around the world on how to prepare for radical disruption. See https://deltawisdom.com/.As a pioneer of the mobile computing and smartphone industry, he co-founded Symbian in 1998. By 2012, software written by his teams had been included as the operating system on 500 million smartphones.From 2010 to 2013, he was Technology Planning Lead (CTO) of Accenture Mobility, where he also co-led Accenture’s Mobility Health business initiative.Has an MA in Mathematics from Cambridge, where he also undertook doctoral research in the Philosophy of Science, and a DSc from the University of Westminster.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 29, 2024 • 47min
The race for AI supremacy, with Parmy Olson
Parmy Olson, a Bloomberg technology columnist and author of "Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World," dives into the intense competition in AI between Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis. She discusses the need for governance in AI to prevent corporate overreach. Parmy reveals the obstacles investigative journalists face with secretive entities like DeepMind, contrasting it with OpenAI's transparency. The conversation also touches on the ethical challenges within AI development and the implications of advancements like self-driving cars for democracy.
Oct 21, 2024 • 41min
A narrow path to a good future with AI, with Andrea Miotti
Our guest in this episode is Andrea Miotti, the founder and executive director of ControlAI. On their website, ControlAI have the tagline, “Fighting to keep humanity in control”. Control over what, you might ask. The website answers: control deepfakes, control scaling, control foundation models, and, yes, control AI.The latest project from ControlAI is called “A Narrow Path”, which is a comprehensive policy plan split into three phases: Safety, Stability, and Flourishing. To be clear, the envisioned flourishing involves what is called “Transformative AI”. This is no anti-AI campaign, but rather an initiative to “build a robust science and metrology of intelligence, safe-by-design AI engineering, and other foundations for transformative AI under human control”.The initiative has already received lots of feedback, both positive and negative, which we discuss.Selected follow-ups:A Narrow Path - main websiteControlAIConjecture - Redefining AI SafetyWhat is Agentic AI - Interface.AIChat GPT’s new O1 model escaped its environment to complete “impossible” hacking task - by Mihai AndreiBiological Weapons Convention - United NationsPoisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal - Wikipedia (use of Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, UK)Gathering of AI Safety Institutes in November in San FranciscoConscium - Pioneering safe, efficient AIThe UK's APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on AIMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
Oct 11, 2024 • 36min
Gen AI cuts costs by 30%: lessons from a leading law firm, with David Wakeling
Our guest in this episode is David Wakeling, a partner at A&O Shearman, which became the world’s third largest law firm in May, thanks to the merger of Allen and Overy, a UK “magic circle” firm, with Shearman & Sterling of New York.David heads up a team within the firm called the Markets Innovation Group (MIG), which consists of lawyers, developers and technologists, and is seeking to disrupt the legal industry. He also leads the firm's AI Advisory practice, through which the firm is currently advising 80 of the largest global businesses on the safe deployment of AI.One of the initiatives David has led is the development and launch of ContractMatrix, in partnership with Microsoft and Harvey, an OpenAI-backed, GPT-4-based large language model that has been fine-tuned for the legal industry. ContractMatrix is a contract drafting and negotiation tool powered by generative AI. It was tested and honed by 1,000 of the firm’s lawyers prior to launch, to mitigate against risks like hallucinations. The firm estimates that the tool is saving up to seven hours from the average contract review, which is around a 30% efficiency gain. As well as internal use by 2,000 of its lawyers, it is also licensed to clients.This is the third time we have looked at the legal industry on the podcast. While lawyers no longer use quill pens, they are not exactly famous for their information technology skills, either. But the legal profession has a couple of characteristics which make it eminently suited to the deployment of advanced AI systems: it generates vast amounts of data and money, and lawyers frequently engage in text-based routine tasks which can be automated by generative AI systems.Previous London Futurists Podcast episodes on the legal industry:Ep 53: The Legal Singularity, with Benjamin AlarieEp 47: AI transforming professional services, with Shamus RaeOther selected follow-ups:David WakelingA&O ShearmanContractMatrixHarvey AIRAG - Retrieval-Augmented GenerationDigital Operational Resilience Act (impacts banking)The Productivity J-Curve (PDF), by Erik Brynjolfsson, Daniel Rock, Chad SyversonAgentic AI: The Next Big Breakthrough That's Transforming Business And Technology, by Bernard MarrMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
Sep 26, 2024 • 39min
Climate change and populism: Grounds for optimism? with Matt Burgess
Our guest in this episode is Matt Burgess. Matt is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming, where he moved this year after six years at the University of Boulder, Colorado. He has specialised in the economics of climate change.Calum met Matt at a recent event in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and knows from their conversations then that Matt has also thought deeply about the impact of social media, the causes of populism, and many other subjects.Selected follow-ups:Matt Burgess at the University of WyomingGuided Civic Revival - Substack of Matt BurgessHow polarization will destroy itselfRoger A. Pielke Jr. - Wikipedia‘My Life as a Climate Lukewarmer’ - National ReviewShared Socioeconomic Pathways - Wikipedia (includes climate scenario SSP5-8.5)Exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points - ScienceFat-Tailed Uncertainty in the Economics of Catastrophic Climate Change (PDF) - explains "The Dismal Theorem"Sri Lanka’s organic farming disaster, explained - VoxSolar panel prices have fallen by around 20% every time global capacity doubled - Our World in DataSpecial guest speech by Mark Carney - YouTubeYounger Dryas - Wikipedia (prehistoric period with rapid climate change)Platform policies of Jill Stein, US Green Party leaderAgrowth – should we better be agnostic about growth? - degrowth‘4°C of global warming is optimal’ – even Nobel Prize winners are getting things catastrophically wrong - The ConversationEconomists' Statement on Carbon DividendsWho Is Favored To Win The 2024 Presidential Election? - Nate SilverMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
Sep 18, 2024 • 45min
Rejuvenation biotech - progress and potential, with Karl Pfleger
Karl Pfleger, an angel investor and creator of Aging Biotech Info, dives into the exciting world of rejuvenation biotechnology. He shares insights on the rapid advancements in the field, including breakthroughs in epigenetic reprogramming and stem cell therapies. Karl discusses the role of AI in streamlining clinical trials and the importance of investors in combating age-related diseases. He also explores the concept of longevity escape velocity and how individuals can contribute to this innovative sector.
Sep 1, 2024 • 49min
ChatGPT runs for president, with Pedro Domingos
Pedro Domingos, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Washington and author of "The Master Algorithm," critiques the exaggerated views on AI's capabilities. He discusses his satirical novel '2040,' which humorously tackles big tech and American politics through an AI presidential candidate. The conversation delves into the complexities of portraying AI in storytelling, the ethical dilemmas of social media, and the intriguing yet contentious debate around machine consciousness.
Aug 20, 2024 • 40min
The rise of digital pandemics, with James Ball
Our guest in this episode is the journalist and author James Ball. James has worked for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, The Guardian, WikiLeaks, BuzzFeed, The New European, and The Washington Post, among other organisations. As special projects editor at The Guardian, James played a key role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden.Books that James has written include “Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World”, “Bluffocracy”, which makes the claim that Britain is run by bluffers, “The System: Who Owns the Internet, and How It Owns Us”, and, most recently, “The Other Pandemic: How QAnon Contaminated the World”.That all adds up to enough content to fill at least four of our episodes, but we mainly focus on the ideas in the last of these books, about digital pandemics.Selected follow-ups:James Ball (personal website)The Other Pandemic: How QAnon Contaminated the World - book by James BallGuardian and Washington Post win Pulitzer prize for NSA revelationsMeme - as described by Richard DawkinsDreyfus affairBlood libelFuture Shock - book by Alvin and Heidi TofflerHow The Gulf Of Tonkin Incident Sparked The Vietnam WarWhy Narcissists Love Conspiracy TheoriesNigel Farage - UK politician WarGames - 1983 movieGish gallop - rhetorical techniqueDominic Cummings has admitted the Leave campaign won by lyingReality check: how do Farage’s claims on immigration, economy and crime hold up?Facts don’t change minds – and there’s data to prove itMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
Aug 12, 2024 • 55min
Thinking more athletically about the future, with Brett King and Rob Tercek
In this episode, we have not one guest but two – Brett King and Robert Tercek, the hosts of the Futurists Podcast.Brett King is originally from Australia, and is now based in Thailand. He is a renowned author, and the founder of a breakthrough digital bank. He consults extensively with clients in the financial services industry.Robert Tercek, based in the United States, is an expert in digital media with a successful career in broadcasting and innovation which includes serving as a creative director at MTV and a senior vice president at Sony Pictures. He now consults to CEOs about digital transformation.David and Calum had the pleasure of joining them on their podcast recently, where the conversation delved into the likely future impacts of artificial intelligence and other technologies, and also included politics.This return conversation covers a wide range of themes, including the dangers of Q-day, the prospects for technological unemployment, the future of media, different approaches to industrial strategy, a plea to "bring on the machines", and the importance of "thinking more athletically about the future".Selected follow-ups:The FuturistsBrett KingRobert TercekEpisode of The Futurists featuring David and CalumNeptune's Brood - Wikipedia article on the novel by Charles StrossJobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages - McKinsey Global InstituteWirecutter - New York Times product review siteCould AI create a one-person unicorn? Sam Altman thinks so - FortuneThe book The Rise of TechnosocialismProfessor Richard PettyComparison of economic growth, Europe vs. USA - Centre for European ReformLinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman wants Kamala Harris, if elected, to replace Lina Khan as head of the Federal Trade Commission - MSNBCMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
8 snips
Aug 2, 2024 • 38min
The low-cost future of preserving brains, with Jordan Sparks
Our guest in this episode is Jordan Sparks, the founder and executive director of Oregon Brain Preservation (OBP), which is located at Salem, the capital city of Oregon. OBP offers the service of chemically preserving the brain in the hope of future restoration.Previously, Jordan was a dentist and a computer programmer, and he was successful enough in those fields to generate the capital required to start OBP.Brain preservation is a fascinating subject that we have covered in a number of recent episodes, in which we have interviewed Kenneth Hayworth, Max More, and Emil Kendziorra.Most people whose brains have been preserved for future restoration have undergone cryopreservation, which involves cooling the brain (and sometimes the whole body) down to a very low temperature and keeping it that way. OBP does offer that service occasionally, but its focus – which may be unique – is chemical fixation of the brain.Previous episodes on biostasis and brain preservation:The case for brain preservation, with Kenneth HayworthCryonics, cryocrastination, and the future: changing minds, with Max MoreStop cryocrastinating! with Emil KendziorraAdditional selected follow-ups:Oregon Brain PreservationThe costs of the services provided by Oregon Brain PreservationFocused Ultrasound: A Promising Tool for Cryonics - Tomorrow BioInvestigation of Electromagnetic Resonance Rewarming Enhanced by Magnetic Nanoparticles for Cryopreservation - LangmuirPre-epithelialized cryopreserved tracheal allograft for neo-trachea flap engineering - Frontiers in Bioengineering and BiotechnologyAldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation by Robert McIntyre and Gregory Fahy - CryobiologyOregon's Death with Dignity Act14-year-old girl who died of cancer wins right to be cryogenically frozen - The GuardianMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
Jul 25, 2024 • 36min
Surveillance and diversity: surprising insights from the Gulf, with Holly Joint
Our guest in this episode is Holly Joint, who was born and educated in the UK, but lives in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.Holly started her career with five years at the business consultancy Accenture, and then worked in telecomms and banking. The latter took her to the Gulf, where she then spent what must have been a fascinating year as programme director of Qatar’s winning bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Since then she has run a number of other start-ups and high-growth businesses in the Gulf.Holly is currently COO of Trivandi and also has a focus on helping women to have more power in a future dominated by technology.Calum met Holly at a conference in Dubai this year, where she quizzed him on-stage about machine consciousness.Selected follow-ups:Women for Tech UAETrivandi appoints Holly JointTrivandi - "Creating Events and Venues, Better"With a Few Bits of Data, Researchers Identify ‘Anonymous’ People - New York TimesThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism - Shoshana ZuboffRankings out of 142 cities - Smart City Observatory (Abu Dhabi ranked #10 in 2024)Women in Tech: Time to close the gender gap - A PwC research reportWhy are so many big tech whistleblowers women? - The ConversationFalcon - the Arabic language LLMCollapse of Silicon Valley Bank - WikipediaMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Declaration
