

Thinking On Paper
The Human Story of Technology, Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson
Thinking on Paper is where technology collides with work, culture and your humanity. Hosts Mark and Jeremy take you with them as they speak to the people shaping the next century. The CEOs, scientists, founders, and whistleblowers redefining what it means to be human in an age of AI, quantum computing, robotics, and space manufacturing.
From IBM, D-Wave and NASA to Coinbase, Kevin Kelly and the European Space Agency, the discussions cut through hype to examine power, ethics, and meaning in the World 2.0
No noise. All signal.
Thinking on Paper is for people who still think.
From IBM, D-Wave and NASA to Coinbase, Kevin Kelly and the European Space Agency, the discussions cut through hype to examine power, ethics, and meaning in the World 2.0
No noise. All signal.
Thinking on Paper is for people who still think.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 8, 2025 • 43min
Investing In Space Technology: Satellites, Defense & the New Space Economy │ Mark Boggett CEO Seraphim
The space economy is set to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. Everyone talks about rockets. Almost no one talks about the infrastructure that connects orbit to Earth. This is where billions of dollars of that space investment are being increasingly allocated. Mark Boggett runs Seraphim Investments, a London-based fund that backs the companies building the foundations of the space economy. In this conversation, he explains why the future of space isn’t about launch or tourism, but data, defense, and the networks that will define a trillion-dollar market.We look at how falling launch costs from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Firefly have moved the bottleneck from rockets to downlink infrastructure - the networks that move satellite data back to Earth. Boggett outlines the under-invested opportunities in ground terminals, communications, and cybersecurity that will define the next decade of the space economy.He also talks about the rise of direct-to-device connectivity through companies like AST SpaceMobile and Globalstar, the coming laser mesh networks led by Amazon’s Kuiper constellation, and the new markets emerging in orbital services: debris removal, refueling, and regulation-driven sustainability through firms like Astroscale and LeoLabs.This is the quieter side of the space race, the infrastructure and data layer where long-term investors are quietly shaping a trillion-dollar future.Enjoy the show. And please subscribe so we can continue building the channel, and thinking on Paper. --TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Trailer(01:56) Disruptors & Curious Minds(03:08) Mark Boggett (03:27) The Reality Of A 10-Year Investment Period(04:07) Predictions On The Space Economy(04:39) Space Race 2.0: The USA V China (05:54) Direct to Device Space Communications(08:05) Public Markets Love Space Tech Investments(09:35) Space Exits & IPOS(10:36) Trump & Musk To Dominate Space Agenda(11:17) The Space Ecosystem 2025(12:10) Satellite Companies: Hardware & Software(12:36) Launch Companies: SpaceX, Firefly & Rocket Labs(13:50) Satellite Constellations(14:24) HAPS (High Altitude Platforms)(15:22) Data Collection, Ground Terminals & Cyber Security(16:46) Downlink: The Growth Area Of Space Investments(18:50) Satellite Data Companies(21:08) Space Verticals: Climate Success Stories(22:20) How Satellites Verify Carbon Credits(24:37) Space Debris & New Regulations To Clean Up Orbit(26:38) Getting Old, Rickety Satellites Out Of Orbit(30:26) Giving Regulators Teeth(31:15) Geopolitics And Defense Based Space Investment(36:33) Terraforming Mars(36:48) Best Sci-Fi Movie(36:56) Do Kids Look Up? The Accessibility Of Space(37:20) The Best Reason To Go To The Moon(39:51) What Should Humans Be? ----Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz

Oct 1, 2025 • 24min
AI, Teachers, And The Changing Face Of Education
Your kids are growing up in a world shaped as much by AI as by the internet. 25% of 8 year olds are already using generative AI in school. But what does that actually look like in the classroom? What are teachers and students using AI for? And where should parents, teachers, and policymakers focus their attention?In this episode, Mark and Jeremy dig into one of the largest studies to date on kids and AI: a two-part project from the Alan Turing Institute, informed by a national survey and an unusually in-depth workshop with 9 to 11-year-olds in the UK. The results pull back the curtain not just on how children are using ChatGPT and Snapchat’s AI, but also on how they feel about it: curious, creative, sometimes cautious, and surprisingly attuned to questions of bias and environmental impact.As parents themselves, Mark and Jeremy bring a personal lens to the conversation, asking: What does a healthy relationship with AI look like for children? Why do kids in private schools have so much more exposure to these tools? And how might new technology relieve—or deepen—existing inequalities in education?Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ezwr9FvFGQ&t=1sHighlights include:- What kids are actually doing with generative AI. Why the gap between private and state school access is widening, and how family background shapes familiarity with AI.- The RITECH Framework: A breakdown of UNICEF’s eight-point model for responsible technology for children.For teachers: The tension between AI as a productivity booster and as a spark for cheating, and how adults can model critical thinking without banning tech outright.For policymakers: What child-centered AI and equitable access would actually require, plus the need for age-appropriate tools and real AI literacy—not just in tech hubs, but in every classroom.You’ll come away with a clear-eyed view: not dystopian panic, but a nuanced look at the real hopes, risks, and open-ended questions at the heart of AI in childhood. If you’re a parent, educator, technologist, or just someone wondering how a new wave of technology is changing the fabric of growing up, this episode is for you.If you find the discussion valuable, please like, subscribe, comment, and share. And let us know: what paper, idea, or debate do you want us to unpack next on Thinking On Paper?TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Disruptors And Curious Minds(02:40) The Alan Turing Research On The Impact Of AI On Children(03:49) The Most Popular AI Platform For Kids(04:41) How Are Kids Using AI?(04:55) Key Statistics From The Research On AI Use In School(05:33) The Divide: Private vs. Public School AI Usage(08:08) Are Kids Using AI To Cheat In School?(09:55) The RITECH Framework: Evaluating AI for Kids(11:18) Quotes From Kids On AI(16:13) Child Versions Of ChatGPT(18:12) Recommendations From The Alan Turing Institute--Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz

Oct 1, 2025 • 55min
Beyond Q-Day: IBM’s Lory Thorpe on Mastering Post-Quantum Cryptography
IBM's Lory Thorpe warns that quantum computers could soon crack the encryption protecting our banks, health records, and personal data, enabling "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks that threaten global security. Through IBM's collaboration with NIST and major institutions, she's racing to develop quantum-resistant algorithms before current encryption systems become obsolete. Join hosts Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson to explore how organizations and individuals can prepare for this looming cryptographic crisis, featuring insights from Apple's quantum-safe iMessage initiative.Please enjoy the show. --TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Intro: Disruptors and Curious Minds(02:30) Meet Lory Thorpe of IBM Quantum(03:21) Lory’s Journey: From Telecom to Quantum Security(07:01) Why Healthcare Needs Post-Quantum Protection(09:41) "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later": The Quantum Data Risk(12:00) IBM’s Work with Governments and Regulators(16:30) Cryptography 101: What You Need to Know(18:47) The Cost of Quantum and the Threat to Today’s Encryption(21:20) IBM & NIST: Setting Quantum Standards Together(22:08) Inside the 3 Quantum-Resistant Algorithms(25:17) Apple Adopts Post-Quantum Encryption in iMessage(25:52) Crypto Agility Explained: A Key to Future-Proof Security(29:54) The RSA Encryption Debate: Is the Quantum Threat Overblown?(38:45) Thought Experiment: November 1st, 2031 – The Quantum Deadline(42:51) Where Cryptography Touches Everyday Life(46:57) How AI and Quantum Shape IBM’s Strategy(52:35) Carryover Question for Next Episode--Follow Thinking On Paper:Twitter: https://x.com/thinkonpaperpodInstagram: instagram.com/thinkingonpaperpodcast/YouTube: youtube.com/@thinkingonpaper/videosLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thinkingonpaper--Past guests on The Thinking On Paper Show include: Ciaran Murray (web3 for journalists), Torrey Smith (Robotics For Medicine), Jason Lynch (Quantum Computing), Joe Fitzsimons (Quantum Computing), Dana Sydorenko (Gaming), Don Norman (Humanity Centered Design), Mercina Tillerman Perez (Circle & Crypto), Tyler Adams (Blockchain), Todd Haselhorst (Blockchain for Logistics), Vince Yang (ZK Proofs)

Oct 1, 2025 • 52min
D-Wave: The €20 Million Quantum Computer Your Business Can Buy Today - Murray Thom, VP Quantum Technology Evangelism
Murray Thom, VP of Quantum Technology Evangelism at D-Wave, joins us to break down how D-Wave’s quantum computing technology (as used by NASA, VW, Lockheed Martin) is tackling complex, high-stakes problems across industries. Learn how D-Wave’s unique use of quantum annealing helps solve real-world challenges, from logistics optimization to drug discovery and traffic management.Murray explains how D-Wave’s hybrid quantum-classical systems maximize computational power by leveraging quantum effects alongside classical computing, enabling optimizations that traditional systems simply can’t match. Discover why D-Wave is trusted by organizations, including NASA, to handle high-dimensional, multi-variable data, delivering immediate benefits in efficiency, productivity, and operational insight.From the development of the first quantum computer to real-world applications, Murray explains how businesses are gaining a competitive edge and solving their toughest challenges with quantum technology.Stay tuned for practical insights, key D-Wave milestones, and a look at what’s next in quantum computing.🔔And please subscribe.--TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Introduction to Quantum Innovation(01:22) Meet Murray Thom: Quantum Expert from D-Wave(02:30) How Quantum Incentives Drive Industry Collaboration(05:30) Breaking Down Quantum Complexity for the Real World(07:30) Murray Thom on Joining D-Wave 22 Years Ago(09:02) The Role of Quantum Physics in Real-World Solutions(10:07) Major Milestones in D-Wave’s Quantum Journey(12:36) Understanding Quantum Annealing: A Practical Guide(18:47) Key Benefits of D-Wave’s Quantum Annealing Technology(21:40) D-Wave’s Efficient Power Use: 15kW Explained(23:45) Quantum Computing Through a Pokémon Analogy(25:35) Real-World Impact: Workforce Scheduling with Quantum(31:45) Quantum Systems in Sports Team Optimization(33:02) Tackling Complex Industrial Problems with Quantum(34:48) Portfolio Optimization: Quantum vs. Classical Methods(40:53) What Does a D-Wave Quantum Computer Cost?(42:11) Exploring the D-Wave SDK(44:45) Partnering with D-Wave: What to Expect(45:58) Quantum Collaboration with IBM(49:39) A Question for IBM on Post-Quantum Cryptography--Follow Thinking On Paper:Twitter: https://x.com/thinkonpaperpodInstagram: instagram.com/thinkingonpaperpodcast/YouTube: youtube.com/@thinkingonpaper/videosLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thinkingonpaper--Past guests on The Thinking On Paper Show include: Ciaran Murray (web3 for journalists), Torrey Smith (Robotics For Medicine), Jason Lynch (Quantum Computing), Joe Fitzsimons (Quantum Computing), Dana Sydorenko (Gaming), Don Norman (Humanity Centered Design), Mercina Tillerman Perez (Circle & Crypto), Tyler Adams (Blockchain), Todd Haselhorst (Blockchain for Logistics), Vince Yang (ZK Proofs)

Sep 25, 2025 • 26min
Moon Manufacturing: 3D Printing and the Rise of Self-Replicating Humanoids
Twelve metric tons and a SpaceX rocket. That’s all it would take to begin building industry on the Moon. Factories would rise. Humanoids would adapt. Asteroids would be mined. And within decades, the solar system could host an economy millions of times larger than Earth’s today.The catalyst is a paper by Philip Metzger, Anthony Muscatello, Robert Mueller, and James Mantovani outlining a pathway to scalable off-world industry. Their thesis: with as little as twelve metric tons delivered to the Moon, we could set in motion a self-sustaining system at a fraction of traditional costs.The upside is clear. Manufacturing shifts away from Earth, easing climate pressure. Humanity secures a new home. Our culture extends beyond the planet, with no end in sight.The risks are equally sharp. Corporations could carve space into their next empire. Billions might remain behind, spectators to humanity’s expansion.This is the blueprint for how we leave Earth. And the reason we may not all go together.Stay curious. Stay disruptive. Keep Thinking on Paper.Subscribe if you believe the hardest part of leaving Earth isn’t the technology. It’s us.--TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Trailer(02:05) The Vision for Humanity's Future in Space(03:22) Affordable Rapid Bootstrapping of Space Industry(04:58) The Role of Resources in Space Expansion(05:06) Technological Advancements and Robotics(08:12) Generational Development of Lunar Industry(09:42) The Evolution of AI and Automation in Space(10:47) The Future of Humanity Beyond Earth(14:25) Exploring Space-Based Solar Power(15:23) The Future of Robotics and AI in Space(17:21) Challenges of Teleoperation in Lunar Environments(18:05) The Ambitious Vision for Space Manufacturing(20:25) Terraforming Mars vs. Space-Based Manufacturing(22:32) Human Nature and the Future of Space ExplorationOther ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz

Sep 24, 2025 • 30min
AI and the Spark of Creativity: Education, Ethics, and Global Impact | Rajeev Kapur
Rajeev Kapur believes we’re standing at the edge of a new enlightenment. One powered not by steam or electricity, but by the democratization of artificial intelligence.Named by Forbes as one of the leading voices making AI accessible to everyone, Rajeev’s work centers on a simple question: what happens when world-class technology reaches every hand on Earth? From launching the Kapur Parada Center of AI in Arizona to authoring AI Made Simple and Prompting Made Simple, his mission is to turn curiosity into capability.In this conversation, we look at what true AI democratization might mean. From the favelas of Brazil and the villages of Africa to classrooms in the U.S. If you have a smartphone, you already have access to mentorship, education, and entrepreneurial tools that rival Silicon Valley. But access alone isn’t enough.As Rajeev argues, the future belongs to those who can tell stories with AI. People who use these tools not just to search for answers, but to imagine, create, and build.Please enjoy the show. --🕓 TIMESTAMPSTrailer: (00:00)How Do We Democratize AI: (02:30)Case Studies: How AI Is Being Used By Business Today: (05:44)Outsourcing and AI Transform Businesses: (06:31) How To Prompt Better: (08:08)Using ChatGPT For Mental Health: (09:25)AIs Manipulation Of Empathy: (13:44) AI Advice For Parents: (14:49)Deepfakes & Guardrails: (19:45)Entrepreneur Spikes (26:19)What Should Humans Be? (28:28) --Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyzWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWEuQmPcqJ8

Sep 20, 2025 • 38min
Kevin Kelly: WIRED Founder on a Clearer Way to See AI and Technology
Kevin Kelly has spent 40 years asking one question: what is technology really?He is the founding editor of Wired. His books have shaped how we think about innovation, the future of technology, and what works. His voice has been present at every major technological shift, from the early internet to AI today.His influence has reached all the way to this podcast. His essays and ideas are often places we return to for deep thought and reflection. Kevin Kelly is the ultimate curiosity machine, and it was a pleasure to speak with him at length about his ideas, philosophies, and even his jokes.In this conversation, Kevin thinks on paper with Mark and Jeremy about technology as the 7th kingdom of life, as real and alive as plants, animals, and fungi.We get into:Why technology is not separate from us. Kevin argues that tools, machines, and AI are part of the same evolutionary process as biology. Technology is “nature accelerated.”The limits of top-down control. From DAOs to Wikipedia, Kevin explains why bottom-up systems thrive, but also why some hierarchy is unavoidable.AI as creativity, not imitation. He sees large language models as collaborators, capable of surprising outputs that extend human imagination.Artificial aliens. Rather than replicas of us, Kevin believes AIs will become their own kind of consciousness, different and alien but no less real.How tools shape thought. From writing to photography to AI, Kevin shows why every medium changes how we think, and why skill matters as much as the tool itself.The practice of wonder. He shares how noticing, gratitude, and “thinking like a Martian” keep curiosity alive in a world saturated with tech.Kevin Kelly is more than a futurist. He is a thinker who helps us see clearly, reminding us that technology is not a threat from outside but a living system we are already part of.This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see AI and technology not as hype or fear, but as part of life itself, the 7th kingdom of nature.Please enjoy the show.And remember: stay curious, be disruptive, keep thinking on paper. --Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz--Chapters(00:00) Kevin Kelly On Nature And Technology(02:59) Why Decentralized Systems Still Need Some Hierarchy(09:03) Why DAOs Failed: Immutability Was a Bug(16:46) Is AI Creative? (Yes) & The Coming Emotional Bonds(21:39) AI Consciousness: A Spectrum of Artificial Aliens(29:16) "Write to Discover What You Think"(32:48) Balancing AI Tools & Human Thinking(33:50) AI as a Skill & Powerful Thinking Partner(37:50) Hot Buttons: Future, Bitcoin, Jurassic Park, Aliens?(41:10) How to Cultivate Wonder (Hint: Be a Martian)(49:10) The Power of Saying "I Don't Know"(53:54) Kevin Kelly's Question: What Do We Want Humans To Be?

Sep 18, 2025 • 8min
Space Solar Power Works. The Race to Scale Has Begun │ Dr. Sanjay Vijendran
For decades, the idea of harvesting solar energy from orbit belonged to science fiction. The theory was sound—collect sunlight in space and beam it to Earth as microwave energy—but the cost of launch, assembly, and control made it impossible to justify.Today, those constraints have changed. Reusable rockets, autonomous robotics, and modular design have pulled the concept from imagination into prototype. What was once a thought experiment at NASA is now an engineering roadmap at the European Space Agency, Japan’s JAXA, and several private ventures.Dr. Sanjay Vijendran has spent his career at the center of that transition. As the former solar lead at the European Space Agency and now CEO of Space Energy Insights, he is helping to define what the first space-based utility might look like.The principle is deceptively simple: no cables, no new physics—just power transmitted by radio waves, a technology proven since the 1960s. In 2022, researchers demonstrated the first controlled transmission of two kilowatts over thirty-six meters, enough to light a model city and power an electrolyzer.The question now is scale. Gigawatt-class satellites would require kilometer-wide antennas, in-orbit robotics, and coordination across nations. Yet the direction of progress is clear. Space-based solar power is no longer a dream of limitless energy; it is a near-term infrastructure program with global implications.The first nation or consortium to master it will not just create clean energy. It will control a new layer of the world’s power grid—one that operates above the atmosphere.This conversation with Dr. Vijendran explores how that future is being built, the physics that make it possible, and the geopolitical choices that will determine who turns sunlight into sovereignty.Please enjoy the show.📺 Watch the full show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53c08ygOFyc&t=1074s--Timestamps(00:00) Why Energy Poverty Still Matters(01:26) How Beaming Power Actually Works(04:09) The Big Problem: Scaling It Up(04:56) Can It Ever Be Affordable?(07:19) Building Solar Farms in Space--Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz

Sep 18, 2025 • 47min
Don Norman: The Last Warning. Design Built This Mess, Can It Save Us? │ REMASTERED
At 88, Don Norman, the godfather of design, issues his final warning: the same mindset that gave us convenience also gave us climate collapse, inequality, and fragile institutions. Design isn’t decoration. It’s power. It built the products we use, the systems we depend on, and the crises that now threaten us.“Human-centered” design sounds good, but it isn’t enough. Norman argues it has blinded us to bigger responsibilities , ecosystems, culture, and the generations who will inherit our mistakes. We need Humanity Centered Design.In this conversation Don Norman Thinks on Paper with Mark and Jeremy about:Has human-centered design failed?Why are climate summits designed to fail before they begin?How did STEM education strip out wisdom?Can empathy ever be built into systems at scale?Can humanity centered design help us survive, or will it keep driving us toward collapse?Please enjoy the interview with Don Norman.--Timestamps(00:09) Why Design Shapes the World We Live In(00:37) How Design Shapes Human Behavior (Often Without Us Noticing)(06:00) Why Most Solutions Don’t Matter — and What Real Design Should Do(09:10) Humanity-Centered Design: What It Really Means(22:16) Can Design Help Us Avoid Collapse?(26:51) Why Communities Hold the Answers, Not Just Experts(28:49) The Spark That Starts Humanity-Centered Design(30:18) How Young Designers Can Change the Future(33:16) Working Together Across Borders(35:39) Measuring What Matters, Not Just What’s Easy(37:06) Why Empathy Can’t Be an Afterthought(42:05) Thinking Beyond the Next Quarter — Business for the Long Term(45:02) Rethinking Education for the Next Generation(46:43) The Hard Questions We Still Need to Answer--Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz

Sep 16, 2025 • 26min
Empire of AI: Power, Control, and Consequence │ Karen Hao, Book Review (Part 2)
Empire of AI explores what happens when algorithms become the ruling class. From data farms to global labor networks, the story of AI is no longer about intelligence itself but about the empires built to scale it.The systems we call “autonomous” are sustained by unseen human hands. Millions of workers labeling data, moderating content, and maintaining the illusion of automation. Behind every model is a hierarchy of code, capital, and compliance.At the top sit the new emperors of technology, CEOs and policymakers navigating a system that no single person can command or fully comprehend. And one man sits at the top of the empire: Sam Altman.In part two of our Empire of AI book summary, we examine how AI’s power consolidates, how human judgment gets abstracted into metrics, and what accountability looks like when decisions are made at machine scale.What begins as innovation becomes empire.The question now is: who governs the boss?Please enjoy the show.--Other ways to connect with us:Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: hello@thinkingonpaper.xyz--🕰️ TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Trailer(02:00) Introduction to Empire of AI & Karen Hao(03:41)Shifting power dynamics in Silicon Valley(03:59) Karen Hao’s warnings in Empire of AI(04:56) Humanity V the relentless race for scale(06:32) The environmental impact of AI systems(07:38) Stochastic parrots: Silencing Critics(09:48) Sam Altman Loves A Military Quote(10:53) What Cost Humanity?(15:14) The global race for AI advancement(18:32) The hidden labor behind ChatGPT(25:07) The ethical dilemma at the heart of AI development