Thinking On Paper: AI, Quantum, Robotics, Web3 & The Impact of Technology | Startups

Kevin Kelly joins Mark and Jeremy to think on paper about technology and nature, decentralized systems, and the real-world challenges of AI, creativity, consciousness and more. You'll hear about Kelly's unique methods for staying curious, including adopting a "Martian" perspective and the power of noticing. This conversation ultimately investigates how our tools shape us, extend our minds, and why grasping their true nature is key to navigating the future. Please enjoy the show. And share with a curious friend.--LinksKevin Kelly: https://kk.org/Thinking On Paper: https://www.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?

On the 26th september, 1983, in the midst of the Cold War, the world was saved from nuclear disaster because of a human. An Ai wouldn't have seen the patterns and World War 3 would have been triggered. We're reading chapters 4 and 5 of Irreducible. And he lays out the groundwork for a new theory of consciousness. He proposes it's fundamental to the universe. And the repercussions of that are monumental. Please enjoy the show. And share with a curious friend. .--Chapters(00:00) Introduction to the Battle for Attention(01:01) The Cold War and Stanislav Petrov's Decision(03:40) The Nature of Information(16:40) Consciousness vs. Machines(24:12) Coding DNA and Human Intuition(26:51) Curiosity and Creativity: The Human Experience(32:26) Live Information: Energy, Matter, and Consciousness(34:40) The Nature of Meaning and Consciousness(38:02) Quantum Computing and Its Mysteries(44:47) Consciousness and Free Will: A Philosophical Inquiry–Watch Chapter 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeqTB-q-W10&t=42sWatch Chapter 3 & 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0EynDKlcnE&t=79s&ab_channel=ThinkingOnPaper

Space-Based Solar Power has lived in science fiction for decades. But now, with falling launch costs, autonomous robotics, and precision manufacturing, it’s moving closer to engineering reality. Sanjay Vijendran, Director of Space Energy Insights and former European Space Agency lead on orbital solar, joins Mark and Jeremy to Think on Paper about what it would take to beam clean energy from orbit back down to Earth.They talk wireless power transmission, lunar manufacturing, energy poverty, and whether space infrastructure can offer what terrestrial systems never could — a constant, global power supply.If the sun is always shining in space, the real question is whether we’re ready to catch it.Please enjoy the show. And share with a curious friend. --Chapters(00:00) Introduction to Big Problems and Solutions(01:03) Exploring Space-Based Solar Power(02:41) Energy Poverty and Its Global Impact(05:03) The Viability of Space-Based Solar Power(07:23) Wireless Power Transmission: A Game Changer(10:14) Technical Challenges of Scaling Up(12:03) Cost Considerations and Economic Viability(14:27) Future of Manufacturing in Space(17:15) Hot Takes and Personal Insights(19:55) Economics of Space-Based Solar Power(29:21) Understanding Energy Sources and Their Economics(31:22) Emerging Private Companies in Space-Based Solar Power(33:19) Comparing Power Delivery Methods: RF vs. Lasers(35:47) Safety Mechanisms in Space-Based Power Systems(41:06) Collaboration vs. Competition in Space Energy(42:37) Political and Cultural Barriers to Space Energy Adoption(46:44) The Urgency of Investing in Space-Based Solar Power   

OpenAI and Google just upgraded their arsenals, trained on everything from your search history to your creative work. You didn’t opt in. You didn’t get paid. And you definitely don’t own what your data helped build.But what if that changed?Jihao Sun, co-founder of Flock.io, joins Mark and Jeremy to Think on Paper about a radically different model — decentralized AI that trains locally, protects privacy, and rewards users. They get into data ownership, blockchain-based training, and whether federated learning can really compete with centralized giants.If your data is building the next generation of AI, who’s it building it for? And why aren’t you in control?Please enjoy the show. And share with a curious friend. --CHAPTERS(00:08) Introduction to Decentralized AI(01:33) The Importance of Decentralization in AI(04:40) Accessibility and Cost of AI Technology(07:53) Understanding Federated Learning(11:38) Challenges of Centralized AI Systems(14:30) Exploring Federated Learning in Banking(17:10) Blockchain's Role in Decentralized AI(20:45) Democratizing AI Development with Flock(26:49) Real-World Use Cases of Flock(32:56) The Evolution of Parenting and Technology(35:28) Decentralization vs Centralization in AI(36:31) Future of Decentralized AI Models(37:29) Understanding AI Hallucinations(41:23) The Role of Synthetic Data(44:59) Getting Involved with Decentralized AI(45:53) Staying Out of Your Own Way(47:03) Final Thoughts on Decentralization and AI--Learn more:www.flock.iowww.thinkingonpaper.xyz

Can a machine, no matter how complex, ever truly feel or understand? Can AI ever be conscious?We're reading Chapter 3 of Irreducible by Federico Faggin, and he argues that consciousness is rooted in the quantum nature of life, something potentially inaccessible to classical, deterministic machines. If that's true, AI consciousness is impossible.Faggin contrasts the symbolic processing of computers with the dynamic, self-organizing behavior of living systems. He suggests that real understanding isn’t just non-algorithmic, it may be inseparable from the quantum coherence found in biological life. Are we mistaking simulation for sentience?Please enjoy the show. And share with a conscious friend. --Timestamps(00:00) Consciousness and Meditation(05:00) The Nature of Machines(09:56)Computers vs. Humans(15:50) Quantum Consciousness and Its Implications(20:49) The Evolution of Humanity vs. Machines--Learn more: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz

David Bianchi, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and pioneer in blockchain technology, shares his groundbreaking journey in the film industry. He reveals how his series "Razor (RZR)" disrupted traditional funding by allowing fans to buy scenes as NFTs. The conversation dives into the role of AI in filmmaking, enhancing creativity, and addressing accessibility. Bianchi discusses the blurred lines between creators and audiences, suggesting that blockchain's rise could render old studio contracts obsolete. For film lovers and tech enthusiasts, it’s a look into the future of storytelling.

Is consciousness a fundamental aspect of reality? The hosts dive into Federico Faggin's insights, exploring the complexities of consciousness and its possible implications for AI. They discuss the evolution of scientific thought and the intricate links between quantum physics and human awareness. Listeners are challenged to consider the distinctions between machine intelligence and human consciousness, questioning whether machines can ever truly know or exist in the same way we do. This thought-provoking conversation illuminates the mysteries of existence itself.

Ajay Patel, Head of World ID at Tools for Humanity, joins Mark and Jeremy to Think on Paper about how identity might be rebuilt for the AI age. From iris biometrics and zero-knowledge proofs to decentralized systems that verify you without exposing you, this episode digs into one question: if we can’t prove who’s real online, what kind of internet are we left with?As AI-generated content floods every platform and bots learn to pass every test, proving you're human has become harder than ever. CAPTCHAs fail. ID checks invade privacy. And platforms are collecting more of your data just to confirm you’re real — while using that data to train the next generation of AI.Please enjoy the show. And share with a curious friend.–Timestamps(00:00) Intro: Future of Digital Identity & AI Challenges(01:15) Meet Ajay Patel: Head of World ID at Tools for Humanity(01:44) WorldID: Why Digital Identity Matters in the Age of AI(05:40) Global Digital Identity for 8 Billion Humans(07:38) AI in 2025: How Advanced is AI Really?(08:17) AI Bypassing CAPTCHA: The Security Crisis(12:54) ZK Proofs Explained: Privacy-Preserving Tech Behind World ID(15:20) How World ID’s Iris Scan Works (No Data Stored!)(18:54) World ID Data Security: Breaking Down Multi-Party Computation(22:56) Hot Button Q&A: Apple vs Android, AGI Threats, & More(24:19) World ID Use Cases: Gaming, Voting, & Anti-Bot Systems(25:13) Exclusive: World ID x Razer to End Gaming Cheats(30:56) AI Hype vs Reality: Are Bots Just “Yes Men on Servers”?(35:35) Decentralizing World ID: Open Protocol, No Corporate Control(38:15) Question for Next Guest: Hollywood’s David Bianchi on AI & Art–Thank you for Thinking On Paper. Your future self will thank you.   

There’s no going back.Whatever this book has taught us, there was a pre-AI world and there is a post-AI world. And however it plays out, nothing will ever be the same.In the final chapter of Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari lays out the cold new reality: AI isn’t building one future — it’s fracturing the world into competing digital empires. Separate hardware. Separate software. Separate truths.Mark and Jeremy break it all down. The tipping points, the digital arms race, and what it means when the machines stop speaking the same language.Inside this episode:What “The Silicon Curtain” really means and how it's already hereHow data colonialism is shaping AI ecosystems with zero consentThe mind-body problem in the age of avatars and deepfakesWhat happens when digital personas feel more real than real peopleWhy the next great power struggles will be waged through code, not missilesAnd how to build wiser networks in a world pulling itself apartThis is not a story about AGI. It’s a story about power, perception, and the quiet end of global consensus.One system won’t win. They’ll just stop cooperating.Welcome to the post-AI world. Try to stay human.Please enjoy the show.And don't have nightmares.–Chapters(00:00) Disruptors and curious minds(01:54) My AI Epiphany(02:54) The precondition for cooperation isn't similarity. It's the ability to exchange information(04:28) AI Pessimism - How many nefarious bad actors do you need(05:50) The Liverpool Manchester Train moment for AI(06:48) Google was an AI company in 2002(08:21) Cats and consciousness(08:55) ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge(11:50) The mind-body problem and online identities(15:26) Veneer theory and realism(17:22) Data colonialism and digital "cocoons"(21:58) Epilogue: Create wiser networks(24:13) How to be wise in the age of AI--Read books with us: www.thinkingonpaper.xyz

AI doesn’t sleep. It doesn’t feel fear. It can’t be tortured into silence.So what happens when regimes built on fear try to rule through machines that don’t feel it?In Chapter 10 of Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari raises a brutal question:Will AI cement authoritarian power — or crack it open from the inside?In this episode of the Thinking on Paper Book Club, Mark and Jeremy follow that tension into the heart of modern power. The irony is razor-sharp. The risk is real.Inside:What happens when an AI trained to censor starts asking questionsDamnatio memoriae in the age of the algorithm — and why it might backfireWhy dictators love control but hate complexityThe collapse of feedback loops in totalitarian systemsThe Russell-Einstein Manifesto, re-read for 2025And how AI might obey too well… until it doesn’tAI doesn’t love the party. It doesn’t bleed for the state.And if your regime depends on blind loyalty, you might not want a machine watching you too closely.This is not sci-fi. It’s modern history waiting to happen.Please enjoy the book club. –CHAPTERS(00:00) Disruptors and curious minds(00:21) AI spectrum of doom - utopia(02:10) Damnatio memoriae(04:28) The Alignment Problem Russian Style(06:45) Self correcting mechanisms for totalitarian nut-jobs(09:05) Super Machiavellian AI(09:51) The Russell-Einstein Manifesto–Read books with us - www.thinkingonpaper.xyzLike, subscribe, tell a friend.