The Risks and Excitement of Technology in Our Lives

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A 5% risk of humanity's extinction is deemed too high, but we often overlook the risks posed by existing technology, especially the internet. If the internet were to be shut down, it would create a catastrophic global crisis. Despite this concern, I'm generally excited about the future, although we must address the problems that lie ahead.

The two hottest topics in tech right now are the rise of generative AI and, with Apple’s recent push into spatial computing, the mainstreaming of augmented reality. Will silicon-based machines develop sentience? Will human experience extend into virtual worlds? These distinct technologies may eventually blend to spawn a surprising future, as our “real” world becomes digitally enhanced and our machines behave increasingly like humans.

Today, a provocative discussion with some big (human) thinkers: Steven Johnson, visiting scholar at Google Labs and author of ”Extra Life,” “Where Good Ideas Come from,” and “How We Got to Now”; philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers, author of ”The Conscious Mind” and “Reality+”; and Betaworks founder and AI investor John Borthwick.

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• “David Chalmers Thinks We May Be Living in a Simulation (and He’s OK With It)”

• “Steven Johnson & Michael Specter on the Future of Life”