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Being Human Now 10 - Control Aug 30, 2024

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It's possible that the propensity to convince ourselves we have control over things —even when we don't— is the most uniquely human thing there is. But as we speed ever faster toward an AI world, will true agency even matter as long as we believe we have it?

Being Human Now 9 - Wellness Aug 23, 2024

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There's been an explosion of mental health content on social media, both by licensed professionals and influencers. Is that a welcome step in destigmatizing mental illness, or is it fostering a culture of misinformed self-diagnosis?

Being Human Now 8 - Music Aug 16, 2024

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Now that generative AI is shaking up songwriting, have we crossed a new threshold where the distinctively human talent for music is no longer ours alone?

Being Human Now 7 - Play Aug 09, 2024

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What does play mean in a digital age, when so much happens on our all-consuming phones, and tech erases the boundaries between work and play?

Being Human Now 6 - Work Aug 02, 2024

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We keep hearing that AI is going to revolutionize jobs. But what if the language of inevitable automation hides the ongoing need for distinctly human skills?

Being Human Now 5 - Memory Jul 26, 2024

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In a world where our digital tools keep an accurate record of handy facts and events, what is our fragile, fallible human memory good for?

Being Human Now 4 - Belonging Jul 19, 2024

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The feeling of belonging is a core, human drive. And feeling excluded is painful. But has our desire to belong—and how we try to achieve that—changed in digital culture?

Being Human Now 3 - Intimacy Jul 12, 2024

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How long do you wait to text after a date? What did that emoji really mean? Is it healthy to feel emotionally attached to an AI chatbot or celebrity you follow on social media? Our tech nourishes intimacy, but it can also be a minefield. A look at intimacy in our digital age.

Being Human Now 2 - Death Jul 05, 2024

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Despite the growing digital dimension of our lives, death is still a largely analog experience. A look at the uses and limits of tech at the end of life and in the afterlife.

Being Human Now 1 - Creativity Jun 28, 2024

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Artificial intelligence can be an artistic collaborator, but can it be thought of as creative on its own? Or even as understanding creativity? And if you're a human creator, and you want to create for other PEOPLE, how do you reach them in a digital system run by algorithms? We look at the nature of creativity in digital culture.

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