The World Transformed

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Beyond the Twitter Decade Sep 05, 2017

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10 years ago Twitter was barely a thing used by a very small group of geeks. Today it's a cornerstone of how our society communicates. (The President’s tweets alone...) Phil and Stephen discuss early-stage technologies that may become dominant over the next ten years, including: Augmented Reality Autonomous Vehicles Cryptocurrencies CRISPR-based gene therapies Will these pan out, or should other technologies become dominant? Tune in and explore. WT 344-653 Photo by Shreyas Malavalli

The Trouble with AI Aug 30, 2017

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Phil and Stephen discuss the chances that super-smart AI might be upon us and the risks we face even if it isn't. Plus what do we do about the fact that when it comes to AI we often just don't get it? The Myth of Superhuman AI From Kevin Kelly's article: The assumptions behind a superhuman intelligence arising soon are: Artificial intelligence is already getting smarter than us, at an exponential rate.We’ll make AIs into a general purpose intelligence, like our own.We can make human intelligence in silicon.Intelligence can be expanded without limit.Once we have exploding superintelligence it can solve most of our problems. In contradistinction to this orthodoxy, I find the following five heresies to have more evidence to support them Intelligence is not a single dimension, so “smarter than humans” is a meaningless concept.Humans do not have general purpose minds, and neither will AIs.Emulation of human thinking in other media will be constrained by cost.Dimensions of intelligence are not infinite.Intelligences are only one factor in progress. Dear Elon–Forget Killer Robots. Here’s What You Should Really Worry About The Dark Secret at the Heart of AI WT 343-652

Living Forever (if They Let Us) Aug 28, 2017

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Phil and Stephen discuss progress in anti-aging treatments and the role that regulations play in making treatments available. Can Science Reverse Aging? Jose Cordeiro: In 30 years, I will be younger than today Telomere shortening: Liz Parish already demonstrating rejuvenation technologyDoing it on her own dimeNot legal in the US -- had to go to South AmericaRegulations prevent self-experimentation Metformin could be the first FDA approved antiaging drug Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, like most in his field, was aware of the good news about metformin that had been trickling out year after year. The FDA will not make its decision on whether metformin becomes the US’s first antiaging drug until the study, dubbed Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME for short) This Bio-Hacking Anti-Aging Product Has a Unique Cult Following: Doctors So, what exactly is Basis? According to ElysiumHealth.com (where a one-month supply is sold for $60): “Cells need the coenzyme NAD+ to function, and NAD+ declines as we age. Basis is clinically proven to increase NAD+ levels.” WT 342-651

Anywhere in Four Hours Aug 25, 2017

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Phil and Stephen discuss the eclipse, the top scientific discoveries of the year, a new spacesuit from SpaceX, and the airplane that may take us anywhere we want to go...in just four hours. The 10 Most Significant Scientific Discoveries Of the Year (So Far) Elon Musk reveals his SpaceX spacesuit. The suit features a unique helmet design. It appears to be more of a flight suit than one designed for spacewalks. Space Could Leave You Blind, And Scientists Say They've Finally Figured Out Why Skylon: The Plane That Can Fly Anywhere In The World In 4 Hours GEEKOUT: How to podcast - from a couple of guys that have been doing it since the beginning. 1. Listen to a lot of podcasts 2. Make it about something you care a lot about 3. It would help if that topic is something there aren't a million podcasts about already - (there are plenty of shows about politics for example) 4. Don't script 5. But have topics that you are familiar with to talk about. 6. Have a cohost 7. Show your sense of humor... let your audience get to know you. 8. Have guests, but not too soon. WT 341-650

A List of Lists of Positive Developments Aug 23, 2017

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Phil and Stephen work through three lists of positive developments and the forces that are driving them. 15 Really Good Things That Are Happening in The World Right Now New Tech Is Giving Humanity Many Potential Paths to Immortality These 7 Forces Are Changing the World at an Extraordinary Rate WT 340-649

Recalibrating the Possible, Best of TWT Aug 22, 2017

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Phil, Stephen, and Michael D. discuss new technologies (and ideas for new technologies) that push the limits of the possible. A good example of something that's possible: Sequencing the Woolly Mammoth genome. Examples of technologies that push the limits: Faster-than-light travelThe Star-Trek style transporter. Indefinite human lifespan Personal flight - Superman style Hypercomputers Retrieval of all extinct species A bridge across the Atlantic OceanEliminating world hunger [This show first aired November 24, 2008.] Photo by Eugene Lim on Unsplash

Exploring the Hype Cycle Aug 21, 2017

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Phil and Stephen explore emerging technologies using the 2017 Gartner Hype Cycle as a frame of reference. What’s new? What’s long gone but due for a comeback? And what’s so new it’s not yet even being hyped? Gartner's Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2017 Adds 5G And Deep Learning For First Time Deep Learning, 5G, and...AGI? Bill Joy’s Jesus Battery Is this new solid, polymer-based rechargeable alkaline battery a game-changer? China small modular pebble beds will be $400 million for 200 MW and $1.2 billion for 600 MW Clean nuclear power on the cheap -- and about to get MUCH cheaper Artificial Intelligence Created Using Human DNA AI meets biotech...sorta. Photo by Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash WT 339-648

Energy Unlimited with J Storrs Hall, Part 2 Aug 18, 2017

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Phil and Stephen continue their discussion with J. Storrs (Josh) Hall. How do nuclear power, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence hold the key to a future of unlimited energy? Josh is an independent scientist and author. His is the author of Beyond AI: Creating the Conscience of the Machine, which details the (possibly) imminent development of strong AI, and the desirability, if and when that happens, that such AIs be equipped with a moral sense and conscience. He is also the author of Nanofuture, dealing with real nanotechnology, i.e. molecular machines. He was the founder and moderator of the sci.nanotech newsgroup for a decade. He is known as the originator of the Utility Fog concept. He is a proponent of replacing roads and internal combustion vehicles with flying cars. Most recently, Josh has been working on a book about flying cars and has recently received his pilot’s license. Listen to part 1 here . Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash WT 338-647

Energy Unlimited with J Storrs Hall, Part 1 Aug 16, 2017

Show notes

J. Storrs (Josh) Hall joins Phil and Stephen for a discussion of his contribution to Visions for a World Transformed, "Let's Get Back on the Henry Adams Curve." How do nuclear power, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence hold the key to a future of unlimited energy? Josh is an independent scientist and author. His is the author of Beyond AI: Creating the Conscience of the Machine, which details the (possibly) imminent development of strong AI, and the desirability, if and when that happens, that such AIs be equipped with a moral sense and conscience. He is also the author of Nanofuture, dealing with real nanotechnology, i.e. molecular machines. He was the founder and moderator of the sci.nanotech newsgroup for a decade. He is known as the originator of the Utility Fog concept. He is a proponent of replacing roads and internal combustion vehicles with flying cars. Most recently, Josh has been working on a book about flying cars and has recently received his pilot’s license. Photo by Joey Kyber on Unsplash. WT 337-646

"Live" from Convergence 08 Part 1, Best of TWT Aug 15, 2017

Show notes

Phil, Stephen, and Michael D. interview participants at Convergence 08, an "unconference" gathering of people interested in cognitive tech, nanotech, biotech, and artificial intelligence. The event was held in 2008 (obviously) at the History of Computing museum in Mountain View, California. We did quick interviews with as many interesting people as we could squeeze into our 1-hour timeslot. In Part 1 we hear from: PJ Manney George Dvorsky Miguel F. Aznar Brian Mallow What a lineup!

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