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Can AI and machines be conscious?  Mike Johnson, a philosopher and neuroscientist studying the structure of experience, emotion, and cognition, believes machines can be conscious. But not in the same way as humans. In this episode, we dive into the science of consciousness and frameworks for approaching the question of whether or not AI and machines can be conscious.  We also discuss what it means if an AI can become conscious – is it a good or a bad thing?  You’ll learn: • How you can approach AI consciousness through a scientific lens  • Why Mike Johnson believes machines can be conscious, according to his theories • Potential implications of machine consciousness – do we need to stop the AI advancement or can a conscious AI help humanity? • Implications for tech executives and why they should care about AI consciousness Tune in to listen to the interview!

What happens if we don't just put humans, but all life on Earth, at the centre when we design businesses, products and services?For the past decades, we've designed our societies and products putting humans at the centre – so-called human-centered design. At what cost? Our planet, fuelled by the consumption of oil. The good news is that the tools to design businesses, services and products in symbiosis with the planet already exist. It is called life-centered design. In this episode, I've interviewed the Swedish design ecologist and systems innovation strategist Anna Gyllenklev, about life-centered design and how this can benefit businesses.You'll learn:1. What is life-centered design and why businesses should care2. The basic principles of life-centered design3. Real-life examples of how products or services could be designed according to life-centered design 4. What would be the business reasons or benefits of caring about these design principles5. What would be a simple way to get started

In today’s episode, we’re interviewing Muriel Leuenberger who is a postdoctoral researcher in philosophy at the Digital Society Initiative at the University of Zurich. She works on ethics of technology with a focus on generative AI and neuroethics. In those fields, she analyses the impact of different technologies on identity, authenticity and meaning in life. We dive into her latest research paper ‘Should you let AI tell you who you are and what you should do?”. We discuss to what extent AI actually can impact who you are and your process of self-creation.  Some questions we address:  How do humans form their identify? How could lack of randomness, and bad choices, prevent you from finding out who you are? What could be the implications if we let AI provide recommendations in most aspects of our lives? Where do we draw the line between harmless suggestions and deeper influence over our identity or life choices? What does a future where we get AI right look like?  Tune in to listen to the interview!

What if questions could replace our KPIs and companies could legally work like an organism? Companies are one of the most powerful technologies humans have ever invented. But they can no longer maximise profit at the cost of the planet, we need a new approach. This is why Amit Paul, previous member of A-teens and co-founder of Innrwrks, has invented a new legal business form that is inspired to function like nature. By hacking the current system, Amit and his co-founder Nils von Heijne, has found a way to legally register a company new form, called a Regenerative Community Organism, that: ​Is legally bound towards optimising the best solution towards a certain purpose or question - not shareholder profit ​Has the autonomy like a business, but the responsibility of a non-profit organisation ​Just like nature, the company goes through phases of Growth, Maturation, Decay and Death What happens when we incorporated companies in a structure inspired by nature? They come alive. ______ About the guest Amit Paul has had 3 careers in his life. The first entailed selling millions of records and topping the charts starting at the age of 15 as a member of the band A-teens. The second as the CEO of a green chemistry startup aiming to eliminate persistent chemicals in plastics. Currently as a systems dancer and co-founder of a transformation lab with the ambition to transforming business into something that creates a future we want for our kids. This talk draws on his experience of creating and implementing a regenerative hybrid organisational structure - the RCO, that’s grounded in living systems principles. An exploration that led to the discovery of the enlivening power of structuring business around questions.

Einstein once said: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Someone that understands this is John Bunzl, a businessman and a political activist from the UK. He’s the founder of Simpol, the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation, a new political innovation to overcome the obstacles that are today refraining governments to cooperate with each other. By applying game theory from business school, he explains the concept "The Political Prisoner's Dilemma" to visualise why governments are held back on taking true action to solve global problems. Simpol is a solution to overcome this obstacle that keeps governments from true cooperation and is designed in such an ingenious way so that all countries can keep their competitiveness and only gain benefits from supporting it. Episode learnings: - What is Simpol - Why governments refrain from cooperating - What needs to be done to overcome the obstacles that keep us from global cooperation - How you can design a system to solve global matters - How evolutionary biology has solved big problems for humanity in the past - and what we can learn from it - How the future of global votes can change democracy __________________ To support the cause, go to Simpol.org and make your global vote count. Want to learn more about the research behind it, evolutionary biology and how to design a global vote system? Listen to the ebook - it is a highly recommended read. The political initiative Simpol is today supported by over 100 Members of the Parliament in the UK, and growing internationally as well. It is supported by many eminent professionals and researchers across the globe, such as José Ramos-Horta, previous Noble Peace Prize Laureat.

New disruptions and technological advancements always lead to new ethical dilemmas and uncertainties. In the past year, we've seen an explosion of technological advancements, and hence, new ethical discussions have become a hot topic. Ben Wilberforce-Ritchie is an Ethics Manager and Philosopher who helps companies think better and make wiser decisions. During this episode, Ben guides us through four approaches to ethics that can help your decision-making process. There are no easy answers to ethics, but if we approach situations from different moral perspectives, we can increase the likelihood of making the right decision. In this episode, you'll learn: The basic principles of four ancient moral philosophies How businesses can use these approaches to ethics to guide their decisions How companies may think when approaching new AI tools ___Ben Wilberforce-Ritchie is a Philosopher partnering with the organisation Philosophy at Work – who deliver workshops and talks to organisations on topics such as Curiosity, Critical Thinking and Navigating Change, practicing philosophical thought techniques to help people “think better, do better”. He is also an author and his first novel Furze: Sweethearts and Swan Songs was published in Nov-21. Lastly, he is an Ethics Manager at the FTSE100 Aerospace and Defence firm BAE Systems.

What if we let a plant rule the world?  It is, in fact, already possible.  In this episode, we discover Herbie, a plant that has been given autonomy through the power of AI to make its own decisions based on its own health. Herbie can decide to invest in things like replanting a forest or protecting wetlands.  Mark Bünger is the co-founder and CTO of Futurity Systems, who has built Herbie as part of the 'Plantiverse' project.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  How a plant can be given autonomy to rule the world How the project could be scaled to large ecosystems, like Antarctica or rainforests How a piece of land could sue the government  What a future of 'non-humans' ruling the world could look like ____ About the the guest Mark Bünger Mark is co-founder and CTO of Futurity Systems an observatory for deeptech: science-driven technologies that will have disruptive impacts on industry, such as synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, private spaceflight, or quantum computing. His clients include venture capitalists, product developers, and R&D teams at more than 150 of the world’s largest companies.

The word artificial in artificial intelligence, is the polar opposite of nature's natural intelligence. What if we could find some answers on how to navigate the AI disruption in nature itself? In today's solo episode, we'll dive into five ways to navigate the AI disruption, drawing inspiration from nature's intelligence itself. We'll discuss: AI from an Anti-Fragility Point of View AI from the Lens of Parenthood AI Ethics from a Biological Evolutionary Perspective AI from an Ecosystem Point of View AI from a Religious Point of View Happy to heard your thoughts and ideas for future episodes. For more content or to book a talk, go to phuturist.se. Talk to you in the next episode!

In today's episode, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone to share my own thoughts in a solo podcast format. In this debut episode, we'll explore AI through the lens of parenting. I wrote an article a few years ago about how we don't truly understand the potential of what we can become, until we've already become. The current AI boom is no different. In the recent AI safety discussions, I've come to think of parallels between AI creation and parenting. Who's responsible for ensuring well-behaved children, or creations? Just as parents shape their kids, creators shape AI, but to what extent? These are the topics we'll dive into today. We'll discuss: The Parenting Analogy. Most would agree that parents are responsible for their children's actions until they grow up - but to what extent? The Transition to Adulthood. When does this responsibility end? Is it at age 18 or does it extend further? The choice to become a parent is sometimes not planned, but with AI, creators have a conscious decision. Control is another factor; you can't choose your children, but you can design your own AI. Lastly, we'll dive into accountability—should AI creators bear the burden of every action taken by their creations? The Ripple Effect. A single invention or child can lead to paradigm shifts. Inventions always have unforeseen side effects. Should scientists bear responsibility for these ripple effects, even if they can't predict them? Societal Responsibility. Like parenting, laws regulate certain aspects, rights, and obligations. As we debate AI regulations and solutions, do we need a similar infrastructure for AI as with parents? Reflections and Conclusion. Just like in parenting, AI creators birth new entities into the world, and we can't predict their potential until they've evolved. We cannot know the answers, but we can spark essential questions. I'd love to hear your reflections on this episode and whether you enjoyed this format. If you did, and if you would like to reach out to me or book a talk, visit phuturist.se/talks. Stay curious and keep questioning. See you in the next episode!

Finding Answers to Human Challenges in Outer Space?In this episode, we go on a cosmic journey with the space entrepreneur Mattias Hansson, CEO and Founder of I.S.A.A.C International Space Asset Acceleration Company AB, who is passionate about finding answers to some of our most pressing earthly challenges through insights from the space industry. Join us as we dive into the intriguing world of space exploration and its unexpected lessons for life on our planet. You'll learn:  Why Space Entrepreneurship? First things first, our guest Mattias Hansson shares his personal journey into the world of space entrepreneurship. Discover what drove him to reach for the stars and explore the cosmos. Circularity Lessons from Space. Explore the unexpected concept of circularity in the context of the space industry. Mattias explains how we can learn from space missions to create more sustainable and regenerative systems right here on Earth. Leadership Insights from Space. Uncover the leadership lessons that can be learned from the space industry and whether they can be applied to solve global challenges like climate change. Explore the dynamics of smaller, tight-knit space teams and their potential for addressing pressing matters. Making an Impact through Space. As we wrap up, Mattias offers advice to those who aspire to make a meaningful impact on Earth by harnessing the power of space technology. Learn how you can get involved and be part of the solution. Whether you're a space enthusiast or space research critic, this episode opens up some fresh new perspectives on the possibilities for humanity that lie beyond our atmosphere.

In today's episode, we're interviewing the crypto-professional Ludvig Öberg, co-founder of Safello and the Swedish Bitcoin Association, currently developing an open-source blockchain at ChromaWay. In other words, he is a true blockchain expert. He has recently pioneered one of the first theses on management controls within so-called Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, which are members-driven organizations powered by Blockchain technologies. Blockchain technologies have opened new possibilities for how we organize ourselves. In the past, it has been challenging to maintain control in decentralized organizations as the number of members grows, however, blockchain technologies enable control in decentralized organizations at scale through so-called smart contracts, voting rights, ownership through tokens etc. This way, we can avoid the "tragedy of the commons" as members feel invested with clear owner rights and responsibilities. However, is it really possible to maintain a decentralized organization at scale? How do you maintain management controls in large Decentralized Autonomous Organizations as they grow? Is it even possible to avoid corporate governance, or is it an inevitable must? In today's episode you'll learn: What is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization What are some common management control systems The findings from his research studying different types of DAOs Tune in to learn more!

Two years ago, ⁠Devin Gonier,⁠ TEDx speaker and CTO at ⁠Wageup⁠, joined the show to talk about how AI can be taught morality and ethics by replicating the way humans learn ethics as kids.  Devin has now founded a new company, ⁠DebaterHub⁠, hoping to help secure AI safety through another process humans use to learn ethics: debate. He also has a Master’s degree in machine learning and a double major in philosophy and religion.  In today’s episode, Devin provides an overview of the methods and research on AI safety that exist as of today, along with their respective pros and cons.  Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:  Three methods to teach AI morality and ethics (including the method OpenAI used) How debate could be used to teach ethics to machines How we can think of consciousness as a gradient in the AI space Tune in to learn more!

Have you ever thought about how money is created in our new digital era?  If it is neither coins created from gold nor physical cash notes, what really happens when new digital money is created in our modern world?  Together with Brett Scott, who is an author, monetary anthropologist and former financial broker, we investigated this seemingly simple, but in reality very complex question.  You'll learn:  The different types of money and the different roles they play in our society How digital money is created The unknown role of cash (and we're not talking about the right to pay with physical money) Why we should care about how money is created ________ About the guest Brett Scott is a journalist, campaigner, monetary anthropologist and former financial broker. He is the author of Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto and the War for our Wallets (2022), and The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance (2013). He publishes the Altered States of Monetary Consciousness newsletter and tweets as @suitpossum

In previous episodes, we’ve covered the topic of regenerative living. Whilst sustainability focuses on sustaining Mother Earth, regenerative living goes one step beyond that and focuses on restoring it. Across the globe enthusiasts and change-makers are building so-called Smart Villages, or eco-villages, based on these regenerative principles that restore our planet. OASA is a non-profit focusing on innovating and building these Smart Villages at scale. They are currently building a regenerative farm outside Lisbon called Traditional Dream Factory. To fuel further investments and enable governance at scale, they’ve just launched Europe’s first land-based conservation token. The project is ground-breaking as this is the first time in Europe a regenerative village has issued a token with legal status giving token holders access to real-world assets. (compared to a virtual asset in the digital world). With the launch, OASA hopes to lead the way and inspire more enthusiasts to take action and join them on the quest to restore Mother Earth through regenerative living. In the episode, you’ll learn: What is ‘DAO’ (Decentralized Autonomous Organisation) What regenerative living means What web3 is and how tokens can be used in the real world How the first land-based legal token works How the legal setup could be replicated to scale regenerative living

What if there was a simple way to explain why people can have such different worldviews? What if there was a simple reason to understand why some countries care more about solving climate change than others? What if there was an easy way to understand polarization and create a win-win-win situation to unite people? _____ Spiral Dynamics offers a simple framework to understand human development and how humanity’s values change and are expressed in different sequential stages. The model can be applied both on an individual level and on a cultural level. Each stage has its pros and cons, and Spiral Dynamics offer a way to understand and honor how people can have varying opinions on reality. Thanks to this tool, we can create win-win-win situations and help unite people instead of fuelling polarization. This is what Niro Perera does professionally, as an executive coach and facilitator, applying the theory of Spiral Dynamics and other developmental tools to help teams and individuals perform at their highest capability. Although Niro specifically presents the stages very simply here, the actual study of Spiral Dynamics is complex and takes time. As with everything else, Spiral Dynamics is a tool that should be used wisely and most importantly with humility. Tune in to the show to learn more.