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The Future of You
Awards & Recognition
The award-winning and ApplePodcast-recommended The Future of You pod can be found here. You can also see the book that gave birth to the pod: The Future of You.
Technology is reshaping us, transforming who we are.
It is time to investigate the relationship between new technologies and personal identity.
Tune in to the latest TFOY episode below for revelations and discussions with world renowned futurists, psychologists, scientists, artists, academics and law makers, as we continue to decode the changing nature of identity in the The 21st Century.
“There are now three dimensions to the self: the biology of self, the psychology of self, and the technology of self”
- Tracey Follows, host and author of The Future of You
Identity Play and the Artist with Holly Herndon- Episode #40
In this awesome episode, I’m lucky to be talking to Holly Herndon, a Berlin-based artist and groundbreaking musician. With a PhD from Stanford University and a pioneering spirit, Holly merges cutting-edge AI with music to challenge the boundaries of identity.
From acclaimed albums like Platform and Proto to her revolutionary project Holly Plus, Holly has redefined what it means to create and perform in a digital age. Holly talks about her thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Call’ currently on display at the Serpentine Gallery.
Holly also explains how the creation of her own super hero, Hairy Mutant X, is helping her explore the difference between the person she is and the digital footprint version of herself on the Internet.
The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.
Holly Herndon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Herndon
Reconnecting With The Emotional Self Through VR- Episode #39
In this episode, I’m talking to Sarah Ticho, founder of Hatsumi and Co-founder of XR Health Alliance about the fascinating intersection of virtual reality (VR), immersive media, health, and well-being.
Sarah’s work focuses on using VR to create human-centred, immersive experiences that redefine how we understand emotions, memory, and identity.
We discuss Sarah’s pioneering projects, including Soulpaint - an immersive project that invites and enables users to map their emotions through body mapping, 3D drawing, and movement - giving people a new way to think about their emotions and process their feelings.
Soulpaint won the XR experience competition at this year's SXSW festival - a huge and deserved accolade for Sarah who is a pioneer in this intersection between art, technology and health. Here we talk about how immersive technologies are reshaping our understanding of identity, memory, and emotions, as well as potentially revolutionising mental health care, pain management, and more.
Perspective Agents in the Autonomous Age with Chris Perry - Episode #38
In this episode we delve into the transformative impact of AI on humanity and society with Chris Perry, Chief Innovation Officer and Chair at Weber Shandwick Futures. His new book, "Perspective Agents," challenges traditional views of news media and information gathering, focusing on the emergence of AI and its potential to reshape our knowledge sources. He sees perspective as the primary innovation of our times. And he takes us through Taylor Swift as a powerful research case study.
We discuss AI's role in human creativity, exploring its capacity to redefine expertise and truth. We speak about breaking echo chambers, using tools like Blackbird.ai and Notebook LM, and chat about how and why AI is reshaping workplaces and businesses. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of news media, societal shifts, and the future of human identity in a world of AI.
Supremacy: The Race for AI Dominance with Parmy Olson - Episode #37
In this episode I’m talking to journalist and author Parmy Olson whose new book “Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT, and the Race That Will Change the World” explores the fierce competition between Microsoft and Google to lead the AI revolution
We discuss the motivations of tech pioneers like Deepmind’s Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, their groundbreaking work, and the implications of this AI arms race for the future of humanity, agency and identity.
Surveillance and Data: Government Monitoring and AI Risks - Episode #36
Byron Tau is an American investigative journalist and author of the new book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State” so in this episode I’m talking to Byron about the intricate world of government surveillance.
We discuss how commercial data is leveraged by the US government and other entities for extensive monitoring. We also talk about the public’s seeming lack of awareness, the role of data brokers, the impact of surveillance on personal identity, and the implications of AI.
During our conversation Byron shares insights from his own research, talks about how he self-financed his investigation and emphasises the importance of supporting independent journalism.
Byron Tau photo credit: Elliott O’Donovan.
Persuasion and Manipulation in the Algorithmic Age - Episode #35
In this episode I’m talking to Chase Hughes – a US military veteran-turned-expert in human behaviour, profiling, and persuasion, regularly training elite govt and big business on behaviour skills. He is a leading trial consultant too.
Chase delves into the complexities of identity manipulation in the digital age and the urgent need to safeguard our identities.
We cover the weaponisation of identity, the power of cognitive biases, and the growing bystander effect. With insights from his best-selling book, "The Ellipsis Manual," and his work with the Behavior Panel, Chase offers practical tips for resisting manipulation and training your critical thinking.
Chase on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@chasehughesofficial/featured
Language Loss & Identity - Episode #34
In this episode I’m chatting about the importance of language to our identity with linguist and tech entrepreneur Jack Connor.
Jack is about to embark on a trip to the Arctic where he will deposit language data from more than 500 languages into a preservation vault.
We delve into the intricacies of language preservation, the impact of the internet on dialects, and the fascinating intersection between technology, language and identity.
We also discuss the urgency around saving endangered languages and the potential of AI to revolutionise language preservation.
Email Jack jack@endangeredlanguagesfilm.com
Or get in touch on X https://x.com/Jac5Connor
Endangered Languages film https://www.endangeredlanguagesfilm.com/
Meet Your Future Self - Episode #33
What if you could use AI to see what your life would be like when you are 60, or better understand how you got there? Today on The Future of You I’m talking to the creators of an interactive experience that will allow you to do just that.
In this episode I speak with Germeshausen Professor Pattie Maes and technologist and researcher Pat Pataranutaporn from MIT Media Lab. Pattie and Pat are working on "Future You" , a project using AI to create our own digital twin.
We talk about human-AI interaction, human attachment to machine conversation, and what questions we might pose to our future selves when given the opportunity.
Your Identity, Unplugged - Episode #32
In this episode of The Future of You I’m talking to Erik Prince, co-founder of Unplugged, a privacy-first smartphone to rival Big Tech. A former Navy SEAL, Erik is also the founder and former CEO of Blackwater—the world’s largest and most effective private military firm.
Erik discusses the creation and importance of the Unplugged phone and highlights the growing concerns around data collection, surveillance, and the misuse of technology by governments and big tech companies. He delves into the unique features of the Unplugged phone, including its lack of an advertising ID, secure messenger, and kill switch, all designed to protect user privacy.
We also touch on the broader issues of digital surveillance, the role of AI, and the future of personal security in an increasingly connected world.
The State of AI: Innovation and Regulation - Episode #31
In this episode of The Future of You, we hear from futurist and author Richard Yonck. We discuss some common fears and misconceptions around AI. We also consider a realistic timeline for AI advancements such as self-driving cars and consider the importance of balancing AI's benefits with ethics.
I also welcome Lord Chris Holmes MBE back to the podcast. We talk about his private member’s bill which covers everything from consumer protection to intellectual property and the creation of an AI authority to oversee the UK’s ever evolving AI landscape.
Latest on the AI BIll see Lord Holmes’ blog https://lordchrisholmes.com/
The Children’s Book of the Future - Episode #30
Welcome back to the Future of You! Season four kicks off with an insightful conversation with renowned futurist Richard Watson.
This episode delves into the inspiration behind and creation of his latest work, "The Children's Book of the Future," a beautifully illustrated book designed to fill children with optimism and imagination about the future. Richard shares the creative process behind the book, the importance of optimism and the challenges of writing for young minds in a world often filled with gloom. Join us as we explore the optimistic visions of tomorrow and the role of futurism in shaping young minds.
Get your copy of The Children’s Book of the Future.
Identity, Ownership and The New Role of Cryptography - Episode #29
In this episode of The Discussion I speak with Steven Boykey Sidley about cryptography, identity and ownership in the digital world.
We discuss privacy, anonymity and personhood in the digital age and the transformation around ownership thanks to crypto. We touch on the debate around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the need for alternatives like stablecoins. We think about how people in emerging markets can protect against currency debasement and where tokenization and NFTs fit in.
Steven is Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg and the author of several books on cryptocurrency including “It’s Mine” and “Beyond Bitcoin”
Your Face Belongs To Us - Episode #27.
In this episode I talk to New York Times technology reporter and author of “Your Face Belongs To Us”, Kashmir Hill.
We talk about the impact of facial recognition technology, the potential for misuse of the tech and its limitations. We also discuss the importance of data privacy and what’s happening to the billions of photos millions of people share online every day.
‘Your Face Belongs To Us: The Secretive Startup Dismantling Your Privacy’ by Kashmir Hill .
AI, Agents and Swarm Intelligence - Episode #26
We discuss the impact of conversational AI on our everyday interactions and whether marketing will be morphing into manipulation as virtual salespeople become a reality.
We also discuss the data hidden in our movements and the work being done to protect our motion privacy. The conversation ends with a discussion about swarm intelligence and what we might learn from biological systems in nature.
Generative AI from Consumer Rights to Human Rights - Episode #19
In this episode of The Discussion I’m joined by Josh Muncke - Commercial Director, Retail & Consumer at Faculty and Sam Gregory - Executive Director at Human Rights Organisation, WITNESS. We cover generative AI models, what they are and how they're changing the customer experience. Testing and iterating as a process, and how the field of prompt engineering is going to evolve. Also shallow fakes versus deep fakes, the novel ability to create new media content from existing data, the need for safeguards and transparency. And of course, what's next for GPT, and the next generation of models.
Brain Data and the Sovereign Self - Episode 13
In this episode I’m joined by Nita Farahany; author of The Battle For Your Brain and Professor at Duke University. We discuss how brain data is already being collected and used as well as the importance of cognitive liberty.
I also find out more about the technology being used to collect brain data. I talk with CEO and Co-founder of Neurable Dr. Ramses Alcaide, and Co-founder and CEO of Neurosity AJ Keller; two companies creating brain data products they believe we’ll soon be using as often as our smartphones.
Professor Nita A. Farahany's new book 'The Battle For Your Brain: Defending The Right To Think Freely In The Age Of Neurotechnology' available in US and UK
Ready for Brain Transparency? Nita A Farahany's session at Davos 2023
Tracey's piece in Forbes, 'Forget Media Manipulation And Misinformation via TikTok And Twitter, Neurotechnology Heralds The New Battle For Our Brains'