Our Coming Robot Utopia – Audio Version

Welcome to New World Same Humans, a weekly newsletter on trends, technology, and society by David Mattin. If you’re reading this and you haven’t yet subscribed, join 19,000+ curious souls on a mission to build a better shared future 🚀🔮 This week, a short essay on robots and the human Good Life. But first, a quick update. I’m thrilled by the response to the launch of our end of year extravaganza: New Year Same Humans: Five Trends to Supercharge Your 2022! We’re just three days after launch, and over 100 members of our community have already booked their place 🙏. Think insight professionals, founders, marketers, product designers, and more. My initial ticket allotment for the super early bird price has sold out, but I’ve decided to keep it open for a few more days. To learn more about New Year Same Humans, and claim your spot, just hit the button! Okay, enough preamble; hit play. If you’d prefer to read this week’s instalment, go here for the text version of Our Coming Robot Utopia. Links in this week’s instalment 1. Today’s instalment offers a new angle on a state of affairs I wrote about back in The Future that Never Came. 2. Having proven that the path they want to tread is viable, it was announced this week that Everyday Robots will move out of the X lab and into Alphabet’s Bay Area campuses. 3. I’ve written before on the huge challenges associated with AI embodiment, and the novel approaches under development at another division of Alphabet, DeepMind. 4. In Tools for Conviviality, first published in 1973, Ivan Illich mounts a ferocious critique of technological modernity. 5. Everyday People Thanks for listening this week. The emergence of all-purpose helper robots, and their collision with our day-to-day lives, is a classic case of new world, same humans. This newsletter will keep investigating. And there’s one thing you can do to help with that mission: share! Now that you’ve reached the end of this week’s instalment, why not take a second to forward this email to one person – a friend, family member or colleague – who’d also find it valuable? Or share New World Same Humans across one of your social networks, and let people know why it’s worth their time. Just hit the share button! I’ll be back as usual on Wednesday; until then, be well. David. David Mattin sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Consumption. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newworldsamehumans.xyz