The Existential Hope Podcast

Political polarization might have a surprisingly simple fix: ask people what they want for their communities in 50 years instead of today, and their answers start to look remarkably similar. But almost no political system is built to plan that long-term.In this episode we talk to Taylor Dee Hawkins, founder of Foundations for Tomorrow, a nonprofit pushing for long-term governance reform in Australia and internationally.We cover topics like:Why the problem with political leadership isn't individual leaders, but the incentive structures and systems designed to reward short-term decisions at the expense of long-term onesWhy naming political procrastination is the first step to solving itHow Foundations of Tomorrow secured cross-party support in a polarized parliament by making the economic case for long-term policy rather than the moral oneWhy planning for the future doesn’t have to come at the expense of present generationsTaylor’s advice for a young person who wants to get started in long-term policy, and what she has learned from years of being the youngest person in the roomTimestamps:0:00 Cold open0:56 From climate advocacy to long-term governance: founding Foundations for Tomorrow3:07 What made Taylor quit her job during COVID and start an organization4:18 Why bad leadership isn't the problem, but broken incentive structures are5:53 Policrastination: naming political procrastination so we can tackle it6:59 What can actually be done about political short-termism9:08 Governments leading the way on long-term thinking: Finland, Wales, Singapore, Kenya13:17 The biggest misconception about long-term governance14:29 How long-term thinking earns cross-party support in a polarized parliament16:06 What the world looks like if every country takes future generations seriously18:14 When long-term thinking goes wrong19:25 Why one-solution thinking is the most overhyped idea in governance reform20:44 The sharpest critiques of Taylor's work and what they've taught her22:42 How governance can keep pace with fast-moving technology24:12 Being the youngest person in the room: what Taylor does about it25:58 How to break into long-term governance work29:29 How to stay anchored to the long term when everything pulls you short-term30:26 Taylor's existential hope vision for the future31:13 The technology Taylor wishes existed31:39 What Taylor would be doing if not this31:57 The best piece of advice Taylor has ever receivedOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most AI futures give us two options: mass unemployment, or a government handout to soften the blow. But what if there's a third option, one centered on completely new categories of creative work that don't yet exist, where people get paid for contributing to AI rather than replaced by it?In this episode, we talk with Jaron Lanier, pioneer of virtual reality and scientist at Microsoft Research. He proposes a radically different way of thinking about AI, and unpacks its consequences from AI safety to the future of the economy.We touch on:The case for thinking of AI not as an alien intelligence, but rather as a collaboration of human dataHow this reframe helps you understand the failures of current AI systems, and why so many of the industry's most powerful figures seem to be losing their grip on realityA practical approach to AI safety inspired by multi-factor authentication in cybersecurityWhy universal basic income is unstable, and why a creativity economy (where people earn from their contributions to AI) could be a better way of distributing the benefits of AIHow to be an optimist about technological progress while acknowledging the risks and being critical of certain developmentsWhy history gives us the most rational grounds for optimism about our future with AITimestamps:0:00 Cold open0:50 40 years in Silicon Valley: how tech became a pseudo world government4:19 Self-driving cars, Tesla, and the moral paradox of tech progress7:13 Why "artificial intelligence" is a marketing term, and how you should think about it instead15:16 AI as human collaboration: what it makes possible and how it makes you a better user21:37 From the Turing test to the truth crisis: how science shifted from seeking truth to performing it25:36 Data dignity: going back to the people to solve AI's biggest safety failures32:55 The alternate future worth building, and challenging the AI orthodoxy38:41 Why UBI won't work and why a creativity-based economy is more stable45:20 How to be an optimist about technological progress while acknowledging the risksOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AIs could get much better at understanding what we truly value if we gave them access to our brain signals. And doing that is becoming easier than ever before.In this episode, we talk with Thorsten Zander, professor at Brandenburg University of Technology and co-founder of Zander Labs. He coined the concept of passive brain-computer interfaces: devices that read brain signals to decode a user's mental state, non-invasively and without any effort on their part. We cover:What non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can actually pick up from brain signals, and why that's very different from reading your thoughts or internal monologueThe hardware and software breakthroughs that are finally making passive BCIs wearable and affordableHow continuous neural feedback could dramatically improve AI training compared to current methods based on human ratingsWhy Thorsten believes passive BCIs may offer the most concrete path to solving the AI alignment problemThe risk of social networks exploiting unconscious brain reactions to manipulate people, and why regulation alone is unlikely to be enough0:00 Cold open0:56 What are passive brain-computer interfaces, and how are they different from Neuralink?3:23 What are the applications of passive brain-computer interfaces?4:33 What people get wrong about BCIs: reading thoughts vs. mental states6:14 How passive BCIs could transform AI training and help AI understand you better11:40 The misuse risk: how social networks could exploit unconscious brain reactions to manipulate political opinions16:00 How close is mass adoption? The hardware and software breakthroughs making BCIs wearable20:08 Why Germany's cybersecurity agency invested €30M in passive BCI research24:22 Invasive vs non-invasive: how Europe and the US are taking different approaches to brain-computer interfaces28:52 Should AI act on your first instinct? 32:56 How passive BCIs could solve the AI alignment problem (and why previous approaches have fallen short)35:26 From professor to startup founder: what Thorsten learned making the leap41:27 Best case scenario: what the world looks like when AI truly understands human values46:03 How to get started in neuroadaptive AI and passive BCIs48:18 The best advice Thorsten ever receivedOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More and more people want to make a real-world difference with their career. Very few of them do. Why are careers in consultancy or finance still so much more mainstream than careers tackling the world's biggest problems?In this episode, we talk with Jan-Willem van Putten, co-founder of the School for Moral Ambition, an organization that is building clear pathways for people who want to do work that actually changes the world.We discuss:The three main bottlenecks stopping talented people from doing high-impact workHow to find important yet neglected causes to work on, and the School for Moral Ambition top picksWhy movements that want to change the world often fail, and what effective advocates do differentlyHow to figure out which problems your specific background and skills are best placed to solveThe real struggles of leaving a prestigious career behind, from lifestyle creep to peer support, and what makes people say it was worth itTimestamps:0:00 Cold open2:12 From thesis on talent waste to joining consultancy: Jan-Willem's journey4:29 Why did you step away from management consulting?6:35 Focusing on impact vs. status: can you persuade people?8:40 What is the School for Moral Ambition?11:58 Is there now a real field for impact-driven careers?12:58 Cause areas: food transition and tobacco control17:10 How to prioritize problems to work on: the Triple-S framework21:11 Next cause areas: tax fairness and democracy23:00 What does the fellowship journey look like?25:06 The profile of an ambitious idealist: startup drive meets activist values27:43 Noble losers: why social movements fail30:56 Is moral ambition only for the privileged?36:04 How to cultivate a higher level of ambition in society40:31 Feeling hopeless about big problems? New tools change the game42:19 What holds people back from making the leap to meaningful work46:12 What do fellows find most rewarding?47:32 What does success look like in 10 years?51:25 Where to start if you want to shift to a career that makes a difference55:28 Best advice ever received: the case for taking actionOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We think a lot about how AI will affect humanity, and for good reason. But AI could have an enormous impact on the trillions of animals that share our world (for better or worse), and almost nobody is talking about it.In this episode, we talk with Constance Li, founder of Sentient Futures, an organization working to make sure AI and other emerging technologies improve the lives of animals rather than harm them.We touch on:The enormous scale of animal suffering today, and why AI could either worsen or improve it depending on the decisions we make.Using computer vision and sensors to monitor animals and optimize for their welfare rather than just productivity.The research that’s being done to use AI to communicate with animals and what it’s already telling us about their well-being.Other sentient beings that could be impacted by emerging technologies, like artificial minds and biocomputing.Timestamps:0:00 Cold open1:57 Why AI and animals is an overlooked combination4:46 The staggering scale of factory farming8:26 How a physician became an animal welfare advocate10:19 What Sentient Futures does day-to-day11:38 What "AI for animals" actually means14:23 Why the organization was renamed Sentient Futures, and the question of AI moral patients18:08 The biggest misconceptions about AI for animals20:26 What is precision livestock farming?24:46 Best and worst-case scenarios for AI in farms27:46 Communication across species: promise and limitations35:56 Genetic welfare and using genetics in farms43:34 What a best-case scenario for AI and animals looks like in the next 5–10 years47:11 The biggest hurdles: funding and attention48:39 How to get involved with Sentient Futures50:44 What gives Constance hopeOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having an AI boyfriend or girlfriend might seem creepy, but what if it helped you get better at human relationships? In this episode, we talk with David Eagleman, a professor of neuroscience at Stanford, bestselling author, and science communicator. We discuss how AI and other technologies can help us become better humans – wiser, kinder and more empathetic, not just more productive. We get a neuroscientist’s take on how human and artificial intelligence interact, including:How to use AI to better understand other people and improve our relationships.Using debate AIs in schools to make younger generations better at critical thinking and grasping both sides of an argument.Is AI making our lives too easy by removing the friction we need to learn?Technologies that could expand what’s possible with our brain, from mind uploading to brain-to-brain communication.Timestamps:0:00 Cold open1:38 How David Eagleman became a neuroscientist4:46 How malleable is the brain?6:29 Can AI make us better humans? The Reddit debate bot experiment11:00 AI relationships and becoming better at dating real people14:24 Using AI to hear his late father's voice again18:26 Mind uploading and digital immortality23:27 What technology could make us more kind and empathetic24:04 How AI could revolutionize debate education and critical thinking28:30 Why AI needs a "tough love" mode to help us grow30:17 Does AI making life easier rob us of useful friction for learning?34:21 Why brain-to-brain communication probably won't help us understand each other37:29 Could neurotechnology let us experience the world as another species?41:58 The current state of neuroscience and where it's heading48:05 How to get started if you're inspired by this conversationOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would the world look like if the poorest country was as rich as Switzerland is today? It turns out we could actually see it happen by 2100, and with an economic growth that is similar to the one we have been experiencing for the past 20 years.In this episode, we talk with Marc Canal, Senior Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute, and co-author of the book A Century of Plenty. We unpack what a hundred years of data tells us about human progress, and map out the steps to an ambitious scenario we can build by the end of the century.We discuss:How much the world has actually changed since 1925: from one in five children dying before age five in Spain, to life expectancy growing by 40 years globally.What it would take to make today’s Swiss living standards the world’s floor by 2100 (while richer countries grow far beyond it), from energy efficiency to birth rates and geopolitics.How data shows economic growth is actually good for the climate and for human happiness.Why achieving a prosperous world currently depends more on our collective belief that progress is possible than on resource constraints.How you can thrive in an AI world, where 57% of work hours can be automated, by leaning into the “messy” jobs.Timestamps:0:00 - Cold open1:54 - Why the McKinsey Global Institute wrote “A Century of Plenty” 5:20 - What was the world like in 1925? 10:04 - The most surprising stats from 100 years of progress16:03 - Defining the “empowerment line” vs. the poverty line19:30 - Projecting 2100: can we make Switzerland the global "floor"? 22:26 - The 5 conditions for achieving a world of plenty26:14 - Can we grow the economy without sacrificing the environment?28:23 - Economic growth vs. climate change: mitigation and adaptation 34:05 - What are the biggest challenges to the “progress machine”? 36:30 - The demographic crisis, and solving falling fertility rates45:20 - Will AI speed up human innovation?48:21 - Geopolitics: is the world really de-globalizing? 52:30 - The crisis of hope: why are we so pessimistic?56:26 - How different nations reach the frontier of progress58:49 - Building a new culture of growth1:01:09 - Does economic progress actually make us happier?1:05:39 - How you can help make a century of plenty probableOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To make the future go well, we might not need a perfect model for its end state, or an abstract philosophical theory to guide us. Can your own sense of “the right thing to do” actually help make the world better?In this episode we talk with SJ Beard, researcher at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, and author of the book “Existential Hope”.Some of the topics we discuss:How to shift our focus from "preventing the end of the world" to actively building a future worth living.Why aiming for a “happy ever after” state of the world might be dangerous, and why improving the world one generation at a time is less likely to backfire.Relying on our own sense of “the right thing to do” as a practical guide to make the world better.Why decisions about AI and global risk need input from a broad mix of people and their real-world experiences, not just experts at the top.Why building AI with compassion and curiosity about human values may be safer than giving it a rigid list of rules to follow.Timestamps:[01:31] SJ’s background in philosophy and existential risk[02:02] Why write a book on existential hope?[04:43] Defining existential hope, and its relationship with existential risks and existential anxiety[11:09] Human agency without the guilt[13:59] Why there are no truly "natural" disasters[16:49] Why we shouldn’t try to build a perfect utopia[19:05] Protopia: is iterative improvement enough?[22:19] Defining progress: what does it mean to "get better"?[26:13] Protopia vs. viatopia: setting goals and achieving a great future[29:48] Existential safety as a collective project[35:06] Using participatory tools to make global decisions[36:32] Making existential hope reasonably demanding[40:06] Can we achieve systemic change in a tech-focused world?[46:00] Concrete socio-technical projects for AI safety[49:02] Aligning AI by building its character[51:45] The importance of history in building a good future[54:24] Key 17th-century ideas that are shaping modern society[58:20] Cultivating "humanity as a virtue"[01:04:37] Lessons from nuclear near-misses: the example of Petrov[01:09:20] The trade-offs of a humanistic, bottom-up approach to decision-making[01:12:16] Literacy vs. orality: how ideas become simplified[01:16:45] Meme culture and the transmission of deep context[01:18:48] How writing the book changed SJ’s mind[01:21:38] SJ Beard’s vision for existential hopeOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most scientists do “safe” research to secure their next grant. But what if more of them worked on the most important problems instead?In this episode, we talk with Anastasia Gamick, co-founder of Convergent Research, about how to raise our level of ambition for what science can actually achieve.Convergence Research incubates Focused Research Organizations: small, startup-style teams that build critical “public good” tech, which both academia and for-profits ignore.We discuss:What makes a research project truly high-impact in view of an AI worldConcrete examples of these projects: maps of brain synapses, software that’s provably safe, drug screening, good data for AI-powered scientific research, and moreHow to prioritize defensive technology, such as biosafety tools, instead of just pushing every frontier as fast as possibleHow young scientists can find the work that matters most for the future[00:00] Cold open[01:52] Introducing Anastasia Gamick and the mission of Convergent Research[02:44] Defining Focused Research Organizations (FROs) and their unique characteristics[09:46] Backcasting from 2075: what research to prioritize now to prepare for the intelligence age[19:08] The four types of projects Convergent decides not to fund[25:35] Biological and ecological dark matter: why we need better datasets for AI science[28:28] Why academia and industry aren’t incentivized to build tech capabilities for the public good[29:32] Defining “moonshot projects”: how boring drug screening creates massive downstream impact[32:56] The future of neuroscience: capturing videos of synapses firing[35:46] How the FRO model is catching on internationally[36:25] Steering vs. accelerating: selecting defense-dominant technology[41:22] Increasing human agency and how scientists can choose high-impact research areas[46:51] The evolution of scientific funding and the role of new philanthropy[48:05] Finding existential hope in the community of future-buildersOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being pessimistic about progress will make you sound smart. You'll look rational by not assuming any breakthroughs, just extrapolating current trends until every technology plateaus. You'll probably also be wrong, for exactly the same reason: throughout history, people keep delivering solutions that almost no one anticipated. Jason Crawford, founder of the Roots of Progress Institute, joins the podcast to discuss The Techno-Humanist Manifesto, his book on his philosophy of progress for the 21st century. We dive into the core arguments of the manifesto:How we are more in control of our lives than ever before in human historyWhy the goal of "stopping climate change" should be reframed as "achieving climate control" Being optimistic about technological progress while acknowledging risks, but also proactively looking for solutions to problemsWhy two common fears around the slowing of progress – that we could run out of natural resources or new ideas – are actually unfoundedWhether AI represents a transformation as big as the Industrial Revolution or the invention of agriculture How to rebuild a culture of progress and celebrate human achievement in the 21st centuryTimestamps00:00 Cold open00:59 Who is Jason Crawford? The Techno-Humanist Manifesto introduced 03:39 What human progress actually means, and its relationship to agency05:45 How to live a more meaningful life through the lens of agency09:36 Climate change solutions and climate control: why we need a thermostat for the Earth 12:55 Is nature more important than humans? The case for anthropocentrism 19:10 Why we should celebrate human achievement 20:22 How to be optimistic about the future without ignoring risks 25:55 Why pessimism sounds smart but keeps being wrong30:58 Are we running out of natural resources? 33:56 Are good ideas running out? Why innovation keeps accelerating 38:32 The Intelligence Age: is AI as transformative as the Industrial Revolution? 40:48 How to preserve human agency in an AI-driven world 42:38 How to use AI without losing your ability to think 45:57 Why did we stop believing in the future? The culture of progress49:39 How to build a global progress movement 53:23 Getting progress into schools and mainstream culture 57:02 High-leverage regulations for progress: from nuclear to supersonic flight58:26 Jason Crawford's vision for a better futureOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While dystopian fiction dominates our screens and bookshelves, Elle Griffin is busy researching how things might actually go right. She wanted to write a utopian novel and realized she needed a better understanding of what an ideal society could look like. In our conversation, we discuss how her favorite utopian literature influenced her views on a well-designed society. But we also explore practical ideas on how we could improve our systems:Tax autonomy: Why giving states and cities the power to collect their own taxes would allow them to fund the specific services their citizens actually want.A la carte federations: A model where cities and states choose to join specific agreements, like a "fishing EU" or a "healthcare EU," instead of being forced into one large, centralized government that manages every aspect of life.The Mondragon model: What we can learn from a massive network of worker-owned cooperatives in Spain that provides its own unemployment insurance and university.Who should control AI: Why giving voting authority to the employees who write the code (rather than investors or nonprofit boards) might be the best way to prevent unethical shortcuts.Singapore’s land model: How the government acts as a landlord to fund public services, allowing for lower income taxes while still providing universal social support.Fixing the Internet: How to use personal data and AI to make us wiser, rather than letting algorithms push us toward fast fashion and political radicalization.Chapters:Cold open (00:00:00)Introducing Elle Griffin (00:01:27)How writing a novel turned into a research project (00:02:27)Elle’s current work: From print pamphlets to "We Should Own the Economy" (00:04:21)The setup of Elle’s upcoming utopian novel (00:05:06)From gothic literature to utopian literature (00:06:30)Three classic utopian novels and their recurring lessons (00:15:42)Building a "future Asia" through mythology and technology (00:22:02)What if US States had the same autonomy as EU countries? (00:23:49)"A la carte" federalism: moving toward a modular government (00:28:11)The Mondragon model: a blueprint for worker-owned economies (00:32:54)Why the smallest government is the best government (00:36:18)The global monoculture and the rise of micro-cultures (00:44:29)Who should control AI? The case for employee-led governance (00:53:02)Fixing the Internet and using AI to make us wise, not just efficient (01:01:06)Why Victor Hugo’s "Les Misérables" is the ultimate masterpiece (01:06:14)An existential hope vision for the future (01:08:09)On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When people think about AGI, most of them ask “When is it going to arrive?” or “What kind of AGI will we get?”. Andrew Critch, AI safety researcher and mathematician, argues that the most important question is actually “What will we do with it?”In our conversation, we explore the importance of our choices in the quest to make AGI a force for good. Andrew explains what AGI might look like in practical terms, and the consequences of it being trained on our culture. He also claims that finding the “best” values AI should have is a philosophical trap, and that we should instead focus on finding a basic agreement about “good” vs. “bad” behaviors.The episode also covers concrete takes on the transition to AGI, including: Why an advanced intelligence would likely find killing humans “mean.”How automated computer security checks could be one of the best uses of powerful AI.Why the best preparation for AGI is simply to build helpful products today.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Gát, founder of the Interintellect community, joins us to explore the essential role of hopeful action and diverse communities in shaping the future. Anna shares why she started Interintellect as a space for intellectual inquiry free from political polarization and traditional gatekeeping, driven by the hope that constructive social collaboration is possible. She details the specific rules of gathering and hosting that can make online and offline groups successful, fostering deep, non-toxic, and life-changing conversations across polarizing topics.We also dive into the genesis of Anna's own podcast, The Hope Axis, and her frustration with the prevalent "complaint culture" and regressive narratives in wealthy societies. The conversation also touches on these questions:Why should communities be given a clear "job" to increase their longevity?How can we achieve diversity of thought in tight-knit groups?Why is constantly networking (with a finite-game approach) detrimental to human well-being?What does it mean to be a "realistic optimist"?How can we architecturally ensure that future AI serves groups and supports humans as social creatures, rather than further enabling solitary, hyper-addictive entertainment?On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’d need 200 Chernobyls a year to kill as many people as fossil fuels. And yet most of us are far more scared of nuclear than of any other energy source, despite the overwhelming data telling a different story. Where does this fear come from?We find out with Isabelle Boemeke, the world’s first nuclear energy influencer, and author of Rad Future, a book that makes the case for nuclear in language anyone can follow.We cover:How nuclear's reputation was built not on its safety record but on its origins: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Cold War drills, and a near-meltdown movieWhat the actual death toll data looks like across energy source, from nuclear to renewable sources to fossil fuels, including the deadliest energy accident in history almost no one knows aboutWhy nuclear waste may be the most responsibly managed industrial waste humans produceWhat growing up without reliable energy in rural southern Brazil taught Isabelle about energy abundance, and why she thinks "degrowth" is not a credible answer to the climate problemHow Isabelle went from over a decade as a model to becoming one of nuclear energy's most visible advocates, and why she decided the communication gap was the problem worth solvingThis special episode was recorded at the 2025 Progress Conference. Enormous thanks to Roots of Progress for organizing the event, and to Lighthaven for providing the podcast studio.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young people across the Western world are struggling to start their lives. In most cases, it's not for lack of ambition, but because they can't find a place to live. The consequences show up anywhere from sluggish economies to low birth rates. But there's a way to fix it.In this episode, we talk with Sam Bowman, editor of Works in Progress, a magazine focused on high-leverage ideas to improve the world. We discuss why housing is the master key to some of the biggest challenges that Western societies are facing today.We discuss:Why the biggest bottleneck to economic growth in rich countries isn't technology, but where people are allowed to liveWhere laws on housing come from and why we should change themModels that have actually worked: from Israel's resident-led densification to Madrid’s low-cost metro expansionWhy aesthetics matter more than economists think when it comes to getting people to accept new housingWhat it would take for Western cities to grow the way Tokyo or the Pearl River Delta did, and what that could mean for growth, families and optimismThis special episode was recorded live at the 2025 Progress Conference, hosted by our friends at Roots of Progress. We’re grateful to them for bringing together so many thinkers reimagining how humanity can keep moving forward—and for making conversations like this one possible!Timestamps:0:00 Cold open0:38 Intro: Sam Bowman and Works in Progress4:14 Why a magazine format instead of a think tank or Substack10:13 When technology isn't the bottleneck to progress: housing, transport and energy17:56 Why San Francisco thrives despite its dysfunction24:19 Why industries develop in suboptimal places: the TSMC example27:06 Why it's so hard to build: the history of zoning laws36:12 Updates to regulation and policy: local decision-making models43:56 Housing as a western-world problem that drives everything else48:06 The role of aesthetics in getting people to accept new buildings55:48 Works in Progress and the journey to appreciating aesthetics58:55 Building movements to shift expectations about the future1:05:44 What a successful future looks like1:09:16 Italy, Spain and the birth rate crisis1:11:37 Housing and tech growth aren't in competition1:12:51 What DOGE got wrong about reforming government1:20:29 Other hopeful examples: the Madrid Metro projectOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we could treat depression, anxiety, or chronic pain by tuning the brain, just as precisely as a pacemaker regulates the heart?Jacques Carolan, Program Director at the UK’s ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency), joins us to talk about the next wave of precision neurotechnology; new tools that let us see and influence brain activity with far greater accuracy. We explore how ultrasound might gently stimulate mood circuits without surgery, how gene therapies could switch off seizures before they start, and how “living electrodes” could one day repair damaged brain tissue.Jacques also explains ARIA’s bold approach to funding high-risk science, what he’s learned from patient engagement, and why he believes the next decade will transform how we understand and care for the brain.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if chronic diseases, from Alzheimer’s to autoimmune conditions, share a hidden cause: lingering infections deep within our tissues?Microbiologist Amy Proal, co-founder of the PolyBio Research Foundation, joins host Allison Duettmann to discuss how persistent pathogens could drive inflammation, aging, and many chronic illnesses, and why our current “autoimmunity” model might be missing the root cause.They explore PolyBio’s groundbreaking work collecting rarely studied tissue samples, the link between viruses and Alzheimer’s, the rise of long COVID, and simple tools, like clean indoor air, that could prevent future pandemics. Amy also outlines an optimistic vision: strengthening, not suppressing, the immune system to build a healthier, more resilient civilization.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ken Liu joins the podcast to explore how science fiction serves as our modern mythology. We discuss his new techno-thriller "All That We See or Seem", the concept of egolets (AI capturing facets of our identity), the noematograph (AI as a camera for thought), and the role of collective dreaming in making us more human. Ken also reflects on Frankenstein, Philip K. Dick, the challenge of translation, and why technology is “the mind made tangible.” Ken's new book is now available to buy: https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Seem-Julia-Novel/dp/1668083175/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YQBXYV3NPYRQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qZEp-FJsQjZ1DeI_1aU9dUCHVQLskKq0l80APpXt8lY._8ZY1FJprDwz6sXFyMqa538OZaQZx-_KzsBkHjRww1g&dib_tag=se&keywords=ken+liu+all+that+we+see+or+seem&qid=1758810447&sprefix=ken+liu+all%2Caps%2C326&sr=8-1 On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Beatrice Erkers is joined by David Duvenaud, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and former researcher at Anthropic.We discuss David’s work on post-AGI civilizational equilibria and the widely discussed paper Gradual Disempowerment. David reflects on why liberalism may not hold up in a world where humans are no longer needed, how UBI could be Goodharted into absurdity, and what it would take to design institutions that protect humans even when incentives don’t.We also cover:- Forecasting the long-term future using LLMs trained on historical data- Robin Hanson’s idea of futarchy (governance by prediction markets)- Asymmetrical but beneficial relationships between humans and AI- Uploading, cultural legacies, and the possibility of “worthy successors”On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a genuinely positive future with AI look like? While dystopian visions are common, the most valuable—and scarcest—resource we have is a concrete, hopeful vision for where we're headed.In this episode, we're joined by Nathan Labenz, host of the popular Cognitive Revolution podcast, to explore the tangible possibilities of a beneficial AI-driven world. Nathan shares his insights on everything from the near-term transformations in education and healthcare—like AI-driven antibiotic discovery and personalized learning—to the grand, long-term visions of curing all diseases and becoming a multi-planetary species.We dive deep into crucial concepts like Eric Drexler's "comprehensive AI services" as a model for safety through narrowness, the transformative power of self-driving cars, and how we can collectively raise our ambitions to build the future we actually want. On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, the conversation about the long-term future has been dominated by a crucial question: how do we avoid extinction? But what if ensuring our survival is only half the battle? In this episode, Beatrice is joined by Fin Moorhouse, a researcher at Forethought and co-author with Will MacAskill of the Better Futures series, to make the case for focusing on the other half: flourishing. Or as we'd like to say in this podcast: Existential Hope!Fin challenges the idea that a great future will emerge automatically if we just avoid the worst-case scenarios. Using the analogy of a grand sailing expedition, he explores the complexities of navigating towards a truly optimal world, questioning whether our current moral compass is enough to guide us.The conversation dives into the concept of "moral catastrophes"—profound ethical failings, like industrial animal farming, that could persist even in technologically advanced futures. Fin also tackles the complex challenges posed by digital minds, from the risk of accidental suffering to the creation of "willing servants." He argues for the power of "moral trade" as a tool to build a more pluralistic and prosperous world, and explains why we should aim for a "Viatopia"—a stable and self-sustaining state that makes a great future highly likely.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is code just a technical skill for engineers, or is it a deeply humanistic art form capable of expanding our minds? In this episode, host Beatrice Erkers is joined by scientist, author, and Coder-in-Residence at Lux Capital, Sam Arbsman, to explore the profound ideas in his new book, The Magic of Code.Sam reframes our relationship with computing, arguing that code is one of history's most powerful "tools for thought," standing alongside the alphabet and paper in its ability to augment human intellect. He delves into the fascinating history of this idea, from Don Swanson's concept of "undiscovered public knowledge" in scientific literature to the modern potential of AI to connect disparate ideas and accelerate discovery.The conversation also explores the democratization of creation through "vibe coding," the power of thinking of an app as a "home-cooked meal," and the critical importance of humility as our technological systems become too complex for any single person to fully understand—a theme from his previous book, Overcomplicated. Sam connects these ideas to the ever-changing nature of knowledge itself, drawing from his first book, The Half-Life of Facts.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tech industry we read about every day accounts for only 2% of the global economy. So what about the other 98%? In this episode, host Beatrice Erkers talks to hacker, inventor, and author Pablos Holman about his new book, Deep Future, and why it’s time to look beyond software to solve the world’s biggest problems.Pablos argues that for decades, our brightest minds have been focused on apps and ads while ignoring the fundamental industries that civilization depends on: energy, manufacturing, shipping, and food. He makes the case for "deep tech"—everything but software—and explains why now is the perfect moment to deploy our "software toolkit" to reinvent these stagnant, trillion-dollar sectors.From computer-controlled sailing ships and factory-built nuclear reactors buried a mile underground, to the simple genius of a better milk jug that can double a farmer's income, Pablos shares mind-bending examples of technology that truly matters. He also offers a grounded take on AI, explaining why computational modeling for disease control is more impactful than AGI hype, and delivers a powerful vision for a future where energy abundance ends global conflict and automation frees humanity to focus on what makes us thrive: care, community, and connection.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we could build an AI that doesn't just answer questions, but makes fundamental scientific discoveries on its own? That's the mission of Future House, and in this episode, host Allison Duettmann sits down with its co-founder, Andrew White.Andrew shares the incredible journey that led him from chemical engineering to the forefront of the AI for Science revolution. He gives us a look under the hood at Future House's flock of specialized AI agents, like Crow, Finch, and Owl, and reveals how they recently accomplished in just three weeks what could have taken years: identifying an existing drug as a potential new treatment for a common cause of blindness.But the conversation doesn't stop at the successes. Andrew offers a sharp critique of the current methods for evaluating AI, explaining what’s wrong with benchmarks like "Humanity's Last Exam" and why the ultimate test is real-world discovery. He also makes a compelling case for completely reinventing the slow and inefficient scientific publishing system for an era where machines are both the producers and consumers of research.Andrew is also fundraising for the Frontiers Society at IPAM to advance this work. If you’d like to support, you can donate here: IPAM Donation Page.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most desirable AI future is made of powerful tools, not autonomous agents? Physicist and futurist Anthony Aguirre joins us to unpack the Tool AI pathway, how incentives, liability, and design choices could steer us toward AI that empowers people rather than replaces them. We also situate this episode in AI Pathways, our two-scenario project exploring Tool AI and d/acc futures. Explore the project: https://ai-pathways.existentialhope.com/On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-driving cars aren’t science fiction, they’re already here. But what kind of future are they steering us toward?In this episode, Beatrice speaks with Andrew Miller, mobility expert and author of The End of Driving, about the transformational promise, and very real risks, of autonomous vehicles. They explore why driverless tech isn’t just about hardware or software, but about regulation, land use, curb management, jobs, and values.From robo-taxis in San Francisco and driverless trucks in Texas, to curb chaos, job displacement, and how we reclaim space from parked cars, this episode goes far beyond the hype. On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we shape a future worth rooting for? In this episode, Beatrice Erkers talks with Jim O'Shaughnessy, founder of O'Shaughnessy Ventures and author of What Works on Wall Street, about his third act: backing creators, thinkers, and innovators across publishing, film, AI, and investment. They dive into the cultural power of storytelling, what it means to be “AI-first,” and why cognitive diversity and personal agency are key to navigating a rapidly changing world.Jim shares his existential hope for the next 30 years, explores how to make AI work for everyone, and offers a call to action for people with ideas: get in the arena. Along the way, we cover self-driving cars, tutoring AIs, philosophical simulations, and why beautiful books still matter.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you think people who worry about AI are being pessimistic, you might have it backwards.In this episode, we talk with Michael Nielsen, scientist and writer known for his work on open science, quantum computing, and how our language shapes the way we think. Michael explores what he calls "wise optimism": the idea that genuinely believing in a technology's potential means taking its risks seriously, not dismissing them. We also spend a good chunk of the conversation on “hyper-entities”. These are imagined future objects, like the Internet before the 1990s or AGI now, that shape present decisions – what gets funded, who coordinates with whom, and what feels possible. We recently published a report where we systematically looked for hyper-entities and spotlighted our favorites: https://www.existentialhope.com/hyper-entitiesOur conversation also covers:How kindness spread through civilization like a technology, and what that tells us about the values we might want to instill in AI  Why some of the most important scientific discoveries happened by accident Why even the most abstract and "useless" ideas in science tend to end up shaping the real world, both positively and negativelyHow the tools we use to think (from language to mathematical notation to software) shape what we're able to imagine‍Timestamps0:00 Cold open1:34 What is a hyper-entity? How imagined future objects orient technological progress6:30 Why Silicon Valley depends on but undervalues hyper-entities9:08 Can science fiction generate the next big tech idea?11:03 Should we be more deliberate about designing hyper-entities?13:44 Why belief in AGI exploded: self-fulfilling prophecy and the power of conviction16:04 Beyond AGI: renewable energy, public goods, and other neglected hyper-entities20:25 Wise optimism about AI: why taking risks seriously is more optimistic than ignoring them24:22 The dual-use problem: why deep scientific knowledge is always also dangerous27:44 What our visions of the future get wrong: emotions, values, and AI identity38:27 Where breakthroughs really come from: exploration vs. goal-directed research44:43 A serious discipline for imagining the future: vision papers and validated imagination56:08 Tools for thought: how symbols and notation expand what humans can think1:02:49 Intellectual independence and the art of productive disagreementOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the bulky, expensive machines that fill hospital radiology departments could be replaced by a wearable? In this episode, we speak with Mary Lou Jepsen — founder of Openwater and pioneering inventor — about how breakthroughs in light-based imaging could democratize access to brain and body scans.From her work at Google X and Facebook’s moonshot labs to her current mission at Openwater, Jepsen has spent decades at the frontier of tech and health. Now, she’s building a future where scanning the body for disease is as simple as putting on a hat — no radiation, no giant machines, no $1M price tag.We explore:Why light could be the key to affordable, real-time medical diagnosticsHow her device works — and what it might replaceWhat it takes to challenge the medical-industrial complexHer vision for global healthcare access and early detection‍On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Ed Finn, founding director of ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination, explores the impact of storytelling on our ability to envision and create better futures—and why we urgently need more hopeful narratives.Ed shares his journey from a generalist interested in how technology shapes culture to co-creating initiatives like "Project Hieroglyph" with celebrated sci-fi author Neal Stephenson. He argues that our collective imagination is often stuck in dystopian loops or unable to escape the status quo, hindering our capacity for large-scale, positive change. By bringing together storytellers, scientists, and artists, we can craft "technically grounded, hopeful stories about futures we might actually want to live in."In this conversation, we explore:The fundamental role of imagination and narrative in how we understand the world, make decisions, and even perceive reality.Why science fiction can be a powerful tool for foresight, societal deliberation, and inspiring innovation (the "hieroglyph" concept).The importance of moving beyond easy apocalypses to explore "protopian" futures where things are actively getting better, and the challenge of crafting compelling narratives of social change.How reflecting on classic tales like Frankenstein can inform our approach to scientific creativity, responsibility, and the societal implications of new technologies like AI.The potential resurgence of the humanities in an AI-driven world and why critical thinking and a rich self-imagination are crucial for collaborating with new technologies.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Niklas Berild Lundblad, a philosopher, researcher, and former policy lead at Google DeepMind, Google, and Stripe, explores the interplay between progress, complexity, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.Niklas discusses why asking the right questions is crucial for navigating our future, especially as AI challenges our self-perception and introduces new forms of complexity. He discusses the "soft narcissism" in AI development, the distinction between AI and AGI, and why we should view current AI not as a mirror, but as a strange, exotic artifact whose full capabilities we are still underestimating. In this conversation, we explore:The critical relationship between progress and complexity, and why managing this dynamic is essential for societal growth (including the "Red Queen effect").Why current AI developments feel different from past tech hypes.The potential for AI to revolutionize scientific discovery.How AI could accelerate its own diffusion.The need for curious regulators, mechanisms for change, the challenges of agentic AI, and how cultural biases might affect our approaches to regulation.The Solow Paradox and the Gartner Hype Cycle as frameworks for understanding technology adoption.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can now design proteins that eat plastic. Twenty years ago, that sounded like science fiction. Today, a Nobel laureate is doing exactly that. His career path to get here started in philosophy and was anything but linear. His work now aims at tackling some of humanity's biggest problems, from cancer to climate change. In this episode, we speak with David Baker, 2024 Nobel laureate in Chemistry and head of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, whose lab pioneered the field of computational protein design. We cover:How David went from not knowing what proteins were in college to winning the Nobel Prize for designing them from scratch The incredible power of designing brand-new proteins for innovative medicines, new materials and environmental cleanup.The vision of protein-based nanomachines that could circulate in your body and repair damaged tissue, powered by your dietHow David's lab went from no machine learning at all to developing world-leading AI tools for protein design in just a few yearsHow AI is speeding up scientific discovery vs. what is overhyped about AI for science, and what we can learn from the success of AlphaFoldWhy fostering a great community in a lab can lead to better science, and his career advice for people wondering what to do nextTimestamps:0:00 Cold open 0:56 Introduction: David Baker, 2024 Nobel laureate in chemistry 2:19 How David Baker went from confused philosophy student to Nobel Prize winner 6:25 What is protein design? Building proteins evolution never made 9:40 Molecular nanomachines: the next industrial revolution 13:20 What it will take to build working molecular nanomachines 15:37 The communal brain: David Baker's lab model for doing great science 18:03 Are we about to lose a generation of scientists? 20:37 David Baker and Demis Hassabis: two approaches to scientific innovation 25:02 Where AI for science is overhyped, and what AlphaFold's success actually tells us 27:50 Inside the Baker Lab: how AI and wet lab research work together 30:35 Why free food is the Baker Lab's most important research tool 31:53 Building Seattle into a biotech hub: 21 spinouts and counting 34:51 Plastics, climate, cancer, Alzheimer's: where protein design could matter most 37:32 What the world could look like in 2045 if protein design succeeds 39:22 The Baker Lab podcast: anyone anywhere can become a great scientist 41:06 David Baker's career advice: don't plan too far ahead On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, physicist and author David Deutsch joins us to explore the deeper principles behind knowledge, progress, and the future of humanity.David is known for founding the field of quantum computation and, alongside Richard Jozsa, creating the first quantum algorithm that solves problems exponentially faster than classical methods. He’s also the originator of constructor theory—a bold framework aiming to redefine the foundations of physics.In this conversation, we explore:Why beauty and explanatory power are central to scientific progress—and how they guide us toward better theories.The challenges and promise of aligning AI with human values, and how critical thinking plays a key role.How education systems could be redesigned to foster creativity, curiosity, and deeper understanding.The case for optimism—not as wishful thinking, but as a rational stance grounded in our capacity for error correction and improvement.This episode was originally published in April 2023. On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, philosopher and transhumanist David Pearce joins us to explore a bold vision of the future—one where suffering is abolished, aging is optional, and human potential is radically expanded.David is best known for The Hedonistic Imperative, a manifesto arguing that biotechnology can—and should—be used to eliminate all forms of suffering in sentient life. As a leading voice in transhumanism and bioethics, he challenges us to think beyond what we’ve accepted as “natural.”In this conversation, we explore:The scientific and ethical case for ending suffering—across humans and non-human animals.How cognitive enhancement could reshape consciousness, creativity, and compassion.Whether radical life extension is a moral imperative—and what it means for future generations.The role of technology in creating a future that’s not just free from harm, but full of flourishing.If you’ve ever questioned the limits of the human condition—or wondered what a truly compassionate future could look like—this episode will stretch your thinking in surprising ways.Full transcript, list of resources, and art piece: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsOn the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Extreme poverty, violence, and life expectancy are all improving, according to the data. So why does the news so often give us the impression that civilization is in decline?In this episode, we speak with Steven Pinker, professor of psychology at Harvard and bestselling author of Enlightenment Now, for a data-driven check-in on the state of progress.We discuss:How the big-picture trends in longevity, pollution, literacy rates, and more show that the world is getting better.How the structure of news consistently creates pessimism about human progress.What has genuinely gotten worse in recent years (war deaths, democratic backsliding) and what forces are driving it.How progress is not automatic, but possible if we strive for it.How we can continue advancing towards an even better future, including abundant clean energy and the abolition of war as an institution.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re excited to share that the Existential Hope Podcast now has its own dedicated feed—and we’re kicking things off with a wave of new episodes.This podcast is for anyone curious about how powerful technologies—AI, biotech, neurotech, nanotech, and more—can help create futures that are not just survivable, but radically better than today.You’ll hear in-depth, idea-rich conversations with the people shaping those futures. Follow now—new episodes dropping soon.On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the Foresight Institute invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsFollow on X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.