Industry: Technology
Practices: Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and to reduce water
use by replenishing more than it consumes. Its data centers are designed to
reduce water and energy consumption significantly, and the company is focused
on shifting toward sustainable hardware production and recycling practices.
Harish
Shah:
“Human progress has never been contingent upon technological evolution.
Human progress has always been contingent upon the evolution of human
values."
Douglas
Rushkoff:
"So Program or Be Programmed really means understand the technology
well enough to use it in a way that's compatible with you and your creative
cycle, rather than trying to conform your humanity to it."
Bradley Schurman:
"The Super Age is a data rich narrative that compels readers to
consider the role demographics play in our daily lives. I highlight
the challenges and opportunities presented by decreased birth rates
and longer life spans, which are happening world wide. I offer some
actionable and realistic steps that individuals and businesses can take
to get the most out of this new era: when there will be more older people
than younger people for the first time ever."
15%
of global population lives within a few miles of a coast - and the number
is growing rapidly
by Arthur Cosby, Professor of Sociology,
Mississippi State University and Viswadeep Lebakula, Research Scientist
in Human Geography, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Coastal populations are expanding
quickly around the world. The rise is evident in burgeoning waterfront
cities and in the increasing damage from powerful storms and rising
sea levels. Yet, reliable, detailed data on the scale of that population
change has been hard to pin down, until now.
The results
show a striking pattern: The largest number of people by
far - about 10% of the global population - live within 5 kilometers
(3.1 miles) of the coast, and another 5% of the world`s people live
between 5 and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the coast. In the rings
beyond 10 kilometers, the population declines swiftly.
We found that over 2 billion of those
people - 29% of the total global population - lived
within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of shore in 2018, based
on Oak Ridge Laboratory`s publicly available dataset. About half of
those inhabitants - over 1 billion people, or about 15% of the global
population - lived within 10 kilometers of the water.
If you picture a globe, that means
15% of the world`s population was living
on 4% of the Earth`s entire inhabitable landmass.
People are drawn to coastal areas
for many reasons. Coastal cities are often economic hubs, meaning
job opportunities, access to trade and exposure to bustling communities.
These areas also offer access to nature, including fisheries and recreation.
We found that between 2000 and 2018,
the global population
living within 10 kilometers of the water increased by about
233 million inhabitants - about 28%. That`s equivalent to adding 23
new megacities with 10 million inhabitants each - about twice the
size of the Miami
metro area - right near the water`s edge.
Costly consequences
Human settlement patterns have profound
consequences for people`s exposure to risk, particularly near the
coasts.
Despite the importance of understanding
these population patterns in coastal regions, trying to get a global
picture of the growth has been hazy at best. The LandScan
Global project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is changing
that by starting to allow public access to annual high-resolution
population data. We can used that data to estimate
the magnitude and growth patterns of coastal populations
on an annual basis.
Currently, Asia has four
of the five most populated countries: China, India, Indonesia
and Pakistan. It also has 60% of the Earth`s coastal population. In
comparison, Africa has about 12%, Europe has 11%, North America has
9% and South America has 7%.
But Africa has the fastest-growing
population. Between 2000 and 2018, Africa`s coastal population grew
61%, with 58 million more people living within 10 kilometers of the
oceans. Asia added 125 million more inhabitants within 10 kilometers
of the coast - a more modest 25% increase.
The population of Ghana, in West Africa, has doubled over the past 30
years. Its greatest population density is on the coast.Ulrich
Hollmann/Moment via Getty Images
Collectively, about 78% of the coastal
growth was on those two continents.
On all of these continents, human
population growth along the coast followed
a similar pattern: The highest concentrations of inhabitants
are in the bands closest to shore, decreasing rapidly as they move
inland. Given the great differences among the cultures, economies
and histories of the continents, it is remarkable to find consistent
human population patterns.
Coastal regions are hubs of economic
activity and infrastructure development, often playing critical roles
in national and global economies. However, the rapid population growth
is accelerating human and environmental risks.
Understanding these coastal population
growth patterns is fundamental to addressing this global challenge.
Members
Dialogue: SDG16 with Schatz Roland
by Global
HUB
July 4th, 2025
Roland Schatz & Mario de Vries
Roland Schatz, an expert in implementing
UN sustainability goals, discussed the historical context and global
commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
2030. He shares insights on media analysis methodologies, public awareness
of global issues, and the impact of media coverage on shaping public
opinion. The conversation also covers corporate reporting on SDGs, the
importance of local community engagement, and the potential for sharing
best practices to accelerate progress towards sustainable development.
Living with
AI and Wearing it Daily!
with
Peter Cochrane OBE & Simon
Jones
Peter Cochrane, a distinguished
engineer, shares his lifelong approach to technology and discusses its
evolution, particularly focusing on AI advancements and their impact
on daily life. The conversation with Simon Jones (Higher Education Leadership)
concludes with discussions about technology adoption, the future of
IoT and AI, and the importance of allowing time for experimentation
with new technologies.
Moderator
Credits
Peter Cochrane OBE
Professor of Sentient Systems, Consultant, Advisor, NED, Founder
Greater Ipswich Area, UK petercochrane.com
Simon Jones
Higher Education Leadership
United Kingdom simon-jones.com
Council Member and Trustee
Ulster University
UK Curriculum and
Accreditation Body (UKCAB)
Non Executive DirectorNon Executive Director
Glaciers are crucial for regulating the
global climate and providing freshwater, essential for billions of people.
However, due to climate change, driven mainly by human activities since
the 1800s, these vital resources are rapidly melting. The United Nations
has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation
to highlight the importance of glaciers and ensure that those relying
on them, and those affected by cryospheric processes, receive the necessary
hydrological, meteorological, and climate services. These efforts underscore
the critical role mountain regions play as a key source of global freshwater
and ecosystem services.
Introducing the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP)
2025
The United Nations declared 2025 as the
International Year of Glaciers' Preservation, accompanied by the proclamation
of the 21st March of each year as the World Day for Glaciers starting
in 2025. This is an opportunity to raise global awareness about the
critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the
hydrological cycle, and the economic, social and environmental impacts
of the impending changes in the Earth’s cryosphere.
Introduction to the International
Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, 2025
by UNESCO
This video highlights the key elements of the UN Resolution that establishes
the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the World
Day for Glaciers on 21 March from 2025 onwards.
Cities
are home to the greatest changes of our time; they are the main hubs
of economic and social activity, amassing a greater need for resources.
The pressing need to equip cities with the necessary means to tackle
the planet's major challenges, such as climate change and urban concentration,
is what compels ACCIONA to design essential urban services beyond energy
and water.
ACCIONA is responding to this need by developing
sustainable and transformative solutions. Interconnected solutions that
transform cities into truly productive and habitable well-being spaces,
enhanced in the face of the climate emergency.
Smart buildings, capable of reducing their energy consumption, equipped
with sustainable materials and a 100% digitised system. Buildings that
abandon the "futurist" label to be part of a present that
demands solutions to climate change. And built by ACCIONA.
ACCIONA invests in, develops, and operates infrastructure assets that
contribute to the sustainability of our planet. Our Sustainability Master
Plan 2025 aims to establish us as a recognised leader in developing
foundational infrastructure with added value for both people and the
planet - ultimately, regenerative infrastructure.
ACCIONA is a global group that develops
and manages sustainable infrastructure solutions, particularly in renewable
energy. The company operates across the entire value chain, from design
and construction to operation and maintenance.
ACCIONA’s goal is to lead the transition
to a low-carbon economy, bringing technical excellence and innovation
to all its projects to help design a better planet. With a presence
in over 40 countries and €17.02 billion in sales in 2023, the company
is dedicated to contributing to the economic and social development
of the communities where it operates. With nearly a century of experience,
ACCIONA is better equipped than ever to face the challenges confronting
our planet and continue leading the way toward a more sustainable future.
ETH Zurich and EPFL will release a large
language model (LLM) developed on public infrastructure. Trained on
the “Alps” supercomputer at the Swiss National Supercomputing
Centre (CSCS), the new LLM marks a milestone in open-source AI and multilingual
excellence.
In late summer 2025, a publicly developed large language
model (LLM) will be released - co-created by researchers at EPFL, ETH
Zurich, and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS).
This LLM will be fully open: This openness is designed to support broad
adoption and foster innovation across science, society, and industry.
A defining feature of the model is its multilingual fluency in over
1,000 languages.
Currently in final testing, the model will be downloadable under an
open license. The model focuses on transparency, multilingual performance,
and broad accessibility.
The model will be fully open: source code
and weights will be publicly available, and the training data will be
transparent and reproducible, supporting adoption across science, government,
education, and the private sector. This approach is designed to foster
both innovation and accountability.
Training of the base model was done on a large text dataset in over
1500 languages - approximately 60% English and 40% non-English languages
- as well as code and mathematics data. Given the representation of
content from all languages and cultures, the resulting model maintains
the highest global applicability.
he model will be released in two sizes - 8 billion and 70 billion parameters,
meeting a broad range of users’ needs. The 70B version will rank
among the most powerful fully open models worldwide. The number of parameters
reflects a model’s capacity to learn and generate complex responses.
What will the world look like in 2050?
This report explores four plausible future scenarios based on the intersection
between our planet’s health and societal conditions.
The four divergent futures – Humans
Inc., Extinction Express, Greentocracy and Post Anthropocene –
range from the collapse of our society and natural systems, to the two
living in sustainable harmony.
It is our aim, through sharing this report,
to inform decisions on the design and planning of the built environment,
and show how progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals can drive change for our planet and outlook for humanity.
A demographic
futurist explains the coming Super Age - when there will be more people
older than sixty-five than those under the age of eighteen - and explores
what it could mean for our collective future. Societies all over the
world are getting older, the result of the fact that we are living longer
and having fewer children. At some point in the near future, much of
the developed world will have at least twenty percent of their national
populations over the age of sixty-five. Bradley Schurman calls this
the Super Age. Today, Italy, Japan, and Germany have already reached
the Super Age, and another ten countries will have gone over the tipping
point in 2021. Thirty-five countries will be part of this club by the
end of the decade. This seismic shift in the world population can portend
a period of tremendous growth - or leave swaths of us behind. Schurman
explains how changing demographics will affect government and business
and touch all of our lives. Fewer people working and paying income taxes,
due to outdated employment and retirement practices, could mean less
money feeding popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare
- with greater numbers relying on them. The forced retirement or redundancy
of older workers could impact business by creating a shortage of workers,
which would likely drive wages up and result in inflation. Corporations,
too, must rethink marketing strategies - older consumers are already
purchasing the majority of new cars, and they are a growing and vitally
important market for health technologies and housing. Architects and
designers must re-create homes and communities that are more inclusive
of people of all ages and abilities. If we aren’t prepared for
the changes to come, Schurman warns, we face economic stagnation, increased
isolation of at-risk populations, and accelerated decline of rural communities.
Instead, we can plan now to harness the benefits of the Super Age: extended
and healthier lives, more generational cooperation at work and home,
and new markets and products to explore. The choice is ours to make.
Bradley
Schurman
Bradley Schurman is an expert on demographic change and how it disrupts
social, cultural, political, and economic norms across the United States
and around the world. His deep understanding of population shifts, coupled
with his grasp of emerging trends, makes him an authoritative voice
into the future of everything in our aging society.
He’s the author of THE SUPER AGE:
DECODING OUR DEMOGRAPHIC DESTINY and the founder and CEO of the global
research and advisory firm, The Super Age, where he advises clients
on workforce recruitment and retention, inclusive design, and marketing
and communication strategies.
He’s written for Newsweek, been quoted
by Esquire, Car and Driver, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times,
and USAToday. He regularly appears as a guest on podcast, radio, and
television shows around the world.
Why
Artificial Intelligence will not replace a Human Futurist byHarish Shah
April 20, 2014
A recent conversation on a Linkedin group drew attention to automated
robots writing the news soon after events occur, for media agencies.
This lead a veteran Futurist to ponder the prospect of automated technology
eventually using the same system and algorithms to create automated
AI enabled robots or systems to forecast or plan scenarios, rendering
redundant human Futurists.
The concept is self-defeating. Primarily, Artificial Intelligence is
the set rules in programme coding, which instructs and enables a software
or hardware, to identify and sequence or pattern through detection,
and then to respond according to a pre-programmed prescribed action.
Formal long-running cognitive research in fact triggered long ago by
the proposition that technology can become conscious, that concluded
recently, has determined that cognitive consciousness requires a physical
organic biological body - in other words in fauna, a collection of natural
brain cells collectively forming a brain, to operate a physical body
that constitute a living creature.
Where do we place AI then? AI is basically the automated function of
software or hardware, that adheres to prescribed actions its is enabled
to perform, in response to linear data made available to it, whether
manually or automatically.
So technology in Future Studies, is only as effective, as the numerical
linear data, and its value, to creating scenarios or mapping developments,
which thus far we’ve seen many corporations and governments alike
try to rely upon, only mostly in vein. The human Futurist has always
outperformed and there are strong logical reasons, why this will be
a permanent scenario.
The human brain thinks in non-linear fashion, and is therefore able
to deduce non-linear time and life. You can programme technology, to
interpret and deduce in the non-linear fashion, but it will only remain
limited in ability to its programming and input and the time of programming.
There is no natural or dynamic competency, that you can create in an
artificial system, and this is where we need to heed Einstein’s
great advise, on respecting and submitting to limitations. Technology
was always with limits, and those limits are permanent.
An artificial system, whether robot, computer or program can absorb
and retain a far greater quantity of data or information than any individual
human being. Technology can also make much faster calculations, deductions
and conclusions, for its faster processing abilities we can create.
You cannot programme consciousness or intuition or spontaneity into
any technology, and that again is a limitation we must submit to.
Perhaps robots can be programmed to conduct surgery independently of
any human surgeon or operator being present, or even be programmed to
pilot commercial airlines or spacecraft. However, to programme a system
to replace a human CEO, Lawyer, Futurist or Politician, is neither logically
possible nor sensible.
Automated Forecasting is not new. Till now, there have been software
and computers. In time ahead, you have the prospect of robots. In time,
Automation will increase, and Artificial Intelligence will be more widely
applied. However, with limitations to functions that technology may
be able to serve, we can be certain, that certain possibilities do not
exist, and when we foresee a future, it is imperative that we take into
account those limitations, to rule out possibilities that are not there.
This, to create Future Studies, of real value.
Fantasy and imagination inspire, but only do as much good, as the effort
expended, to balance them, with scientific evidence, logic and feasibility.
Ironically, it must be conceded, that this particular rule, would be
far better adhered to, by a machine or a programme, which is AI enabled,
than by a human being, in general. However, that an AI enabled machine
or programme can likely follow this particular rule better generally,
does not to any measure or by any means, overrule the fact that a feasibility
is absent, to ever programme or evolve any artificial technology, software
or hardware, to think consciously and dynamically, as would a human
being, as is required, for any valuable, adequate and effective Future
Study.
Critics will attempt to dismiss this commentary as a defensive attempt,
at trying to preserve a role and function, but however, a valid counter
criticism, is that the onus in upon the critics to first surface or
create a system that is Artificially Intelligent, that does operate
consciously and thereupon is able to engage in effective Future Studies,
before the occurrence of which, no criticism against such a commentary
is actually logically and objectively valid.
While to some this may sound to be less than humble, in that a human
mind is being assumed here as necessarily more capable than any Artificially
Intelligent technology where Future Studies at least is concerned, and
that it must be conceded that it probably does at least sound as such,
I would propose we also embrace humility enough, to appreciate the limitations
to what we can possibly create. We certainly are not being humble where
we fail to accept, that though we’ll constantly only get better,
some things within the realms of science, technology, life and existence,
will only remain beyond us. And the critics to this last statement bear
the onus, of proving superior scientific thought competence than the
intellectual that left our world with such a thought train in legacy,
after having very much evolved this world with his wisdom while he lived,
by the name of Albert Einstein.
About Harish Shah
Harish
Shah is Singapore's first local born Professional Futurist
and a Management Strategy Consultant. Endearingly known as "The
Singapore Futurist", he runs Stratserv
Consultancy. His areas of consulting and Keynote
Topics include EmTech, Industry 5.0, HR, Digital Transformation, Product
Development, X Reality, Marketing,
Strategic
Foresight, Systems
Thinking and Organisational
Future Proofing. In an Open
Letter in 2019, Harish has called on his fellow Futurists
around the world to raise the emphasis upon the need for Environmental
Salvation, in the course of their work.
Africa's Massive Population Increase
Will Change the World: Edward Paice
by British Thought Leaders
NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Edward Paice, author and the director
of the Africa Research Institute. Paice says that by 2050, 40 per cent
of global births and 33 per cent of global workers will be African.
These demographic shifts, coupled with the declining birth rates of
the developed world, will see massive changes in the lives of everyone
and force a rethinking of Africa’s place on the global stage.
Africa's Population Will
Soar - Europe's Will Collapse
by Economics Help
Over the next few decades, there will be
huge shifts in populations. Europea, Asia, US all will see falling population.
There will be big increase in African population. How will that affect
global economy.
Why will the WORLD DEPEND more
and more on AFRICA?
by VisualPolitik EN
Two-thirds of all the inhabitants of planet
earth live in countries where the fertility rate does not even reach
the replacement rate, i.e. 2.1 births per woman of childbearing age.
However, things are completely different in Africa. The forgotten continent
is experiencing the biggest population explosion in human history. While
in 1914 Africa had only 124 million inhabitants, it is now estimated
that by the end of the century, four out of every ten people living
on earth may be African. In this video we tell you all the details about
a revolution that could completely change our world.
South Korea’s Radical Solution to
Asia’s Birth Rate Crisis
by Bloomberg Originals
South Korea is facing a demographic time
bomb. The nation is grappling with the world’s lowest fertility
rate and a rapidly aging population, which threaten its very future.
The unfolding crisis mirrors a global trend that’s hitting East
Asia hardest, forcing a reckoning between tradition and modern day realities
for women. The choices South Korea makes now might provide a path for
others to follow.
ASEAN Population from 1800 - 2100
by Aninkovsky
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established
on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN
Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN,
namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei
Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995,
Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999,
making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.
Inside India’s explosive
population growth | 101 East Documentary
by Al Jazeera English
Driven by states like Bihar, the country's population is forecast to
continue growing. With Bihar’s
fertility rate much higher than the national average, authorities are
using a raft of family planning measures, including incentives for sterilisations,
which critics say places the burden unfairly on women. Home
to more than 120 million people, competition for jobs is tougher than
ever as the state struggles to curb its high unemployment rate.
101 East investigates attempts to control
India’s population growth and the challenges of finding work in
the world’s most populous country.
Marriage Meltdown: China's
Demographic Crisis
by Bloomberg Television
In China, local governments are getting
creative in their efforts to boost birth rates, offering everything
from free milk to cash incentives. But despite these measures, marriage
rates have plummeted to an all-time low, and the impact is being felt
across the economy.
Japan's population crisis reaches
tipping point
Financial Times
Japan has been struggling to cope with a combination of anaemic economic
growth and a shrinking population for over 30 years. 2025 marks the
tipping point when the rising costs outstrip the country's capacity
to pay for them. The FT's Tokyo bureau chief Leo Lewis looks at how
the country has managed its slow burning demographic crisis and what
the rest of the world can learn from its experience.
The changing demographics throughout
Asia
by Brisbane Economic Development Agency
With his close-up view working throughout Australia and China, BDO
Brisbane’s Dennis Lin talks us through the demographic transformations
happening across the region.
Just the Facts About the US Population,
Geography, and Demographics
by USAFacts
Learn the facts about who lives in the US,
including facts and data about the population, straight from government
data sources.
U.S. headed toward demographic
cliff as population ages
by CBS Evening News
The U.S. is heading toward a demographic
cliff. Over the next decade, there will be fewer 18-year-olds available
to fill the nation's universities. An analysis of census data projects
by 2039, the pool will drop by 15% every year thereafter. Jeff Strohl,
director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce,
explains what it means for America's future.
Canada wants 100 million
people by 2100
by CaspianReport
Why Is Mexico Population
Declining? The Surprising Truth!
by Liviu
Mexico's population is facing
a surprising decline. What are the causes behind this demographic shift,
and what does it mean for the country's future? In this video, we explore
the key reasons for Mexico's shrinking population, from lower birth
rates to economic and social factors.
Brazil's Population Imbalance:
Why So Few People Live In The Interior Of The Country
Geography By Geoff
Brazil is a HUGE country! And despite popular
ideas, it's not comprised entirely of the Amazon Rainforest. Despite
this, the majority of all Brazilians still live just 50 miles from the
coast, illustrating a huge population imbalance for a country that has
over 214 million people! So why do so many Brazilians live near the
coast?
South America Population
1950 to 2100
by Aninkovsky
South America is a continent in the Western
Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small
portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as a southern
subcontinent of the Americas. The reference to South America instead
of other regions (like Latin America or the Southern Cone) has increased
in the last decades due to changing geopolitical dynamics (in particular,
the rise of Brazil).
It is bordered on the west
by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean;
North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. It includes
twelve sovereign states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela; one
overseas department and region of France: French Guiana; and one British
Overseas Territory: the Falkland Islands. In addition, the ABC islands
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ascension Island (dependency of Saint
Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory),
Bouvet Island (dependency of Norway), Panama, South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands (a British Overseas Territory), and Trinidad
and Tobago may also be considered part of South America.
Argentina Population, Bolivia
Population, Brazil Population, Chile Population, Colombia Population,
Ecuador Population, Guyana Population, Paraguay Population, Peru Population,
Suriname Population, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina Population 2100,
Bolivia Population 2100, Brazil Population 2100, Chile Population 2100,
Colombia Population 2100, Ecuador Population 2100, Guyana Population
2100, Paraguay Population 2100, Peru Population 2100, Suriname Population
2100, Uruguay Population 2100, Venezuela Population 2100
Population of all 14 Countries
in Oceania from 10,000 BCE to 2100
by Two bit Queries
Historical country data is shown based on
today's geographical borders.
Watch the incredible evolution
of Oceania's population from ancient times to the future! This race
chart takes you on a journey from 10,000 BCE to 2100, showcasing the
rise of civilizations, plagues, wars, industrialization, and modern
demographic shifts.
The challenges and opportunities
posed by Australia’s rapid population growth
by 7NEWS Australia
7NEWS Chief Reporter Chris Reason investigates the challenges and opportunities
posed by our rapid population growth in the first of a five-part series
investigating critical issues confronting the country’s future,
Big Australia.
The great Australian population
debate
by 60 Minutes Australia
Australia is currently growing at more than twice the rate of America,
the United Kingdom, and even China. Many politicians and economists
say big is not only beautiful but essential, and that a booming population
fuelled by immigration will guarantee our future prosperity. However,
as Liam Bartlett finds out, that is a difficult argument to cop for
everyday Aussies crushed by endless development, congestion and overcrowding.
Sociologist breaks down
new immigration figures on Herald NOW
by nzherald.co.nz
Ryan Bridge talks to Paul Spoonley about new immigration figures that
show net migration has fallen.
Douglas Rushkoff
American media theorist, writer, columnist, lecturer, graphic novelist,
and documentarian
Named one of the “world’s ten
most influential intellectuals” by MIT, Douglas Rushkoff is an
author and documentarian who studies human autonomy in a digital age.
His twenty books include the just-published Survival of the Richest:
Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, as well as the recent Team
Human, based on his podcast, and the bestsellers Present Shock, Throwing
Rocks at the Google Bus, Program or Be Programmed, Life Inc, and Media
Virus. He also made the PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like,
The Persuaders, and Merchants of Cool. His book Coercion won the Marshall
McLuhan Award, and the Media Ecology Association honored him with the
first Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual
Activity.
Rushkoff’s work explores how different technological environments
change our relationship to narrative, money, power, and one another.
He coined such concepts as “viral media,” “screenagers,”
and “social currency,” and has been a leading voice for applying
digital media toward social and economic justice. He serves as a research
fellow of the Institute for the Future, and founder of the Laboratory
for Digital Humanism at CUNY/Queens, where he is a Professor of Media
Theory and Digital Economics. He is a columnist for Medium, and his
novels and comics, Ecstasy Club, A.D.D, and Aleister & Adolf, are
all being developed for the screen.
The Tail Wagging the Doge
One of the most common questions I’ve
been getting this week is from young investors (they wouldn’t call
themselves investors, but they are) wondering why their crypto holdings
are going down as fast or faster than the stock market. “But I
bought all this Ethereum because I knew the market was about to crash,”
one […] read
more
Don’t
Shoot the Messenger: AI is not the problem | Team Human Podcast
by Douglas Rushkoff
Each supposed AI “problem” stems from a lack of imaginative
capacity from us. We are refusing the opportunity to rethink more fundamental
assumptions about the systems under threat.
Instead of acting like tech bros and reinforcing obsolete institutions
in order to further entrench their extractive and inhumane monopolies,
we can go deeper to discover what cracks are being revealed in this
new media environment. Don’t shoot the messenger.
= ChatGPT
Arthur Cosby
Viswadeep Lebakula
