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:<ul><li>The enormous scale of animal suffering today, and why AI could either worsen or improve it depending on the decisions we make.</li><li>Using computer vision and sensors to monitor animals and optimize for their welfare rather than just productivity.</li><li>The research that’s being done to use AI to communicate with animals and what it’s already telling us about their well-being.</li><li>Other sentient beings that could be impacted by emerging technologies, like artificial minds and biocomputing.</li></ul> 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 hope

How AI could improve the lives of trillions of animals

Having an AI boyfriend or girlfriend might seem creepy, but what if it helped you get better at human relationships?&nbsp;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:<ul><li>How to use AI to better understand other people and improve our relationships.</li><li>Using debate AIs in schools to make younger generations better at critical thinking and grasping both sides of an argument.</li><li>Is AI making our lives too easy by removing the friction we need to learn?</li><li>Technologies that could expand what’s possible with our brain, from mind uploading to brain-to-brain communication.</li></ul> 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 conversation

How dating an AI could improve your real love life | David Eagleman

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:<ul><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>How data shows economic growth is actually good for the climate and for human happiness.</li><li>Why achieving a prosperous world currently depends more on our collective belief that progress is possible than on resource constraints.</li><li>How you can thrive in an AI world, where 57% of work hours can be automated, by leaning into the “messy” jobs.</li></ul> Timestamps:0:00 - Cold open1:54 - Why the McKinsey Global Institute wrote “A Century of Plenty”&nbsp;5:20 - What was the world like in 1925?&nbsp;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"?&nbsp;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&nbsp;34:05 - What are the biggest challenges to the “progress machine”?&nbsp;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?&nbsp;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 probable

How the whole world can exceed Swiss living standards by 2100 (backed by data)

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:<ul><li>How to shift our focus from "preventing the end of the world" to actively building a future worth living.</li><li>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.</li><li>Relying on our own sense of “the right thing to do” as a practical guide to make the world better.</li><li>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.</li><li>Why building AI with compassion and curiosity about human values may be safer than giving it a rigid list of rules to follow.</li></ul> 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 hope

How your personal moral compass helps you build a better world | SJ Beard

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:<ul><li>What makes a research project truly high-impact in view of an AI world</li><li>Concrete examples of these projects: maps of brain synapses, software that’s provably safe, drug screening, good data for AI-powered scientific research, and more</li><li>How to prioritize defensive technology, such as biosafety tools, instead of just pushing every frontier as fast as possible</li><li>How young scientists can find the work that matters most for the future</li></ul> [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-builders

Raising science ambition: how to identify the highest-impact research for an AI world | Anastasia Gamick

Our fast-paced world isn’t spinning out of our control; we’re actually becoming more capable of steering it than ever before. Throughout history, technological progress has expanded human agency, that is our ability to choose our destiny rather than being subject to the whims of nature.Jason Crawford, founder of the Roots of Progress Institute, joins the podcast to discuss The Techno-Humanist Manifesto, his book exploring his philosophy of progress centered around human life and wellbeing.&nbsp;In our conversation, we dive into the core arguments of the manifesto:<ul><li>How we are more in control of our lives than ever before</li><li>Why we should reframe the goal of “stopping climate change” into “controlling climate change” and work toward installing a “thermostat for the Earth”</li><li>The value of nature and its interaction with humanity</li><li>Allowing ourselves to celebrate human achievement and industrial civilization</li><li>The concept of “solutionism”, as a kind of optimism that acknowledges risks while keeping a proactive attitude towards solving problems</li><li>Why two common fears around the slowing of progress – that we could run out of natural resources or new ideas – are actually unfounded</li><li>The possibility that AI represents a transformation as significant as the Industrial Revolution or the invention of agriculture</li><li>How to rebuild a culture of progress in the 21st century, from reforming scientific institutions to creating new, non-dystopian science fiction</li></ul> Chapters:[00:00] Cold open[01:30] Intro: Jason Crawford and the Techno-Humanist Manifesto[04:10] Defining progress as the expansion of human agency[06:16] How to use our newfound agency to live a meaningful life[10:07] Climate control: installing a “thermostat” for the Earth[13:26] Anthropocentrism and the value of nature[19:41] Ode to man: celebrating human achievement[20:53] Solutionism: believing in our problem-solving abilities to tackle risks[26:26] Why pessimism sounds smart but misses the solution space[31:29] The myth of finite natural resources and the power of knowledge[34:27] Why we are getting better at finding ideas faster than they get harder to find[39:03] The Intelligence Age: a new mode of production[41:19] Amplifying human agency in an AI-driven world[43:09] Developing a healthy relationship with AI and attention[46:28] The culture of progress and why we soured on the future[50:10] Building the infrastructure for a global progress movement[53:54] A 20-year vision for progress studies in the mainstream[57:33] High-leverage regulations for progress: from nuclear to supersonic flight[58:57] Jason Crawford’s existential hope vision

Jason Crawford on how technology expands human choice and control

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.&nbsp;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:<ul><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li></ul> Chapters:<ul><li>Cold open (00:00:00)</li><li>Introducing Elle Griffin (00:01:27)</li><li>How writing a novel turned into a research project (00:02:27)</li><li>Elle’s current work: From print pamphlets to "We Should Own the Economy" (00:04:21)</li><li>The setup of Elle’s upcoming utopian novel (00:05:06)</li><li>From gothic literature to utopian literature (00:06:30)</li><li>Three classic utopian novels and their recurring lessons (00:15:42)</li><li>Building a "future Asia" through mythology and technology (00:22:02)</li><li>What if US States had the same autonomy as EU countries? (00:23:49)</li><li>"A la carte" federalism: moving toward a modular government (00:28:11)</li><li>The Mondragon model: a blueprint for worker-owned economies (00:32:54)</li><li>Why the smallest government is the best government (00:36:18)</li><li>The global monoculture and the rise of micro-cultures (00:44:29)</li><li>Who should control AI? The case for employee-led governance (00:53:02)</li><li>Fixing the Internet and using AI to make us wise, not just efficient (01:01:06)</li><li>Why Victor Hugo’s "Les Misérables" is the ultimate masterpiece (01:06:14)</li><li>An existential hope vision for the future (01:08:09)</li></ul>

Elle Griffin on researching the ideal society, from utopian books to real-world examples

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:&nbsp;<ul><li>Why an advanced intelligence would likely find killing humans “mean.”</li><li>How automated computer security checks could be one of the best uses of powerful AI.</li><li>Why the best preparation for AGI is simply to build helpful products today.</li></ul>

Andrew Critch on what AGI might look like in practice

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.&nbsp; The conversation also touches on these questions:<ul><li>Why should communities be given a clear "job" to increase their longevity?</li><li>How can we achieve diversity of thought in tight-knit groups?</li><li>Why is constantly networking (with a finite-game approach) detrimental to human well-being?</li><li>What does it mean to be a "realistic optimist"?</li><li>How can we architecturally ensure that future AI serves groups and supports humans as social creatures, rather than further enabling solitary, hyper-addictive entertainment?</li></ul>

Anna Gát on creating communities that connect, even when people disagree

On the Existential Hope Podcast hosts <a href="https://foresight.org/our-team/allison-duettmann-president-ceo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Allison Duettmann</a> and <a href="https://www.existentialhope.com/team/beatrice-erkers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beatrice Erkers</a> from the <a href="https://foresight.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Foresight Institute</a> invite scientists, founders, and philosophers for in-depth conversations on positive, high-tech futures. Full transcript, listed resources, and more: <a href="https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts</a> Follow on <a href="https://x.com/HopeExistential " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a>.

The Existential Hope Podcast features in-depth conversations with people working on positive, high-tech futures. We explore how the future could be much better than today—if we steer it wisely. Hosts Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers from the <a href="https://foresight.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Foresight Institute</a> invite the scientists, founders, and philosophers shaping tomorrow’s breakthroughs— AI, nanotech, longevity biotech, neurotech, space, smarter governance, and more. <blockquote>About Foresight Institute: For 40 years the independent nonprofit Foresight Institute has mapped how emerging technologies can serve humanity. Its Existential Hope program is the North Star: mapping the futures worth aiming for and the breakthroughs needed to reach them. This podcast is that exploration in public. Follow along and help tip the century toward success.</blockquote> Explore more: <ul><li>Transcript, listed resources, and more: <a href="https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts</a></li><li>Follow on <a href="https://x.com/HopeExistential" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a></li></ul>