Kim Stanley Robinson on narrative and civilization

What is the connection between the future of humanity and the future of technology? Science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson (The Mars trilogy, Ministry for the Future) joins the podcast to speculate about how we might evolve as a civilization. Science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson joins the podcast to speculate about how we might evolve as a civilization. His books, such as The Mars trilogy or Ministry for the Future to name a few—address issues like economic inequality, governance, and the ethical dilemmas posed by technological advancements. Reid, Aria, and Stan discuss Stan’s books and characters, how he builds his science fiction worlds, and the shifting pace of human acceleration. Plus, Stan explains the way that humans have organized themselves in the past and how AI may change how humans organize themselves in the future. 

Read the transcript of this episode here.

Promotional image credit: Gage Skidmore.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

3:40 - Hellos and intros 

6:00 - Stan’s story development process

9:00 - Where we are on the narrative arc of humanity

14:07 - The pace of human progress

19:35 - Science fiction and the political realm

23:54 - How humans organize themselves 

29:23 - The strength of AI programmers

34:44 - How Ministry of the Future applies to the real world

43:53 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. 

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion. 

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer and Editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, and Little Monster Media Company.