What happens to “us” when we’re no longer the smartest beings on the planet?

In our brand new episode, technologist and global innovation leader Akshay Chopra discusses his debut novel After Us, exploring a world transformed by SUI, a self-aware, benevolent superintelligence that questions the very definition of life and humanity.

Tara and Akshay dive deep into the fascinating (and often terrifying) intersections of science and fiction, from the "Longevity Escape Velocity" that could grant us 400-year lifespans to why humans may never truly understand an AI’s motives, and how Akshay conceived SUI not as an invention, but as a fallible, evolving being.

The conversation goes on to explore why science fiction remains largely untapped in India, despite its wealth of technologists and storytellers, and how our fear of AI may stem from humanity’s own history of driving other species to extinction. Akshay also shares his journey of publishing his novel through Jaico and his shift from a "pretentious" writing style to a simplified narrative. By stripping away the jargon, he makes the looming reality of our future impossible to ignore.
If the AI takeover keeps you up at night, this episode is just for you!

Books, Movies, and TV shows mentioned in the episode:

1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
2. Black Mirror (2011)
3. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
4. Her (2013)
5. Star Trek (2009)
6. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
7. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
8. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
9. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam
10. A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury
11. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
12. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
13. Interstellar (2014)
14. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

 

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.