Future Tech And Foresight

This episode will give a bird's eye view on how this arms race came about, what’s happening in the race today, who the main players are, what the technologies can be applied to, and give some thoughts on where we might be headed with this undeniably powerful and exciting technology….and yes…much of this will have been written or at least influenced by ChatGPT.

Check out the shownotes on the website for sources embedded in the transcript: https://futuretechandforesight.com/

Timecodes:

00:00:56 - Podcast Begins

00:03:06 - History of Generative AI

00:06:02 - Current AI Arms Race

00:11:29 - Text to Image

00:14:42 - Text to video

00:16:19 - The power of GPT-4

00:17:48 - GPT-4 Applications

00:21:11 - The Future Impacts of generative AI

00:22:21 - Job Loss

00:23:27 - AI Safety, Ethics, Bias

00:24:18 - Will AI increase cultural polarization?

00:26:04 - Will generative AI create an Existential Crisis?

00:30:24 - Why we should be hopeful for the future

00:31:35 - ChatGPT's summary of the AI Arms Race

An introduction to many, but a comprehensive overview of what Animal-Human Chimeras are, what their applications might be, what are the ethical complications that arise from their existence, and what is the future of this technology.

Today's topic is something that I think most of us have only ever come across in science fiction media. Animal-Human Chimeras. I still remember the first time I saw a headline of these chimeras back in 2017, where some were created in a lab in China, and I immediately thought it had to be a joke, but with curiosity getting the better of me, I read a few sentences and stopped short being in a bit of a state of disbelief and shock. I’m sure the same questions of ethical complications, practical applications, and ‘has science gone too far?’ came floating through your mind as they did with me. Since that initial article though I’ve become more familiar with the topic, and therefore more curious about the usefulness of doing such strange and amazing work. And today I’m lucky enough to have a guest who not only dives into the possible applications of the science, but clearly lays out the many myriad issues related to creating such creatures.

About The Guest

Henry Greely, (Hank) specializes in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies, particularly those related to genetics, assisted reproduction, neuroscience, or stem cell research.

He chairs the steering committee for the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and directs both the law school’s Center for Law and the Biosciences and the Stanford Program in Neuroscience and Society. He is a professor (by courtesy) of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine, is the author of two books on related subjects and has numerous other accomplishments and relevant positions related to bioethics and emerging technologies. 

Needless to say, Hank was more than informative on this fascinating topic, and I couldn’t have asked for a guest to paint a more comprehensive picture of the science, technology, impacts, and future of chimeras. Anyone who is hearing about Animal-Human Chimeras for the first time should hopefully by the end of the episode feel a mix of being amazed, terrified, informed and perhaps as one of my favourite professors used to say, “be confused at a higher level.”   

00:05:14 - Hank's First Encounter with Chimeras (Around the year 2000)

00:09:08 - Why make early Mice Chimeras?

00:10:44 - History of Chimera creation

00:12:29 - Do human / non-human Chimeras exist today?

00:18:02 - The technologies that enable the creation of chimeras

00:20:20 - Potential Genetic Manipulations

00:23:32 - When will Chimera creation be successful

00:24:48 - Alternatives to using Chimeras

00:28:42 - What are the applications of created chimeras?

00:42:32 - Ethical Issues with Chimeras

00:52:55 - Will the power of technology shift our ethical standards?

00:58:24 - Final Thoughts

00:59:33 - Where does the term chimera come from?

01:02:10 -Hanks Contact Info and Interview End

Hank's Full Profile: https://law.stanford.edu/directory/henry-t-greely/

Hank's Twitter: https://twitter.com/HankGreelyLSJU

Hank's e-mail: [email protected]

Correction on the 3D printing organ company's name: https://futuretechandforesight.com/podcast/can-we-bioprint-human-hearts-and-other-organs-today/

In this podcast’s previous incarnation, VR and AR were discussed numerous times, especially as the podcast ran through the entire pandemic period and remote work and the future of collaboration was top of mind for many. In late 2021 however, with Facebook’s rebrand to Meta and their new focus shifting to more emerging horizons, The Metaverse became front and centre for many discussions. Most apparently, many asked what exactly is the metaverse, how will it work, who will own it etc etc. But, over the last year with Facebook tying their brand to the metaverse and in many people's mind the two becoming synonymous, when, let’s say hiccups in the quality, direction, and functionality of Facebook’s vision became apparent many of the previous questions asked turned into one, namely is the Metaverse already dead? To discuss the current and future viability of the Metaverse, and what it might mean for all of us if it comes to be, is my guest Dr Louis Rosenberg. 

About The Guest:

Timecodes: 

00:00:46 - Introduction   

Sources and Links: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-rosenberg-025851132/

Venturebeat articles: https://venturebeat.com/author/louis-rosenberg-unanimous-a-i/

Big Think Articles: https://bigthink.com/people/louis-rosenberg/

Responsible metaverse Alliance: https://responsiblemetaverse.org/

XR Safety Initiative: https://xrsi.org/

Metaverse Safety Week: https://metaversesafetyweek.org/ 

Brain-Machine-Interface, also known more generally as Neurotech. Popularized by Elon Musk's Neuralink, and one of the most influential technologies that led to the podcast’s rebranding and re-focus on a more general set of emerging and future technologies is what we’ll be looking at today. What is it, what can it do, and what are it's applications and impacts? Both current and future. 

About The Guest:

My guest David Moses is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California San Francisco, as part of the Edward Chang Lab. He has numerous publications that deal with how machine learning is able to decode speech from brain activity, and has been overseeing a lot of the research connected to one of the more high profile studies that deal with an implanted Brain Computer Interface device in a living human patient.

Time Codes:

03:38 - General Summary of Neurotechnology

05:25 - Why AI is important for Neurotechnology

06:50 - Intro to David Moses

07:40 - Interview Begins

10:50 - David's Research on how to help a paralyzed patient 'speak' again using BCI tech. 

16:25 - How BCI tech can improve

19:30 - Current Successful benefit of BCI tech for patients

21:00 - Invasive vs Non-invasive tech and will invasive tech still be relevant in 10 years

23:30 - What is exciting about BCI tech for the future?

26:40 - Will we be able to link to our digital technology and control it with our 'minds'?

Links and Sources: 

UCSF Profile and publications: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/david.moses

Edward Chang Lab: https://changlab.ucsf.edu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-moses-945a3894/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AtDavidMoses

NPR article on David’s research: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/14/1016028911/experimental-brain-implant-lets-man-with-paralysis-turn-his-thoughts-into-words