Future Tense

Chat GPT pioneer, Sam Altman, reckons democratic countries will need to re-write their social contracts once AI reaches its full potential, such is its power to shape the future. But to quote a famous political aphorism: "he would say that, wouldn't he?" Princeton computer scientist, Arvind Narayanan, joins us to talk about the hype, the reality and the true limits of Artificial Intelligence. His new book is called "AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the Difference". Also, AI's dirty secret – it's a huge consumer of both power and water. And the more popular it becomes, the thirstier it gets.

Guests

Professor Arvind Narayanan – Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University

Gordon Nobel – Research Director, Business, Economy and Governance, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney

Associate Professor Shaolei Ren — Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside

Further information

Narayanan, Arvind — AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the Difference

Making AI Less "Thirsty": Uncovering and Addressing the Secret Water Footprint of AI Models

IT and Data Centre Sustainability in Australia

Every crisis, they say, presents an opportunity. But history tells us differently. Social philosopher, Roman Krznaric, spells out the vital elements needed to initiate rapid change – and why a better understanding of the way we respond to crises could help in the fight against climate change.

Guests

Dr Roman Krznaric – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Oxford University

Dr Stefan Peters – Senior Lecturer in Geospatial Science, University of South Australia

Further information

Krznaric, Roman – History for Tomorrow: inspiration from the Past for the Future of Humanity

Do we underestimate the value of Liberalism? Political philosopher, Alexandre Lefebvre, says liberalism underpins the modern Western world, even if we sometimes struggle to define it. And even when its brand is coopted by party-politics. Rediscovering its pure form, he argues, could be the key to a more tolerant and prosperous future. Also, is the European Union losing its taste for regulation, particularly where big tech is involved? 

Guests

Dr Alexandre Lefebvre – Professor of Politics and Philosophy, University of Sydney

Laura Petrone – Analyst, Thematic Intelligence Team, Global Data

Dr Anabela Malpique – Senior lecturer, Department of Education, Edith Cowen University 

Further information

 Alexandre Lefebvre – Liberalism as a Way of Life

In a world where Donald Trump embraces anti free-trade protectionism and "leftish" governments are going heavy on law and order, do the old political labels of Left and Right really make sense? Is it time for a new way of thinking and talking about political difference? And how do ordinary voters actually choose their political positions? Are their decisions based on ideology or simple tribalism?

Guests

Dr Gregory Millard – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Kwantlen University, Canada

Dr Simon Otjes – Assistant Professor, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Dr Verlan Lewis – Stirling Professor of Constitutional Studies, Utah Valley University. Visiting scholar, Center for American Political Studies, Harvard University

Further information

Lewis, Verlan – The Myth of Left and Right

The Anthropocene – the idea that we now live in a geological age shaped by human activity — is a controversial topic. It irritates those who reject the whole notion of adverse climate change — and it's also now causing a fight among geologists themselves. So, what's behind the scientific contention?

Also, why some argue that textiles are the new "hidden" plastic plague.

Guests

Dr Erle Ellis – Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland

Dr Francine McCarthy – Professor of Earth Studies, Brock University, Canada

Dr Rebecca Van Amber – Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University

The night sky is getting brighter by about ten per cent each year — that's the scientific estimate. While new forms of lighting technology can reduce the amount of light pollution, the sheer impact of a global boom in artificial lighting is just too much. It threatens the health of both humans and other animals. Historically, darkness has been seen in a negative social and cultural context, so can we change our attitudes and learn to embrace the dark sky? In other words, see the light about the beauty of darkness!

Guests

Ruskin Hartley – Executive Director, Dark Sky International

Dr Paul Bogard – Associate Professor Hamline University (US) and author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light

Dr Tim Edensor – Cultural Geographer, Manchester Metropolitan University 

Further information

DarkSky International: Five principles for responsible outdoor lighting

Nick Dunn/Tim Edensor - Dark Skies: Places, Practises, Communities

If we're genuinely concerned about the impact livestock can have on our environment, why aren't we equally worried about pets? The pet industry is booming and despite the many positive psychological and emotional benefits of pet ownership, concerns about global pet numbers and environmental sustainability are mounting. So, do we need to rethink how we live with domesticated animals? And how can we strike a balance between our seemingly insatiable desire for fur-babies and their subsequent impact on the natural world and our hip pocket?

Guests

Dr Jen Gale – Veterinarian and Director of Vet Sustain (UK)

Dr Emily Hemendinger – Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado

Dr Andrea Laurent Simpson – Research Assistant Professor, Southern Methodist University; Author of Just Like Family: How Companion Animals Joined the Household

Dr Andrew Rowan – founder of the Tufts Centre for Animals and Public Policy; President, Wellbeing International

Dr Belinda Jane Dunstan – Principal Lead, Creative Robotics Lab, University of New South Wales

The rate of technological advancement in sport is unprecedented. From data analytics to robotic umpiring to smart equipment, technologies are reshaping what it means to achieve and compete. Even the International Olympic Committee has now developed an AI strategy. 

It's also big business with the sport industry conservatively estimated at around one per cent of global GDP.

So, when does ingenious innovation become cheating? And if technology pushes us past the point of physical capacity, why bother with human competitors at all?

Guests

Professor Sascha Schmidt – Director of the Centre for Sports and Management, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

Louis Weston – Barrister and sports lawyer, Outer Temple Chambers, London

Dr John Holash – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University of Calgary

Robert Marchiori – CEO Cognizant Australia

Further information

21st Century Sports. How Technologies Will Change Sports in the Digital Age

International Olympic Committee - Olympic AI Agenda

Global media players now dominate the entertainment business and hold the whip-hand when it comes to accessing local news content. In this program we get an update on Meta's ban on Canadian news content, specifically how it's impacted production of serious news and what's been the public reaction. We also get a reality check on just how interested the giant US steaming services are in Australian content.

Guests

Aengus Bridgman – Director, Media Ecosystem Observatory (Canada)

Matthew Deaner – CEO, Screen Producers Association

Professor Anna Potter – Digital Media and Cultural Studies, Queensland University of Technology

Further information

When journalism is turned off: Preliminary findings on the effects of Meta’s news ban in Canada

Australian Television Drama’s Uncertain Future: How Cultural Policy is Failing Australians

NASA's new telescope will revolutionise the search for non-Earth based life. It's to be called the Habitable Worlds Observatory and will be powerful enough to peer into the atmosphere of planets outside of our solar system.

But if, or when, we do find evidence of a life form beyond our solar system what do we do next? And who should decide whether or even how we make contact? A new research hub at the University of Andrews is among those drawing up a plan.

Guests

Dr Megan Ansdell – Program Manager, Habitable Worlds Observatory, NASA

Professor Adam Frank – Astrobiologist and astrophysicist, University of Rochester, New York

Dr John Elliott – Computational linguist and Coordinator of the SETI Post Detection Hub, University of St Andrews

Professor Ian Roberts — Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge