KQED's Forum

Newer AI tools have begun to act less like “a souped up search engine and more of a junior staffer” observes one industry watcher.  Software developers are deploying Claude Code. Small business people are using AI to work out logistics. At home, people are deploying AI to organize to-do lists, plan vacations, and create meal plans. But what are the risks?  We talk about how AI is evolving, and how to think about the ethics of using these tools.

Guests:

Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter

Maxwell Zeff, senior writer covering artificial intelligence, WIRED

Heather Kelly, technology reporter focusing on the intersection of technology and everyday life

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What is consciousness for, and why did it evolve? Can we change our “default” consciousness? These are some of the questions that Michael Pollan says began to preoccupy him after his first psychedelic experience, which altered his ordinary consciousness so profoundly that he wanted to learn everything he could about the mysteries of sentience, thought and selfhood. We talk to him about what he uncovered and challenges of studying a phenomenon that he says we’ll never understand completely. Pollan’s new book is “A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness.”

Guests:

Michael Pollan, author, "A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness" - professor emeritus, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism; his other books include "In Defense of Food," "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "How to Change Your Mind."

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Violence erupted across Mexico after the killing of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, on Sunday. Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was the head of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, an organization that trafficked drugs across multiple Mexican states and countries. The killing signaled an aggressive and unexpected approach from Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to confronting organized crime. As the chaos settles and shelter in place restrictions lift, the relationship between Mexico’s drug kingpins, the government and the rest of society remains unclear. We talk about what the killing means for Mexico and the United States and what could happen next.

Guests:

Javier Cabral, editor, L.A. Taco - independent local news and culture site; Associate producer for the Taco Chronicles on Netflix

Oswaldo Zavala, professor of Latin American Literature and Culture, City University of New York - College of Staten Island; author of “Drug Cartels Do Not Exist: Narcotrafficking in US and Mexican Culture.”

Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, head of the North American Observatory, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

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The Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Trump does not have the authority to impose his sweeping tariffs — a major setback for his trade agenda. Studies have found that American businesses and consumers have borne most of the cost, and in California, ports, farms, businesses and workers have felt widespread effects. So what does this court ruling mean for the world’s 4th largest economy? We look at how the tariffs have affected California businesses, and what’s ahead as the President seeks to enact new tariffs in response.

Guests:

Ari Hawkins, reporter and author of the “Morning Trade” newsletter, POLITICO

Nick Vyas, professor of economics; founding director of the Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute, University of Southern California

Idrees Kahloon, staff writer, The Atlantic

Bianca Blomquist, California director, Small Business Majority

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Writer Caroline Paul learned to fly a Cessna when she was 20, a paraglider in her 30s, a motorized hang glider in her 40s, and then at 58 years old, as her marriage was dissolving, she took up the gyrocopter, an odd aircraft that resembles a tiny helicopter. “The reasons for this aren’t all mysterious. It’s easier to learn a landing than a human heart,” she writes in her new book “Why Fly: Seeking Awe Healing and Our True Selves in the Sky.” We talk to Paul about the history of flight, why it captivates us, and how she tried to pilot her way through heartbreak.

Guests:

Caroline Paul, pilot; author, "Why Fly: Seeking Awe, Healing, and Our True Selves in the Sky;" her most recent books include "Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking-How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age" and "The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure"

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Citizenship allows you to vote, get a passport and run for office – and it’s supposed to be a promise of protection, equality and belonging. But as immigration agents arrest and detain more American citizens, what if that promise is a myth? In a new book journalist Daisy Hernández dismantles the idea that citizenship is neutral, stable or fair. And she proposes that today it often replaces race a powerful instrument of exclusion. We talk to Hernández about her new book “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth” and what she thinks real belonging might look like. Are you a noncitizen, or a U.S. citizen who’s felt “lesser than?” 

Guests:

Daisy Hernández, author, "Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth"

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With midterm elections a mere eight months away, are Democrats ready? Maybe not, according to journalist Mark Leibovich who traveled the country talking to party leaders about how Democrats intend to meet the moment. Despite Trump’s low approval ratings and a slim Republican majority in Congress, a Democratic rebound is far from a slam dunk with the Republican National Committee currently holding a $100 million fundraising advantage. What happened to the once-confident multiracial coalition of working class men and women? We talk about the future of the Democratic party.

Guests:

Mark Leibovich, staff writer, The Atlantic - His latest piece is titled "The Democrats Aren't Built for This"

Aimee Allison, founder and president, She the People - A national organization dedicated to building the political power of women of color

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Figure skater Ilia Malinin’s shocking 8th place finish at the Winter Olympics is reigniting conversation about “the yips” or “the twisties.” Whatever you call them, elite athletes can suddenly lose the ability to perform skills they’ve practiced countless times – finding themselves unable to throw a baseball, or putt, in a straight line. Or to land the quadruple axel they’ve practiced for years. We explore what causes “the yips,” how athletes can bounce back and what the rest of us can learn from performance psychology. Have you ever lost access to a skill under pressure? What did you do?

Guests:

Bonnie Tsui, journalist; author of "Why We Swim" and "On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters"

Dr. Daya Grant, neuroscientist; certified Mental Performance Consultant listed in the United States, Olympic and Paralympic Committee directory

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If you ask a parent, they are likely to deny they have a favorite child. But ask a kid, and they will tell you that is not true. And researchers agree. They found that roughly two-thirds of parents have a favorite child, and that golden child retained their status for decades. While being the favorite has some obvious upsides, being the apple of your parent’s eye has its pitfalls, and the negative effects of being a non -favored child can last a lifetime. Were you a favorite child? Do you have a favorite child?

Guests:

Sahaj Kaur Kohli, therapist and founder, Brown Girl Therapy; writer, author of the book "But What Will People Say? Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures"

Laurie Kramer, professor of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University

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Super Mario Bros. The Legend of Zelda. Pokémon. Animal Crossing. Video games from the Japanese company Nintendo have been surprising, delighting and challenging players since the 1980s. The Guardian’s video games editor Keza MacDonald has been playing Nintendo games for three decades and has recently introduced her own children to their colorful worlds. And in her new book “Super Nintendo,” MacDonald says that Nintendo’s game design — which rewards curiosity and emphasizes fun — not only changed the video game industry but how we play with each other. MacDonald joins us and we hear from you: What was the first Nintendo game you ever played?

Guests:

Keza MacDonald, senior video games editor, The Guardian; author, "Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play"

Joshua Bote, associate editor, Gazzetteer SF; Pokémon fan and collector

Nathan Kruse, former Super Smash Brothers Super Smash Bros. Melee competitor

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