These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics  - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition: 

• Chapter 4: Connecting You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics  - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition: 

• Chapter 3: Creating You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics  - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition: 

• Chapter 2: Watching You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

What if the expert quoted in the story doesn’t exist?

Jesse Chambers is quoted across British newspapers as a travel expert, offering advice on everything from cruise ships to long-haul flights.

There is just one problem.
She doesn’t exist. 

In this episode of Me:chine Dialogues, Tracey Follows speaks with journalist Rob Waugh about the emergence of synthetic experts: fabricated identities designed to supply quotes, authority, and credibility within media systems.

Me:chine Dialogues is a special series from The Future of You exploring identity, agency, and AI-mediated systems — where the machinable and unmachinable selves meet.

What begins as a curious case opens into something much larger. These are not isolated errors or instances of misinformation. They point to a structural shift in how identity is produced and used.

Tracey introduces the concept of identity slop: the moment when personal identity becomes commoditised, scalable, and generated to meet the needs of AI-mediated information systems. 

If expertise can be generated, identity can be fabricated.
And if identity can be fabricated, authority itself can be automated.

This conversation explores what happens next: for trust, for authorship, and for the human self inside increasingly synthetic systems.

Key Ideas

• Identity Slop synthetic identity as low-cost, scalable content
• Synthetic Experts  fabricated authority inserted into media systems
• Machine-Readable Identity  selves optimised for system consumption
• AI-Mediated Information Systems  environments that generate and reward synthetic identity

You can find more about this topic through Rob’s work at Press Gazette 

Visit: 

→ Me:chine World and essays: me-chine.com

→ Podcast archive The Future of You

→ Audiobook series (weekly chapters) Introduction

About Tracey Follows

Tracey Follows is a futurist specialising in identity, agency, and the relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world.

Her work includes the frameworks Systems & Self, Identity as Infrastructure, and Me:chine exploring the machinable and unmachinable dimensions of human identity.

Her central premise: “The future is written between the system and the self.”

***

Music 

"A New Day (intro)" Performed by Skott

Licensed courtesy of Cosmos Music, Safari Riot 

Licensed courtesy of Downtown Music UK Limited, Safari Riot Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity,  social credit systems, avatar assistants, virtual reality, transhumanism, the digital afterlife and genomics  - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition: 

• Chapter 1: Knowing You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity,  social credit systems, avatar assistants, virtual reality, transhumanism, the digital afterlife and genomics  - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition: 

• Introduction — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

The first in a brand new transmission from The Future of You podcast, called Me:chine Dialogues. 

Listen to the manifesto and subscribe now to tune into the frequency of Me:chine World. 

Visit us at me-chine.com

***

Music 

"A New Day (intro)" Performed by Skott

Licensed courtesy of Cosmos Music, Safari Riot 

Licensed courtesy of Downtown Music UK Limited, Safari Riot Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

In this awesome episode, I’m lucky to be talking to Holly Herndon, a Berlin-based artist and groundbreaking musician. With a PhD from Stanford University and a pioneering spirit, Holly merges cutting-edge AI with music to challenge the boundaries of identity. 

From acclaimed albums like Platform and Proto to her revolutionary project Holly Plus, Holly has redefined what it means to create and perform in a digital age. Holly talks about her thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Call’ currently on display at the Serpentine Gallery. 

Holly also explains how the creation of her own super hero, Hairy Mutant X, is helping her explore the difference between the person she is and the digital footprint version of herself on the Internet. 

The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.

Holly Herndon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Herndon

Interdependence https://interdependence.fm/

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

In this episode, I’m talking to Sarah Ticho, founder of Hatsumi and Co-founder of XR Health Alliance about the fascinating intersection of virtual reality (VR), immersive media, health, and well-being. 

Sarah’s work focuses on using VR to create human-centred, immersive experiences that redefine how we understand emotions, memory, and identity.

We discuss Sarah’s pioneering projects, including Soulpaint - an immersive project that invites and enables users to map their emotions through body mapping, 3D drawing, and movement - giving people a new way to think about their emotions and process their feelings. 

Soulpaint won the XR experience competition at this year's SXSW festival  - a huge and deserved accolade for Sarah who is a pioneer in this intersection between art, technology and health. Here we talk about how immersive technologies are reshaping our understanding of identity, memory, and emotions, as well as potentially revolutionising mental health care, pain management, and more. 

Find out more about Soulpaint

Learn more about Hatsumi

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

In this episode we delve into the transformative impact of AI on humanity and society with Chris Perry, Chief Innovation Officer and Chair at Weber Shandwick Futures. His new book, "Perspective Agents," challenges traditional views of news media and information gathering, focusing on the emergence of AI and its potential to reshape our knowledge sources.  He sees perspective as the primary innovation of our times. And he takes us through Taylor Swift as a powerful research case study. 

We discuss AI's role in human creativity, exploring its capacity to redefine expertise and truth.  We speak about breaking echo chambers, using tools like Blackbird.ai and Notebook LM, and chat about how and why AI is reshaping workplaces and businesses. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of news media, societal shifts, and the future of human identity in a world of AI. 

Chris’ book ‘Perspective Agents’ is available here
Chris’ ‘Perspective Agents’ Substack

Tools mentioned: Blackbird AI, Notebook LM

The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey