In episode 4 of The Outside Context, hosts Elise Soucie Watts and Jannah Patchay sit down with Lex Sokolin, co-founder of Generative Ventures, to explore the convergence of crypto, artificial intelligence, and financial technology. Lex shares his journey from early fintech ventures to leading DeFi initiatives at ConsenSys and launching a venture fund focused on the evolving machine economy.

The conversation touches on the rise of AI agents, the future of Web3, financial engineering, and the broader societal impact of automation and tokenized economies. Lex provides a forward-looking perspective on how AI-driven finance is reshaping economic structures and why the next wave of digital transformation is already here.

Key Topics Covered

Lex Sokolin’s background in fintech, crypto, and AI investing; The vision behind Generative Ventures and why AI + crypto is the future; The evolution of DeFi and its intersection with artificial intelligence; The machine economy: AI agents, digital ownership, and on-chain finance; Reflections on the collapse of FTX and lessons learned for Web3; How regulation and policy might shape the next decade of fintech innovation; The ethical and societal implications of AI-driven financial markets; and A realistic look at whether we are heading toward a dystopia—or simply an unfamiliar new world.

Resources & Mentions 

Generative Ventures – Lex Sokolin’s investment fund Books discussed: Accelerando (Charles Stross), The Technium (Kevin Kelly), Neuromancer (William Gibson) AI & Web3 projects: Peaq (Layer 1 for AI-powered DePIN networks), Moemate (entertainment AI agents)

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In episode 3 of The Outside Context, Jannah and Elise sit down with Daniel Hulme, CEO and Founder of Satalia. As an OG of AI, Daniel shares unpacks what we really mean by 'artificial intelligence', the origins of AI and how it has evolved over the years. Together with the co-hosts they explore the real risks and challenges that AI poses, as well as what the a positive AI future means for civilisation and humanity.

They take a deep dive into the impacts of AI through the PESTLE framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental) while considering both the positive and negative consequences for each of these areas.  
What would your life look like in an automated future where everything is abundant? How do we as a civilisation grapple with a post truth world? Join Daniel & the co-hosts in episode 3 to find out how we can make AI work for the positive future of humanity - but also consider what the far far future might look like as the robots continue to rise.

Link to Venemous Lumpsucker: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593576-venomous-lumpsucker

Link to a free Life in the UK test if you want to try your luck: https://lifeintheuktests.co.uk/life-in-the-uk-test/

Link to HUM: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195791689-hum

Link to Stowaway to Mars: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1492247.Stowaway_to_Mars

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© 2024 The Outside Context. All rights reserved.

In episode 2 of The Outside Context, Jannah and Elise speak to Juliana Suess, an associate with the Strategic Threat Analysis and Nuclear Disorder team within the International Security Team at the German Institute for International Security Affairs.

Jannah and Elise ask Juliana to explain more about her work on space security and what its implications are for society. They discuss where space sits in the geopolitical landscape, who are the main players vying for control of space and what are their various motivations. 

In the episode the also dive into the balance is being struck between military and civilian dependence on space and, as a society, how should we globally govern space and attempt to mitigate some of the risks taking place as the use of space for different purposes becomes more crowded and contested?
 

Link to Cold Magic: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7114825-cold-magic

Link to Century Rain: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22824019

Link to Types of Counterspace Weapons in Context: https://aerospace.csis.org/aerospace101/counterspace-weapons-101/

Link to Carrington Events: https://www.space.com/the-carrington-event

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Sponsored by Unblocked & Markets Evolution
© 2024 The Outside Context. All rights reserved.

In episode 1 of The Outside Context, Jannah and Elise sit down with Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy at Circle. Dante shares his journey into the digital assets world from Puerto Rico, to Richard Branson's Island, to the new shores of digital money. Together with the co-hosts they do a deep dive into the future of digital money and how its broader economic impacts may change civilisation as we know it.

They cover how decentralised models might challenge the dominance of sovereign fiat currencies and central banks and the potential broader economic consequences of the ongoing transformation in how we view and use money. Dante also shares insights on the most important trends or innovations in digital assets that we should be paying attention to right now.

Who will the winners and losers of this new digital money era be in the short term....as well as in the long term in this galaxy and the next? How are money and digital assets evolving in the broader context of space exploration and interplanetary economics? Get a bit geeky with Dante & the co-hosts in episode 1 to find out how digital money poses an outside context problem - but also many potential solutions for our financial services system and beyond.

Link to the Bretton Woods Paper: https://www.brettonwoods.org/article/de-dollarization-or-re-dollarization-the-fate-of-the-dollar-in-the-internet-age

Message us and tell us what you think of this episode, or share your ideas for future episodes - we’d love to hear from you!

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© 2024 The Outside Context. All rights reserved.

A brand new podcast from Jannah Patchay & Elise Soucie Watts on the future of technology & civilisation. Listen to get to know the hosts, find out what inspired The Outside Context, & find out what kind of guests they will be having on the show as well as the topics it will analyse.

Message us and tell us what you think of this episode, or share your ideas for future episodes - we’d love to hear from you!

Sponsored by Unblocked & Markets Evolution
© 2024 The Outside Context. All rights reserved.