The Award-Winning ‘Best Technology Show’ | Apple Podcasts Recommended | The Future of You Book
The Future of You
Awards & Recognition
The award-winning and ApplePodcast-recommended The Future of You pod can be found here. You can also see the book that gave birth to the pod: The Future of You.
Technology is reshaping us, transforming who we are.
It is time to investigate the relationship between new technologies and personal identity.
Tune in to the latest TFOY episode below for revelations and discussions with world renowned futurists, psychologists, scientists, artists, academics and law makers, as we continue to decode the changing nature of identity in the The 21st Century.
“There are now three dimensions to the self: the biology of self, the psychology of self, and the technology of self”
- Tracey Follows, host and author of The Future of You
Meet Your Future Self - Episode #33
What if you could use AI to see what your life would be like when you are 60, or better understand how you got there? Today on The Future of You I’m talking to the creators of an interactive experience that will allow you to do just that.
In this episode I speak with Germeshausen Professor Pattie Maes and technologist and researcher Pat Pataranutaporn from MIT Media Lab. Pattie and Pat are working on "Future You" , a project using AI to create our own digital twin.
We talk about human-AI interaction, human attachment to machine conversation, and what questions we might pose to our future selves when given the opportunity.
Your Identity, Unplugged - Episode #32
In this episode of The Future of You I’m talking to Erik Prince, co-founder of Unplugged, a privacy-first smartphone to rival Big Tech. A former Navy SEAL, Erik is also the founder and former CEO of Blackwater—the world’s largest and most effective private military firm.
Erik discusses the creation and importance of the Unplugged phone and highlights the growing concerns around data collection, surveillance, and the misuse of technology by governments and big tech companies. He delves into the unique features of the Unplugged phone, including its lack of an advertising ID, secure messenger, and kill switch, all designed to protect user privacy.
We also touch on the broader issues of digital surveillance, the role of AI, and the future of personal security in an increasingly connected world.
The State of AI: Innovation and Regulation - Episode #31
In this episode of The Future of You, we hear from futurist and author Richard Yonck. We discuss some common fears and misconceptions around AI. We also consider a realistic timeline for AI advancements such as self-driving cars and consider the importance of balancing AI's benefits with ethics.
I also welcome Lord Chris Holmes MBE back to the podcast. We talk about his private member’s bill which covers everything from consumer protection to intellectual property and the creation of an AI authority to oversee the UK’s ever evolving AI landscape.
Latest on the AI BIll see Lord Holmes’ blog https://lordchrisholmes.com/
The Children’s Book of the Future - Episode #30
Welcome back to the Future of You! Season four kicks off with an insightful conversation with renowned futurist Richard Watson.
This episode delves into the inspiration behind and creation of his latest work, "The Children's Book of the Future," a beautifully illustrated book designed to fill children with optimism and imagination about the future. Richard shares the creative process behind the book, the importance of optimism and the challenges of writing for young minds in a world often filled with gloom. Join us as we explore the optimistic visions of tomorrow and the role of futurism in shaping young minds.
Get your copy of The Children’s Book of the Future.
Identity, Ownership and The New Role of Cryptography - Episode #29
In this episode of The Discussion I speak with Steven Boykey Sidley about cryptography, identity and ownership in the digital world.
We discuss privacy, anonymity and personhood in the digital age and the transformation around ownership thanks to crypto. We touch on the debate around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the need for alternatives like stablecoins. We think about how people in emerging markets can protect against currency debasement and where tokenization and NFTs fit in.
Steven is Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg and the author of several books on cryptocurrency including “It’s Mine” and “Beyond Bitcoin”
Your Face Belongs To Us - Episode #27.
In this episode I talk to New York Times technology reporter and author of “Your Face Belongs To Us”, Kashmir Hill.
We talk about the impact of facial recognition technology, the potential for misuse of the tech and its limitations. We also discuss the importance of data privacy and what’s happening to the billions of photos millions of people share online every day.
‘Your Face Belongs To Us: The Secretive Startup Dismantling Your Privacy’ by Kashmir Hill .
AI, Agents and Swarm Intelligence - Episode #26
We discuss the impact of conversational AI on our everyday interactions and whether marketing will be morphing into manipulation as virtual salespeople become a reality.
We also discuss the data hidden in our movements and the work being done to protect our motion privacy. The conversation ends with a discussion about swarm intelligence and what we might learn from biological systems in nature.
Generative AI from Consumer Rights to Human Rights - Episode #19
In this episode of The Discussion I’m joined by Josh Muncke - Commercial Director, Retail & Consumer at Faculty and Sam Gregory - Executive Director at Human Rights Organisation, WITNESS. We cover generative AI models, what they are and how they're changing the customer experience. Testing and iterating as a process, and how the field of prompt engineering is going to evolve. Also shallow fakes versus deep fakes, the novel ability to create new media content from existing data, the need for safeguards and transparency. And of course, what's next for GPT, and the next generation of models.
Brain Data and the Sovereign Self - Episode 13
In this episode I’m joined by Nita Farahany; author of The Battle For Your Brain and Professor at Duke University. We discuss how brain data is already being collected and used as well as the importance of cognitive liberty.
I also find out more about the technology being used to collect brain data. I talk with CEO and Co-founder of Neurable Dr. Ramses Alcaide, and Co-founder and CEO of Neurosity AJ Keller; two companies creating brain data products they believe we’ll soon be using as often as our smartphones.
Professor Nita A. Farahany's new book 'The Battle For Your Brain: Defending The Right To Think Freely In The Age Of Neurotechnology' available in US and UK
Ready for Brain Transparency? Nita A Farahany's session at Davos 2023
Tracey's piece in Forbes, 'Forget Media Manipulation And Misinformation via TikTok And Twitter, Neurotechnology Heralds The New Battle For Our Brains'