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Kyle is a crypto millionaire and a futurist. I asked him on the show because I wanted to understand his perspective on AI, the future, and the human experience post-singularity. He’s a deep thinker and has some bold predictions about the next few decades.
Kyle has led an interesting life, and has the courage to live out his convictions, even if those convictions change. As a young adult, he was a part of the punk/anarchist scene in New Orleans. He squatted in a communal house, dumpster-dived, and made his best efforts to reject capitalism. After becoming disillusioned with the lifestyle, he left the south and began studying futurism.
Shortly thereafter, he got into the world of NFTs. His most successful project reached a trading value of $1.5 million. More recently, he launched an alt-coin or a “shitcoin” that reached a market cap of $8 million.
If you follow this project, you will know that I am skeptical and concerned about the consequences new technology and AI will bring. Kyle, however, believes that there is no stopping “progress.” Resistance is futile (unless you’re Amish). Regardless, I believe that thinking deeply about these things is essential, lest we get swept up completely by the mores of the Machine.
Strange enough, the night before I had this conversation with Kyle, I had a dream about the future. Humans had lost the ability to read deeply. Books like Anna Karenina were novelties. Essentially old museum pieces. I cried for all the depth and wisdom that was lost. How could we give everything up to machines, including our minds?
As much as Kyle’s predictions left me feeling scared and sad for the future, I was reminded that change is constant. Fear of the unknown is natural, yet unhelpful. I don’t believe that all his conjectures will come to fruition, however, they brought up many interesting questions that we dive into in this episode. Will people treat AI like gods? In a future without jobs, in what new ways will humans create identity? Should we try to “solve” death? Will people en masse implant chips in their brains? How will we create meaning in a post-labor future?
This is a tumultuous time in history. Let’s be wide awake for it.
Mentioned in this episode:
Ancient Greek Computer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism
Her (2013): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(2013_film)
The Singularity: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity
Fully Automated Luxury Communism: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/give-us-fully-automated-luxury-communism/592099/
Music and editing by Simon Linsteadt: www.simonvictorlinsteadt.com
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