Future Now Future Now - Institute for the Future

In this episode, Alissa Quart discusses her latest book, "Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream." Quart and host Marina Gorbis take a deep dive into the origins and evolution of the "bootstrapping" myth, revealing the hypocrisies and hidden dependencies that underlie this pervasive narrative. From historical figures like Emerson and Thoreau to modern-day Silicon Valley icons, Quart exposes the cracks in the self-made success story. The conversation also delves into the precarious state of the middle class, the potential of mutualism as an alternative ethos, and the importance of fostering solidarity across diverse occupations in the face of increasing economic insecurity. Join us as we explore the liberating power of debunking toxic myths and envisioning a more interdependent American dream.

IFTF: https://iftf.org/podcast

Alissa Quart: https://www.alissaquart.com/

Bootstrapped: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bootstrapped-alissa-quart

Our guest is Professor Neil Kraus from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the author of "The Fantasy Economy: Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Education Reform Movement" In this episode, Marina Gorbis and Neil discuss the long-standing economic myths, diminishing returns on educational investments, the surplus of degree holders in low-wage job markets, and the misleading narrative of labor shortages.

The Fantasy Economy: https://tupress.temple.edu/books/the-fantasy-economy

Institute for the Future: https://iftf.org

In this episode of Future Now, author and journalist Nick Romeo discussed the themes of his latest book, "The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy." (https://bit.ly/482m57j) Nick challenges the inevitability of the current economic status quo, offering a thought-provoking discourse on potential alternatives, from restructuring labor markets and corporate dynamics to innovative political interventions for city governance. If you enjoyed this episode, you should listen to Nick’s Book Talk discussion at the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on Wednesday, January 24, from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. Visit this link for more information: https://bit.ly/3tVqVoR

Renowned economist and author Daron Acemoglu discusses insights and revelations from his latest book, "Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity," with IFTF Executive Director Marina Gorbis. The conversation explores the intricate relationship between technology, economic growth, and societal well-being, examining how innovations have shaped prosperity throughout history.

IFTF Emerging Media Lab director Toshi Hoo speaks with Jules Terpak, a Gen Z content creator known for her work unpacking technology and culture trends on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The conversation centers around the implications of recent breakthroughs in generative AI, particularly in how these advances may shape the future of work and creativity.

Key Points:

- Jules has been active on social media for over a decade, starting with YouTube at age 10. She's seen how platforms rise and fall, and how algorithms shape content.

- Generative AI like DALL-E is opening new creative possibilities, but still has limitations around generating longer form video.

- Social media algorithms already curate our feeds, and now generative AI will start generating personalized content at scale.

- The NPC trend (https://theconversation.com/people-are-pretending-to-be-npcs-on-tiktok-and-its-not-just-weird-its-also-lucrative-210795) on TikTok shows people mimicking repetitive AI-like behavior for views and money. An interesting signal as AI advances.

- Loneliness as a market opportunity - rise of virtual companion bots like Replika and emotional labor replacements.

- Gen Z is questioning traditional work as they've grown up exposed to influencer careers. But sustainability is a challenge. Need to find your niche fans.

- As AI advances, optimizing human-AI collaboration will be key.

- Jules is cautiously optimistic about human-AI futures with proper governance and conscious use. Focus on human needs like security.

Resources:

Jules' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JulesTerpak
Jules' Twitter: https://twitter.com/julesterpak/
Growing Digital TikTok series: https://www.tiktok.com/@julesterpak
Replika virtual companion bot: https://replika.com

In this episode of Future Now, IFTF Executive Director Marina Gorbis speaks with author, filmmaker, and activist Astra Taylor about economic insecurity and building solidarity. They discuss Astra's new book "The Age of Insecurity," (https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-age-of-insecurity) which examines how insecurity stems from systemic forces, not individual failings. Astra and Marina explore the myth that insecurity fosters innovation, and how guaranteed assets like housing and healthcare allow civic participation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the basic assets that enable human flourishing.

Show Notes:

“Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time?” New York Times guest essay by Astra Taylor (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/opinion/inequality-insecurity-economic-wealth.html)

Astra Taylor Twitter @astradisastra (https://twitter.com/astradisastra)

The Age of Insecurity, by Astra Taylor (https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-age-of-insecurity)

Prisons We Choose to Live Inside, by Doris Lessing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_We_Choose_to_Live_Inside)

Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, by Margaret Atwood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payback:_Debt_and_the_Shadow_Side_of_Wealth)

What Is Democracy? A film by Astra Taylor (https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/whatisdemocracy)

Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone (https://academic.macmillan.com/academictrade/9781250231284/democracymaynotexistbutwellmissitwhenitsgone)