Future Now 008 — Sci-Fi Author David Brin on AI's Past, Present, and Future

IFTF Executive Director Marina Gorbis and acclaimed science fiction author David Brin discuss the future implications of artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation centers on how to regulate and direct AI in positive directions for humanity's benefit. Topics include opportunities and risks inherent in AI. the need for regulated competition, ensuring equitable access to AI, funding "public good" AIs, and fostering agility and innovation in steering our AI future.
Mentioned in this episode:
* "True Names" and "Rainbow’s End" by Vernor Vinge - Cited as examples of science fiction that understands accountability online. https://www.fantasticfiction.com/v/vernor-vinge/
* "Give Every AI a Soul—or Else," by David Brin, Wired, 2023 - "To solve the 'crisis' in artificial intelligence, AI beings must say, 'I am me.'" https://www.wired.com/story/give-every-ai-a-soul-or-else/
* Ecologically oriented novels of Nancy Kress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future
* "Yuval Noah Harari argues that AI has hacked the operating system of human civilization," The Economist, 2023. https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/04/28/yuval-noah-harari-argues-that-ai-has-hacked-the-operating-system-of-human-civilisation
* "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson - Influential novel from 2020 that covers similar territory as David Brin's "Earth" novel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future
* "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" poem by Richard Brautigan - Mentioned as an optimistic piece of literature amid the bleak 1960s. https://allpoetry.com/All-Watched-Over-By-Machines-Of-Loving-Grace
* Isaac Asimov's "Robot" series - Discussing the limitations of Asimov's three laws of robotics for embedding ethics in AI. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/RBS/the-robot-series
* "The Blob" (1958 movie) - Cited as a historical parallel for the fear that AI will spread uncontrollably. https://archive.org/details/turner_video_247
* "Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny," by Robert Wright - Recommended book from 2000 on positive-sum games and regulated competition.
* "Vivid Tomorrows: On Science Fiction and Hollywood" by David Brin - His nonfiction book from 2021 discussing the impacts of science fiction on the real world.
* "Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI," by Reid Hoffman. https://medium.com/muthoni-wanyoike/book-review-impromptu-amplifying-our-humanity-through-ai-by-reid-hoffman-and-gpt-4-d3f121d08044
* "Polemical Judo," David Brin’s book from 2019 of “memes for our political knife-fight.” https://www.davidbrin.com/polemicaljudo.html