The Future of You

The Database Brand: How AI is changing what a brand is

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0100

This is a short audio essay, based on the first Futuremade View.

In The Database Brand, Tracey extends her work on identity, machine readability and the shift from the Designed Self to the Database Self, applying it to brands.

For most of modern marketing history, brands were treated as designed identities: names, logos, promises, personalities and desired places in the minds of consumers.

But in an AI-mediated world, brands are increasingly assembled from attributes, signals, reviews, metadata, structured data, commentary and inference.

The brand is no longer only what it says it is. It is what the system can assemble from what it finds.

This episode explores what happens to brand identity when machines begin interpreting the world on behalf of people.

Read the Futuremade View: https://www.futuremade.group/future-views.

Explore more of Tracey’s work:
→ Me:chine World and essays: me-chine.com
→ Podcast archive: The Future of You
→ Audio series: weekly chapters from The Future of You

About Tracey Follows
Tracey Follows is a futurist specialising in identity, agency, and the relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world.

Her work includes the frameworks Systems & Self, Identity as Infrastructure, and Me:chine — exploring the machinable and unmachinable dimensions of human identity.

Her central premise: “The future is written between the system and the self.”

Human Resilience in the AI Age

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100

What if the real threat from AI is not that it suddenly takes over?

What if we just slowly hand ourselves over?

In this episode of Me:chine Dialogues, Tracey Follows speaks with Lee Rainie, Director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, about the new report Building a Human Resilience Infrastructure for the AI Age, co-authored with Janna Q. Anderson.

This is a substantial report: the 52nd Future of Digital Life report from Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center. More than 4,000 experts were invited to contribute; 386 responded, with 251 providing written answers. Across 375 pages, the report gathers views from technologists, academics, policy thinkers, researchers, futurists, commentators and people working inside and around AI systems on one central question: how can humans remain resilient as AI becomes more influential in everyday life and institutional decision-making?

For more than two decades, Lee and Janna have been tracking the future of digital life: broadband, mobile connectivity, social media, and now artificial intelligence. Their latest report asks what may be the defining question of the next decade: what kind of resilience will humans need as AI moves deeper into decisions, institutions, relationships, work, education, identity and trust?

This is not simply a conversation about AI literacy or better tools.

It is about the quiet takeover of systems and decisions.

In this episode, Lee explains why traditional ideas of personal resilience, grit, adaptation and perseverance are no longer enough. If AI systems are now mediating rights, risks, knowledge, relationships and opportunities, then resilience cannot sit only with individuals, it has to become institutional, civic, educational, ethical and social.

Me:chine Dialogues is a special series from The Future of You exploring identity, agency, and synthetic systems — where the machinable and unmachinable selves meet.

This conversation goes to the heart of that terrain.

If the machinable self is the part of us that can be rendered legible to systems, then the unmachinable self is what must still be practised: judgement, discernment, metacognition, moral responsibility, imagination, social trust, and the ability to remain the author of one’s own life.

Tracey and Lee explore existential literacy, epistemic fragmentation, institutional trust, AI agents, the coming backlash, and the importance of friction in a world designed to remove it.

You can find more on this topic through Lee Rainie and Janna Anderson’s report, Building a Human Resilience Infrastructure for the AI Age, from Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center.

Explore more of Tracey’s work:
→ Me:chine World and essays: me-chine.com
→ Podcast archive: The Future of You
→ Audio series: weekly chapters from The Future of You

About Tracey Follows
Tracey Follows is a futurist specialising in identity, agency, and the relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world.

Her work includes the frameworks Systems & Self, Identity as Infrastructure, and Me:chine — exploring the machinable and unmachinable dimensions of human identity.

Her central premise: “The future is written between the system and the self.”

Music
“A New Day (intro)” performed by Skott
Licensed courtesy of Cosmos Music, Safari Riot
Licensed courtesy of Downtown Music UK Limited, Safari Riot Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

Conclusion — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0100

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Conclusion — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 7: Destroying You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0100

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 7: Destroying You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 6: Enhancing You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +0100

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 6: Enhancing You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 5: Replacing You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0100

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 5: Replacing You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 4: Connecting You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0100

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 4: Connecting You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 3: Creating You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0100

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 3: Creating You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Chapter 2: Watching You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity systems, and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 2: Watching You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Identity Slop: The Rise of Synthetic Media Experts

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

What if the expert quoted in the story doesn’t exist?

Jesse Chambers is quoted across British newspapers as a travel expert, offering advice on everything from cruise ships to long-haul flights.

There is just one problem.
She doesn’t exist.

In this episode of Me:chine Dialogues, Tracey Follows speaks with journalist Rob Waugh about the emergence of synthetic experts: fabricated identities designed to supply quotes, authority, and credibility within media systems.

Me:chine Dialogues is a special series from The Future of You exploring identity, agency, and AI-mediated systems — where the machinable and unmachinable selves meet.

What begins as a curious case opens into something much larger. These are not isolated errors or instances of misinformation. They point to a structural shift in how identity is produced and used.

Tracey introduces the concept of identity slop: the moment when personal identity becomes commoditised, scalable, and generated to meet the needs of AI-mediated information systems.

If expertise can be generated, identity can be fabricated.
And if identity can be fabricated, authority itself can be automated.

This conversation explores what happens next: for trust, for authorship, and for the human self inside increasingly synthetic systems.

Key Ideas

Identity Slop synthetic identity as low-cost, scalable content
Synthetic Experts fabricated authority inserted into media systems
Machine-Readable Identity selves optimised for system consumption
AI-Mediated Information Systems environments that generate and reward synthetic identity

You can find more about this topic through Rob’s work at Press Gazette

Visit:

→ Me:chine World and essays: me-chine.com

→ Podcast archive The Future of You

→ Audiobook series (weekly chapters) Introduction

About Tracey Follows

Tracey Follows is a futurist specialising in identity, agency, and the relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world.

Her work includes the frameworks Systems & Self, Identity as Infrastructure, and Me:chine exploring the machinable and unmachinable dimensions of human identity.

Her central premise: “The future is written between the system and the self.”

***

Music

"A New Day (intro)" Performed by Skott

Licensed courtesy of Cosmos Music, Safari Riot

Licensed courtesy of Downtown Music UK Limited, Safari Riot Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

Chapter 1: Knowing You — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

These recordings are taken from the original 2021 edition of The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? by Tracey Follows. The chapters are presented here as an audio archive of the text as it was written and published at that time.

The book explores how emerging technologies - from artificial intelligence to digital identity, social credit systems, avatar assistants, virtual reality, transhumanism, the digital afterlife and genomics - are reshaping the nature of personal identity and the idea of the self.

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Chapter 1: Knowing You — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Introduction — The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology? (2021)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

This episode contains from the original 2021 edition:

Introduction — The Future of You (2021)

To explore the conversations that followed the book, visit traceyfollows.com or The Future of You podcast at https://www.futuremade.group/podcasts

Me:chine Dialogues - The Manifesto

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The first in a brand new transmission from The Future of You podcast, called Me:chine Dialogues.

Listen to the manifesto and subscribe now to tune into the frequency of Me:chine World.

Visit us at me-chine.com

***

Music

"A New Day (intro)" Performed by Skott

Licensed courtesy of Cosmos Music, Safari Riot

Licensed courtesy of Downtown Music UK Limited, Safari Riot Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

Identity Play and the Artist with Holly Herndon

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:00:00 +0000

In this awesome episode, I’m lucky to be talking to Holly Herndon, a Berlin-based artist and groundbreaking musician. With a PhD from Stanford University and a pioneering spirit, Holly merges cutting-edge AI with music to challenge the boundaries of identity.

From acclaimed albums like Platform and Proto to her revolutionary project Holly Plus, Holly has redefined what it means to create and perform in a digital age. Holly talks about her thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Call’ currently on display at the Serpentine Gallery.

Holly also explains how the creation of her own super hero, Hairy Mutant X, is helping her explore the difference between the person she is and the digital footprint version of herself on the Internet.

The Future of You podcast investigates and analyses all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. Join futurist Tracey Follows as she explores our changing identity in a digital world.

Holly Herndon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Herndon

Interdependence https://interdependence.fm/

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Reconnecting With The Emotional Self Through VR with Sarah Ticho

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I’m talking to Sarah Ticho, founder of Hatsumi and Co-founder of XR Health Alliance about the fascinating intersection of virtual reality (VR), immersive media, health, and well-being.

Sarah’s work focuses on using VR to create human-centred, immersive experiences that redefine how we understand emotions, memory, and identity.

We discuss Sarah’s pioneering projects, including Soulpaint - an immersive project that invites and enables users to map their emotions through body mapping, 3D drawing, and movement - giving people a new way to think about their emotions and process their feelings.

Soulpaint won the XR experience competition at this year's SXSW festival - a huge and deserved accolade for Sarah who is a pioneer in this intersection between art, technology and health. Here we talk about how immersive technologies are reshaping our understanding of identity, memory, and emotions, as well as potentially revolutionising mental health care, pain management, and more.

Find out more about Soulpaint

Learn more about Hatsumi

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn and Instagram

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Perspective Agents in the Autonomous Age with Chris Perry

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode we delve into the transformative impact of AI on humanity and society with Chris Perry, Chief Innovation Officer and Chair at Weber Shandwick Futures. His new book, "Perspective Agents," challenges traditional views of news media and information gathering, focusing on the emergence of AI and its potential to reshape our knowledge sources. He sees perspective as the primary innovation of our times. And he takes us through Taylor Swift as a powerful research case study.

We discuss AI's role in human creativity, exploring its capacity to redefine expertise and truth. We speak about breaking echo chambers, using tools like Blackbird.ai and Notebook LM, and chat about how and why AI is reshaping workplaces and businesses. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of news media, societal shifts, and the future of human identity in a world of AI.

Chris’ book ‘Perspective Agents’ is available here
Chris’ ‘Perspective Agents’ Substack

Tools mentioned: Blackbird AI, Notebook LM

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Supremacy: The Race for AI Dominance with Parmy Olson

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Will Microsoft or Google win the race to control the future of AI?

In this episode I’m talking to journalist and author Parmy Olson whose new book “Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT, and the Race That Will Change the World” explores the fierce competition between Microsoft and Google to lead the AI revolution.

We discuss the motivations of tech pioneers like Deepmind’s Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, their groundbreaking work, and the implications of this AI arms race for the future of humanity, agency and identity.

Parmy’s book ‘Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT, and the Race That Will Change The World’ is available here

Tracey's book ‘The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Surveillance and Data: Byron Tau on Government Monitoring and AI Risks

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Byron Tau is an American investigative journalist and author of the new book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State” so in this episode I’m talking to Byron about the intricate world of government surveillance.

We discuss how commercial data is leveraged by the US government and other entities for extensive monitoring. We also talk about the public’s seeming lack of awareness, the role of data brokers, the impact of surveillance on personal identity, and the implications of AI. During our conversation Byron shares insights from his own research, talks about how he self-financed his investigation and emphasises the importance of supporting independent journalism.

Byron Tau photo credit: Elliott O’Donovan

Byron’s new book: Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State is available now https://www.amazon.co.uk/Means-Control-Alliance-Government-Surveillance/dp/0593443225

Check out Notus at https://www.notus.org/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Weaponising Identity in the Algorithmic Age with Chase Hughes

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

In this episode I’m talking to Chase Hughes – a US military veteran-turned-expert in human behaviour, profiling, and persuasion, regularly training elite govt and big business on behaviour skills. He is a leading trial consultant too.

Chase delves into the complexities of identity manipulation in the digital age and the urgent need to safeguard our identities.

We cover the weaponisation of identity, the power of cognitive biases, and the growing bystander effect. With insights from his best-selling book, "The Ellipsis Manual," and his work with the Behavior Panel, Chase offers practical tips for resisting manipulation and training your critical thinking.

Chase on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@chasehughesofficial/featured

Website https://www.chasehughes.com/

The Ellipses Manual on amazon in UK and USA

The Behaviour Panel https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanel

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

(note: in their discussion Tracey mentions the Apple Vision Pro ad. The correct wording of the voice over on that ad is “your favourite apps live right in front of you”)

BONUS: The Future of You(r) Podcast: Is NotebookLM a Game-Changing Tool?

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0100

Welcome to The Future! This special episode of The Future of You has been created using the tool everybody’s talking about; Notebook LM.

With just a few taps of the keyboard this 10-minute bonus podcast has been created from the information on my website www.futuremade.group. It took minutes for AI to distil the information and create what sounds like two people discussing my work. The conversation covers everything from my credentials, to my book, to this very podcast. Is this a tech tool that will change the shape of podcasting and audio forever? Or a stark reminder not to believe everything you hear?

Try notebookLM for yourself https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-audio-video-sources/

(NB: Tracey inputted the main Futuremade website address plus the other pages: five sources from the same one website)

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

The Future of You podcast homepage https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Language Loss and Identity with Jack Connor

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode I’m chatting about the importance of language to our identity with linguist and tech entrepreneur Jack Connor.

Jack is about to embark on a trip to the Arctic where he will deposit language data from more than 500 languages into a preservation vault.

We delve into the intricacies of language preservation, the impact of the internet on dialects, and the fascinating intersection between technology, language and identity.

We also discuss the urgency around saving endangered languages and the potential of AI to revolutionise language preservation.

Email Jack jack@endangeredlanguagesfilm.com

Or get in touch on X https://x.com/Jac5Connor

Endangered Languages film https://www.endangeredlanguagesfilm.com/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Meet Your Future Self with Pattie Maes and Pat Pataranutaporn

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

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.

Try Future You from MIT Media Lab https://futureyou.media.mit.edu/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

Your Identity, Unplugged with Erik Prince

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0100

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.

Erik's website https://erikdprince.com

UNplugged website https://unplugged.com

Somalian Project on You Tube The Somali Project - Official Trailer (HD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEPtXOCCzRE

Shawn Ryan Show Erik Prince - Breakdown of the Donald Trump Assassination Attempt | SRS #123 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t81CeoEcCik&t=956s

Erik's book: Civilian Warriors https://erikdprince.com/civilian-warriors/

UNherd with Silki Carlo on The UK’s Counter Disinformation Unit https://unherd.com/watch-listen/get-ready-for-the-crackdown/

Video audio included with permission from Erik Prince

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

The State of AI with Richard Yonck and Lord Chris Holmes

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0100

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.

Find out more about Richard at www.richardyonck.com

Richard is the author of “Heart of the Machine” https://bit.ly/3AyLQAL and “Futureminds” https://bit.ly/4dIXlUA both available via Amazon.

Find out more about Lord Chris Holmes MBE at https://lordchrisholmes.com/ and connect with him via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lord-chris-holmes/

Latest on the AI BIll see Lord Holmes’ blog https://lordchrisholmes.com/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

The Children's Book of the Future with Richard Watson

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0100

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.

Richard is an author, speaker and thinker! Find his work at nowandnext.com

Get your copy of The Children’s Book of the Future at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Childrens-Book-Future-Lavie-Tidhar/dp/0241647479

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Future of You was named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Find Tracey at https://www.futuremade.group/abouttracey

Explore more on The Future of You at https://www.futuremade.group/the-future-of-you

The Discussion: Identity, Ownership and the new role of Crypto #29

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the age of AI is proof of personhood more important than anonymity?

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 importance of crypto regulation, touching on the debate around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the need for stable, decentralised 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” (https://bit.ly/3Qtvm1e) and “Beyond Bitcoin” (https://bit.ly/3MyYd2V).

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Find Tracey or book her to speak at https://www.traceyfollows.com/

The Briefing: On Identity: A Special Edition #28

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

How is the digital age affecting our identity?

In this episode I explore the impact technology and social media are having on how we express ourselves and connect with others. Initially given as a presentation on identity, I talk about the fluidity of identity and our shift in awareness from the “authentic self” to the “complex self”.

I also think about Meta’s launch of celebrity likeness AI chatbots and the debate raised there over ownership and control. As well as how digital media has shifted our understanding of identity and self-representation, with a focus on the role of profiling and personal data.

We also have some good news to announce! The Future of You has been named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023. Thank you to everyone who has listened, liked, shared, rated and reviewed the show over the last two years.

Watch the presentation ‘Identity: The Existential Risk of the Century’ on our YouTube channel here - The Endless Presentation On Identity by Tracey Follows

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Find Tracey or book her to speak at https://www.traceyfollows.com/

The Discussion: ‘Your Face Belongs To Us’ with Kashmir Hill #27

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Increasingly we’re using facial recognition to do everything from unlock our phone to make payments. But what might the long-term impact of giving away our facial data be?

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’ by Kashmir Hill

Amazon UK https://bit.ly/45DFs58

Amazon US https://bit.ly/3tAUQC2

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK https://bit.ly/44ObTha and US https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk

The Discussion: AI, Agents and Swarm Intelligence #26

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0100

#SwarmIntelligence #Avatars #MotionPrints

This week I’m talking to Louis Rosenberg, CEO and chief scientist of Unanimous AI and the chief scientist of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance.

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.

Louis Rosenberg film link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsE_Pas2OQU

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Discussion: The Game of Identity: entertainment meets education #25

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Interactive experiences like Roblox are giving children the chance to explore their identity like never before. In this episode I speak with kids media consultant Jo Redfern about the intricacies of Gen Z’s digital identity, self-expression, and the power children have in the 21st century to shape their virtual personas.

We discuss the new Barbie movie and the intersection of merchandising and identity. As well as thinking about the future of education and the alternative the learning paths that gaming and digital platforms are revealing.

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Jo Redfern's LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/joredfern

Kids Media Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kids-media-club-podcast/id1573404550

Future of Education 2050 Report

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Cu0aisIbr_9c-UucelETT92cRUppubYm

Tracey in Daily Mail

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12513183/EXCLUSIVE-Former-Google-futurist-predicts-classrooms-future-look-like-include-virtual-reality-lessons-downloadable-knowledge.html

Tracey in the Mirror

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/future-education-technology-3d-virtual-30900376

The Briefing: Customer Wallets, Customer Futures #24

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Will brands have their own wallets for customers? Will customers have their own wallets that they give brands access to? How will digital wallets reshape the data we store? And what’s the difference between personal and personalised wallets?

In this episode of The Briefing I discuss all of this and more with Jamie Smith, founder of Customer Futures.

This episode also features an announcement about the future of this podcast. The Briefing will only be available to members in future. To find out more about the membership and how to join visit www.traceyfollows.com

The Discussion episodes continue to be available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jamie Smith https://www.customerfutures.com/

Tracey’s deck, Identity Century: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFrapqZWbo/view?utm_content=DAFrapqZWbo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=embeds&utm_source=link

Accenture’s Tech Trends https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/a-com-custom-component/iconic/document/Accenture-Technology-Vision-2023-Full-Report.pdf

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Discussion: Biometrics: The Rights And The Responsibilities #23

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Discussion I speak to Andrew Bud, Founder and CEO of iProov, the world leader in biometric face verification. We discuss the importance of keeping ahead of security in biometrics, the advantages of face biometrics over the iris or palm - and what he thinks about the future of anonymity.

I also speak with Bronwyn Williams, a futurist and economist based in South Africa. We discuss the issues that could arise from a single company becoming the centralised global infrastructure for digital identities ie Worldcoin’s World ID.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

iProov

website https://www.iproov.com

Genuine Presence Assurance

https://www.iproov.com/why-iproov/the-problem-we-solve/genuine-presence

Biometric Threat Report

https://www.iproov.com/reports/biometric-threat-intelligence

Flux Trends website

https://fluxtrends.com

Bronwyn's blog

https://whatthefuturenow.com

Bronwyn's book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Starts-Now-Insights-Technology/dp/1472981502

The Briefing: What is Worldcoin? #22

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Briefing I talk with Ian Crocombe of Superheroic about the creation of TF14 (my “synthetic self”). We discuss how TF14 was made, the tools and platforms employed, and the use cases for digital representations such as this.

I also talk about the launch of Worldcoin, the pros and cons of is-a-person solutions and explore security threats around biometrics.

BBC News article on the launch of Worldcoin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66128111

Vitalek's essay https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2023/07/24/biometric.html

Tracey Follows, Forbes article on Synthetic Self https://www.forbes.com/sites/traceyfollows/2023/07/21/i-used-generative-ai-to-create-a-synthetic-self-and-you-can-too/?sh=1e97b2216dbd

Ian Crocombe Linkedin linkedin.com/in/iancrocombe

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

The Discussion: Identity, Audiences and Avatars #21

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:00:00 +0100

Let’s dump the doomerism and take a positive look at AI. In this episode I’m speaking with audience expert David Boyle. As co-author of ‘Prompt’ David has quite literally written the book on how AI can be used to enhance the creation of all types of content across a variety of sectors. I also chat with Matthew Kershaw, VP of commercial strategy at D-id.com, about the rise in the creation of digital avatars, the anthropomorphism of digital assistance and what it means for our future digital selves.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

David and Richard’s website https://prompt.mba/

David’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/PROMPT-Brands-practical-ChatGPT-Practical/dp/B0C1JD7C32

Audience Strategies website https://www.audiencestrategies.com/

Matthew is at D-ID.com’s website https://www.d-id.com/

D-ID.com on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/deidentification/

TF14 was built by https://thepeeps.xyz/

The Briefing: AI: The Death of The Artist? #20

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Briefing I consider how AI is impacting art and artists. We drop in on the Stanford event around Creativity in the Age of AI, we consider some of the news making headlines about China and AI. And we end up at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, in Warsaw, from where I spoke about AI and the Death of the Artist.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

China Inc. Shows How Generative AI Can Be Serious Business https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-Inc.-shows-how-generative-AI-can-be-serious-business

Is AI Killing Art? https://radii.co/article/ai-art-zhang-huan-xu-bing

Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence: Creativity In The Age of AI event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9wOvFihY74

Mateusz Szsiedlecki on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mateuszsiedleckiphoto/

"'AI: The Death of the Artist?' is part of the Culture Tensions discussions curated by Manick Govinda and Agnieszka Kolek, commissioned by the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw Poland”.

Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw Poland https://u-jazdowski.pl/en

The Discussion: Generative AI - from Consumer Rights to Human Rights #19

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

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.

http://faculty.ai

https://www.witness.org/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

The Briefing: Building Trust in Digital Identity #18

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Briefing I’m joined by Chris Holmes, Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE. He gives me the inside track on digital ID in the UK, where it’s going and how it compares to approaches in other jurisdictions.

I also cover some new threats in biometrics and give you a sneak peek into the next episode on Generative AI, where we debate the implications for both consumers and citizens.

https://chrisholmes.co.uk

http://faculty.ai

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/22/generative-ai-identity-verification-video/

https://venturebeat.com/security/forrester-predicts-2023-top-cybersecurity-threats-generative-ai-geopolitical-tensions/

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202305/iproov-biometric-threat-intelligence-report-2023

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

00:47 Trends in generative AI
4:30 Josh Muncke, of Faculty, on AI
5:56 Chris Holmes on Digital ID
8:40 The UK’s plans for Digital ID
22:44 The role of the new Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
26:51 The contrast to the EU approach
32:21 Big tech and Digital ID

The Discussion: Inside the EU's Digital ID Wallet #17

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Discussion I’m joined by Commercial Director, Europe, Digital Trust Services at Gen, and all-round Digital Wallet and Innovation expert Andy Tobin for a detailed conversation about digital wallets.

We go deep into what the European identity system (eIDAS) is, how it works and why we need it. We cover the difference between identity cards and digital wallets and the role of verifiable credentials. We also explore why digital credentials are more secure than paper documents, the spectre of big tech and the future of credentials in general.

Gen website https://www.gendigital.com/

Links to Andrew’s eIDAS articles on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobinandrew/recent-activity/posts/

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

The Briefing: Voice Tech #16

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Briefing we cover several news topics around technology of identity and the digital self, primarily focusing on voice tech; voice design,re-voicing and voice cloning. We look at digital wallets and digital credentials in Europe with the EU ID scheme, and we revisit the current status of theTwitter blue checkmark. I’m also joined by Nik Badminton to talk about his new book, “Facing Our Futures: How foresight, futures design and strategy creates prosperity and growth.”

Grimes on Twitter

Holly Herndon and Holly+
https://holly.plus
https://holly.mirror.xyz/54ds2IiOnvthjGFkokFCoaI4EabytH9xjAYy1irHy94

US Voice cloning scam: ‘I’ve got your daughter’

Voice cloning scammers

Section 4 on Twitter bluechecks

Eleven Labs

Voice over artists fight against AI copying speech tone

GBnews interview with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster

Nik Badminton
Chief Futurist at futurist.com
Nik's book “Facing Our Futures” published by Bloomsbury

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

0min 40: Voice cloning
4min: Discussion with Sam Gregory, Executive Director at WITNESS about generative AI
5mins 45: ElevenLabs
5mins 58: Twitter verification
13mins 33: Digital wallets and digital credentials
15min: Discussion with Andrew Tobin about eIDAS and big tech
19mins 24: Discussion with Nik Badminton about his new book ‘Facing Our Futures’

The Discussion: Digital Identity - State of the Nations #15

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Discussion I’m joined by digital identity thought leader Dave Birch and Senior Principal at Liminal, and host of the State of Identity podcast, Cameron D’Ambrosi to discuss the digital identity landscape.

We cover the push towards integrated identity platforms, the vision for reusable identity and the differences between centralized and decentralized systems and how those often reflect national culture. What is the state of Digital ID in the UK? Will the wallets offered by Big Tech win out in the USA? And how might eIDAS or the EUDI approach evolve across the EU?

Also to what extent do the public really understand (and trust) these identity systems which look like they are about to become part of our everyday lives?

Liminal website
2023 Digital Identity Landscape from Liminal
The State of Identity podcast
Cameron D’Ambrosi on Twitter @dambrosi

Dave Birch’s website https://15mb.ltd/
Dave’s Substack https://dgwbirch.substack.com/
Dave’s books The Currency Cold War and Identity Is The New Money
Read him on Forbes
Dave Birch on Twitter @dgwbirch

A New National Purpose : Innovation Can Power The Future of Britain

3min: An overview of the digital identity landscape with Cameron D'Ambrosi
7min 50: The use of reusable identity
13min: Differences and similarities between centralized and decentralized systems
14min 30: State of digital identity in Europe
17min 40: State of digital identity in America
24min: Dave Birch discusses social media verification
29min 40: State of digital identity in the UK
32 min: Dave Birch gives an overview of the state of digital identity in the UK
50min: Cameron D'Ambrosi's thoughts on the state of digital identity in the UK

The Briefing: Brain data with special guest Dr Cody Rall #14

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Future of You: The Briefing I’m joined by neurotech expert Dr Cody Rall to talk about Grimes getting a Neurosity Crown for her birthday. I also cover the latest news around motion prints, age verification, and speak with author of The Currency Cold War Dave Birch about the launch of Fed Now; the new instant payment system being introduced in the US.

Episode 13 The Future of You, ‘Brain Data and the Sovereign Self’ with Nita Farahany https://pod.fo/e/1706b7
Jeff Delaney/Fireship, “I literally connected my brain to GPT-4 with JavaScript” on YouTube
Neurosity website
Neurosity on Linkedin
AJ on Twitter @andrewjaykeller

Cody Rall MD on YouTube
Cody Rall Tik Tok @codyrallmd

Business Insider, ‘Grimes said she got a brain gadget for her birthday from a company competing with Elon Musk’s Neuralink’

VentureBeat, ‘New research suggests that privacy in the metaverse might be impossible’

Guardian, ‘Utah bans under-18s from using social media unless parents consent

Electronic Frontier Foundation, ‘Age Verification Mandates Would Undermine Anonymity Online’

Robin Tombs Linkedin

Computer Weekly, ‘UK Government Completes Trials of Age estimation Technology

Federal Reserve, ‘Federal Reserve Announces July Launch for the FedNow Service

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

1min 30: Audio from @Fireship video on YouTube
6mins: Conversation with neurotech expert and owner of Tech for Psych YouTube channel Dr Cody Rall
12min 30: Motion prints
14min 40: Social media age verification
20min: Conversation with payment and digital identity expert Dave Birch about Fed Now

The Discussion: Brain Data and the Sovereign Self #13

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

We start Season 3 by exploring brain data - what is it? How can it be collected and used? And who has access to it?

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'

Neurable website
Neurable discord channel
Neurable on Linkedin
Ramses on Twitter @RamsesAlcaide

Neurosity website
Neurosity on Linkedin
AJ on Twitter @andrewjaykeller

OECD, Neurotechnology in and for society: Deliberation, stewardship and trust

Nature Electronics, Brain Computer Interfaces

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US

The Manifesto of You

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0100

“To be or not to be I.T.….. That is the question”

As we prepare for the start of Season 3 of The Future of You podcast, listen to The Manifesto of You.

Follow this podcast now to make sure you don’t miss an episode - they will be released every second Thursday starting March 30.

"The Future of You" Season 3 - Trailer

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0100

In this third season of The Future of You podcast, I’ll be talking about a new dimension to the self. Along with the biology and the psychology of the self, we now have the technology of the self.

I’m Tracey Follows, Futurist, Founder of Futuremade and Visiting Professor of digital futures and identity at Staffordshire University. This season continues with a new format. We stick with two episodes being released every month but now you’ll hear The Discussion and The Briefing.

Expect deep conversations on the topic of identity in The Discussion episodes, and check in with The Briefing to stay up to date with the latest news in tech and identity.

We'll dive into digital identity, biometrics, brainwave data, smart cities, digital twins and much more.

Follow this podcast now to make sure you don’t miss an episode - they will be released every second Thursday, starting March 30.

AI, Religion and Identity #12

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm joined by Prof. Dr. Beth Singler, Assistant Professor in Digital Religion(s) at the University of Zurich and Rev. Dr. Joshua K. Smith, Pastor and Theologian, to discuss digital religion, and our spiritual identity online.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

The trends in digital religion
How people are developing communities and ideas about technology online
How AI shapes and molds what we are doing spiritually.
Our perspective bias at the dawn of a new millennium
Anthropomorphism of AI
Whether AI can help us become better moral beings
Corporatist agency, personal agency, and AI politicians
The ongoing outsourcing of our own decision making to AI
Nihilism, apocalypticism, and the reemergence of the Satanic and occult aesthetic.

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: www.traceyfollows.com

The Self, Security and the Surveillance State #11

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm joined by Rogier Creemers, Assistant Professor in China Studies at Leiden University, and the Co-editor of Law and the Party in China: Ideology and Organisation and by Josh Chin of the China Bureau at the Wall Street Journal, who is also the co-author with Lisa Lin of the new book, Surveillance State, China's quest to launch a new era of social control.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

The macro context, discussing the geopolitical economic and trade situation
Technology transfer, highlighting the issues over semiconductors, and China's ambition to play a bigger role in the global economy and technology.
Mass surveillance at a personal and even biological level of Chinese citizens, predominantly, but not exclusively, by the Uyghurs.
The social credit system, and both the Chinese and Western understandings and perhaps misunderstandings of that.
The Supreme People's Court blacklist system
The regulation of algorithms
The nature of authoritarianism versus personal autonomy.
Why Chinese culture contains no such notion of autonomy

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: www.traceyfollows.com

Cryonics with Dr Max More #10

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0100

Do we need a new criteria for death, that covers the technicalities around neuro preservation, issues of legal identity upon reanimation and an approach to rehabilitation? What are the misunderstandings or misinformation that surround transhumanism and endeavour to make the distinction between transhumanism and technocracy? Should we be worried about the wrong headedness of The Population Bomb, climate catastrophism and the fashionability of long termism?

Today, I speak with Max More. As some of you may already know, Max is considered to be the founder of modern transhumanism, a philosopher and futurist who writes extensively on technology and humanity. He's also currently ambassador and President Emeritus at Alcor Life Extension Foundation, having served almost 10 years as President and CEO there, and having been its 67th member. His 1995 University of Southern California doctoral dissertation, 'The diachronic self identity continuity and transformation', examined several issues that concern transhumanists, including the nature of death. He is the Co-editor of Rhe Transhumanist Reader, and he's written many articles on transhumanism and extropianism, including the 1990 essay, 'Transhumanism: toward a futurist philosophy', in which he introduced the term transhumanism, in its modern sense.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

A definition of cryonics
Changing definitions of death
The process of cryogenic freezing
Memory loss and personality
Consent and cryonic preservation
What happens to identity after death and cryopreservation?
Rights on reanimation
Should world leaders be preserved for the good of their citizens?
Attitudes to cryopreservation around the world
Should we be thinking about the end of life at birth?
Why isn’t cryonics favourably received by the media?
Transhumanism
The future of states and capitalism
The problem of shrinking populations
Long termism and utilitarianism
Environmentalism
Is a misunderstanding of transhumanism really just mischief?

www.alcor.org

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: www.traceyfollows.com

Robot Rights and Relationships #9

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 01:00:00 +0100

What is the origin of the word robot? Who makes the definitions of these words robots, avatars, nanobots, etc? Who gets to define them? How do we decide? Is there a new social category that's emerging, and should see non biological intelligences through the lens of our own social interaction?

Do avatars as representations of the self need the same rights as humans, and importantly, should there be distinctions around the governance of virtual worlds versus physical worlds? What do we need from our relationships with this new set of beings in the future?

Today, I speak with Dr Julie Carpenter, research fellow in the Ethics and Emerging Science Group at California Polytechnic State University, and Dr David Gunkel, Professor of Media Studies at Northern Illinois University. Dr Carpenter’s primary research goal is to investigate human-technology emotional attachment and trust issues, looking at the ways in which embodied AI offers a testing ground for media, communication and cultural theories. She is currently writing her latest book, The Naked Android. Dr Gunkel’s work focuses on the philosophy of technology and emerging ethics relating to AI, robots and algorithms. He has published twelve influential and award-winning books including How To Survive a Robot Invasion, The Machine Question, Gaming The System, and Robot Rights. His latest book is called Deconstruction and is part of MIT's Essential Knowledge Series.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

The origin of robots and who defines them
The person-thing dichotomy in legal and social categories
Avatar rights and responsibilities
The governance of virtual spaces
Emotional valence of non-human personalities
How to engage the public in thinking about the rights and relationships of robots

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: www.traceyfollows.com

Digital Identity & Death with Dr Patrick Stokes and Dr Elaine Kasket #8

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Millions of profiles of the dead haunt the internet. What do we do with all these digital souls? Can we simply delete them? Or do they have a right to persist? What does it mean for the self now that digital technologies are transforming the notion of legacy, and in the future, how you will persist beyond your own death?

Today, I speak with Patrick Stokes, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. His work sits at the intersections of the continental and analytic traditions with research interests that include personal identity, narrative selfhood, and philosophy of religion. I'm also joined by Elaine Kasket, counselling psychologist, a speaker and author with a BA Honours in Journalism and Psychology.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

Whether we can and should attempt to manage our online legacies after death.
How deep fake and AI generated material using the deceased will impact our understanding of history.
The death of nostalgia and technology’s enthusiasm for the music of the past.
Will the truth be replaced with the telically possible?
Who controls our digital afterlife?
The therapeutic possibilities of digitally reanimating the dead.

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: www.traceyfollows.com

"The Future of You" Season 2 - Trailer

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0100

During the second season of The Future of You podcast, I’m taking a detailed look at who we are and how the technology we use every day is shaping who we are becoming. It’s clearer than ever that the biology of the self and the psychology of the self has now been joined by a third dimension….the technology of the self.

I’m Tracey Follows, futurist and founder of Futuremade, the futures consultancy. Join me as I speak with professors and philosophers, futurists and technologists to discover more about how emerging technologies are impacting our identity, and what we might want to do about it.

I’ll be releasing new episodes every fortnight, focussing on topics such as digital death, robot rights, avatars and virtual beings, cryogenics, the extreme self, the Web3 economy of the self and so much more.

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the first episode when it’s released in a few week’s time.

Until then remember you can buy my book “The Future of You” at thefutureofyou.co.uk, sign up to the newsletter there or connect with me on twitter at @traceyfutures.

Let’s continue our journey into identity in the digital world and explore what’s ahead for the future of me and…the future of you.

Digital Identity and Self Sovereignty with Kaliya Young & Lucy Yang #7

Wed, 04 May 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Imagine a world in which you control your own identity and are truly the arbiter of which personal information is shared with others. The tools making this a reality are evolving right now…

At the spearhead of the movement for self-sovereign identity are Kaliya Young, a leader in decentralised identity, and Lucy Yang, a tech entrepreneur and advisor. We hear from them on The Future of You this week, as we dissect digital wallets, verifiable credentials, digital identity, anonymity and self-sovereignty.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

Why digital identity is so important and how it differs from the physical realm
The tools Kaliya and Lucy are developing to enable self-sovereign identities
Whether anonymity or pseudonymity is feasible while maintaining accountability
Wallet Wars: how might wallets evolve and consolidate across the public and private sector
The principles of physical identity that must carry over into a digital solution and the importance of Opens Standards

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

Superlongevity, Memory and Identity with Transhumanist Pioneer, Dr Natasha Vita-More #6

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Dr Natasha Vita-More’s CV reads like a transhumanist historical timeline, stretching back to writing The Transhumanist Manifesto in 1983.

A prominent transhumanist voice since then, she’s still leading the pursuit of a future in which transhumanism affords us a longer, healthier life free from human limits and human suffering.

Natasha is an extraordinary guest for me to have hosted on The Future of You and we discuss perceptions of time, AI augmentation for our senses and emotional responses, practical developments in transhumanism, and what it’s like to be a pioneering woman in the transhumanist space.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

Longevity, and the prospect of radical life extension
The binary thinking that sometimes limits our vision and potential
Importance of continuity of the person for identity
Whether we can live over different platforms
The growth of AI and how it might enhance our perceptions and senses
Life as a pioneering woman in transhumanism

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

The Age of Profilicity and Identity Politics with Hans-Georg Moeller and Sam Gilbert #5

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Is the huge variety of social platforms and settings in which we present ourselves creating a multiplicity of our identities, demanding that we moderate our personalities? And is that such a bad thing?

From the Chinese philosophy suggesting that sincerity trumps authenticity, to the future technologies ushering in an era of profilicity, the norms that surround identity are changing during our lifetime.

Joining me to help foresee where our technology of identity is heading - in this truly international episode - are Hans-Georg Moeller, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Macau, and Sam Gilbert, an Affiliated Researcher with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

Use of data to create a picture of someone’s identity, and how that could be used for wider public benefit
The multiplicity of identity through social media sites with different norms and expectation
A modern sense of profilicity, and how that links with ancient Chinese philosophies
How AI might allow us to curate identity in a new way with a novel sense of self-insight
The need to leave authenticity behind in favour of situational sincerity

This episode does contain a brief discussion eluding to self-harm, suicide, and how we might use data to identify those in need. If you or somebody you know is in need, Samaritans are available by phoning 116 123.

The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBB

The TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU:
https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

The Evolution of Identity over Generations with Dr Eliza Filby and Dr Ian Pearson #4

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

With a look into the past and a long view of the future, we can better understand, and maintain, our sense of identity in a shifting world.

On this episode of The Future of You, we’ve brought together two sides of a generational coin - a historian and a futurist - to unpack how our relationship with identity is shaped by our generation. Are our notions of identity influencing demographic and societal changes, or might it be the other way around?

Dr Eliza Filby and Dr Ian Pearson dive into the dichotomy between individualism and conformity, future generations’ wildly varied path through the world of work, the role of AI in representing ourselves to others, and whether class will recede or increase as an identity marker in the future.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

Shifting patterns in identity, and whether they influence societal changes or vice versa
The possible future role of AI in faithfully representing our personalities
Individuality in the future workplace, and whether workers can shape a corporation’s moral compass
The potential for class to cease being a marker of identity

The TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU:
https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

The Transhumanist Future of a Radical Identity with Zoltan Istvan & David Wood #3

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be human in a society in which we can use technology to modify our bodies beyond our normal capabilities, and how does that change our sense of self?

Transhumanism is a futuristic movement, and we’re joined this week by David Wood (Chair of London Futurists) and Zoltan Istvan (Founder of the Transhumanist Party in the US), two leading figures with unique foresight into our transhuman future.

How might we modify our bodies long into the future? Do we have the right to immortality and a duty to ‘fix’ disability? Should we be afraid to change into a different version of ourselves? We tackle all this, and so much more intriguing debate, on this episode of The Future of You.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

The traditional definition of transhumanism, and the form into which the movement might evolve
Maintaining our personal sense of identity in a society capable of collective consciousness and hive minds
Possible reasons for fewer prominent female figures in transhumanism
How we define our bodies, and at what point they should be considered to be failing
Whether we should allow ourselves to be immortal

The TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU:
https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

Media and the Quest for Identity with Andrew McLuhan and Henry Jenkins #2

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 02:00:00 +0000

As the ever-growing prevalence of media in our lives continues to disrupt our notion of identity, how can we dictate who we really are in today’s world?

Joining Tracey for episode 2 of The Future of You to consider digital media’s role in our quest for identity are Andrew McLuhan - Director of The McLuhan Institute & grandson of renowned Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan - and Henry Jenkins - noted author & Professor at the University of Southern California.

In this fascinating discussion we touch on social media’s acceleration of topics in the public consciousness, how our sense of identity can be split and shared based on simultaneous experiences & fandoms, and the violence of language surrounding identity.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

How media’s rapid pace of change is assaulting our sense of identity
Social media’s propulsion of essential issues around race & gender
The violent multiplicity of language surrounding identity
Podcasting’s effect on the intimacy of radio as a platform
Finding identity in shared, collective experiences with fandoms

The TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU: https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

How Virtual Worlds Shape our Real Identities with Richard Bartle & David Birch #1

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Welcome to The Future of You, a podcast where we’ll explore the various ways in which emerging technologies will affect our identity.

Kicking off our journey into the future of the digital self, we’ll hear from two of the brightest minds in virtual worlds and digital financial technology.

Richard Bartle is the Co-Creator of MUD, the oldest virtual world in existence, and is a legend in the video game research space, while David Birch’s expertise in FinTech is demonstrated through contributions to Forbes, as well as his spot as one of WIRED’s Top 15 sources of business information globally.

This tour de force of an episode takes us through the concepts of experimentation with identity, self-tokenization, interplay between virtual & physical worlds, and the fine line between credentials and biometric identification.

This episode of The Future of You covers:

How our characters in virtual/game worlds can differ from - and influence - our real world identity
The gamification of our personalities on different platforms
Tokenization of the self
The interplay between the digital and physical worlds and our ‘economic avatars’
How biometrics could play into credentials & identification, and the difference between the two

The TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU: https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/

Welcome to "The Future of You" - Trailer

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Hello, welcome to the Future of You podcast. Here we’re going to investigate and analyse all the ways emerging technologies are going to affect our identity.

We used to argue about whether personal identity was in the mind or in the body; But now that psychology of the self and the biology of self has been joined by a third dimension - the technology of the self.

In a digital, data-driven world, Facebook gets a say in verifying who we are, medical science can alter our genetic make-up, and AI will help us create our digital twin - just how many identities do we need in the multiverse?

How is 21st Century technology changing who we are?

I set out to research exactly that, when I wrote my book The Future of You. That turned out to be only the start of my journey into our changing identity in a digital world. And I thought rather than continue to research this on my own, I could invite you along too.

I’m Tracey Follows, I’m a futurist and founder of Futuremade, the futures consultancy, and I’ve helped brands and businesses like Virgin, Google, Diageo and Farfetch spot trends, develop strategic foresight and fully prepare for what comes next.

And I believe identity is the defining issue of our generation. So every fortnight I’ll be releasing new episodes, featuring panels of experts as we delve into topics such as how we use media to express our selves, the emergence of the extreme self, transhumanism and the augmented self; anonymity, genetics, biometrics, mind clones, and the digital afterlife - these are just some of the innovations, and controversies, we’ll cover.

Join the community, buy the book at thefutureofyou.co.uk or connect with me on twitter at @traceyfutures.

Please come with me on this journey to explore identity in the digital world, as we investigate the future of me, and the future of you.

See you soon for episode 1.