
The conversation kicks off with the accuracy of science fiction predictions. Are we living in The Jetsons era yet? We explore the years that science fiction takes place and compare them with where we are now. From Amazon’s robotic warehouses to AI assistants, how much of our future is already here – and what did sci-fi get wrong?
We break down technology in Blade Runner, Black Mirror, and The Twilight Zone and question whether we’re headed straight towards a dystopian future. We discuss the purpose of predictions and how they can help us not only inform our future but act as an early warning sign.
Plus, we discuss the Turing test and whether what we really need is a test for consciousness. Do we even need machines to mimic human thought? Can technology ever fully control human perception, or is that a fear rooted in fiction?
Looking to 2050, Neil shares predictions from his book Starry Messenger, including the rise of commercial space industries and self-driving cars. Will neuroscience cure mental illness? Will space tourism become a booming industry? Plus, Charles, Chuck, and Gary add their own predictions of the future to the conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Charles Liu
05:22 - Making Predictions
07:29 - The Jetsons: Life in 2062
13:06 - Bladerunner’s Turing Test Dystopia
19:46 - Black Mirror’s Technological Future
25:30 - No Cloning Theorem
28:00 - Exponential Growth
34:16 - Sci-Fi Shaping the Future
35:49 - Neil's predictions: Space Industry
41:54 - Neil's predictions: Self-Driving Cars
44:35 - Neil's predictions: Curing Mental Illness
47:40 - The pace of Change
49:41 - Final predictions
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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