Advancing technology for the long-term benefit of life.
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Mission
Foresight Institute advances crucial science and technology for the long-term flourishing of life. We believe that, in addition to directly addressing existential risks, one relatively neglected area for impact is to directly support differential technology development in areas that make great futures more likely. We focus on three working groups to advance:
- Molecular Machines for atomically precise control of matter
- Biotech & Health Extension to reverse aging and improve cognition
- Computer Science to secure decentralized human AI cooperation
- Existential Hope to catalyze beautiful futures
+30 years of Foresight
Updates
New seminar summary!
David Brin is best-known for shining light on technology, society, and countless challenges confronting our rambunctious civilization. His best-selling novels include "The Postman" (filmed in 1997) plus explorations of our near-future in Earth and Existence. Other novels are translated into 25+ languages. His short stories explore vividly speculative ideas.
Brin’s nonfiction book "The Transparent Society" won the American Library Association’s Freedom of Speech Award for exploring 21st Century concerns about security, secrecy, accountability and privacy. As a scientist, tech-consultant and world-known author, he speaks, advises, and writes widely on topics from national defense and homeland security to astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction, creativity, and philanthropy.
Find a full summary of his talk here:
foresight.org/salon/transparent-society-sousveillance-david-brin-author-of-the-transparent-society/
Transparent Society & Sousveillance | David Brin, Author of The Transparent Society
foresight.org
David Brin, Author of The Transparent Society Transparent Society & Sousveillance
New video!
Gillian Hadfield is the inaugural Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society, Professor of Law, and Professor of Strategic Management. She is also Director of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society.
Her research is focused on innovative design for legal and dispute resolution systems in advanced and developing market economies; governance for artificial intelligence (AI); the markets for law, lawyers, and dispute resolution; and contract law and theory.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq6UKF8CwJ0&list=PLH78wfbGI1x0QS-1GIjARHRWjVBKF-ofB
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Berlin for our first ever event in Europe last week! And for those who were unable to join us, we are happy to say that the conversations are now available to view and share online:
Dr. Emil Kendziorra, Ole Mensching, Ph. D., Tyler Golato, Paul Kohlhaas / Longevity + Cryonics + Crypto: foresight.org/salon/dr-ole-mensching-tyler-golato-paul-kolhaas-emil-kendziorra-foresights-first-e...
Jessy Kate Schingler, Peter Schlecht, Trent McConaghy | AI DAOs + Brain Computer Interfaces + Lunar Governance: foresight.org/salon/jessy-kate-schingler-peter-schlecht-and-trent-mcconaghy-foresights-first-euro...
We especially want to thank our sponsors! Thank you to Tomorrow Biostasis and Gnosis for sponsoring this event and to Full Node for hosting. Make sure you find out more about these exciting companies and follow up with some recommended reading here:
- Why signing up for cryonics now makes sense: tomorrowbiostasis.com/blog/why-you-should-sign-up-for-biostasis-now/
- Sign up or learn more: tomorrowbiostasis.com/signup/
New seminar summary out with Kate Sills on NFT's and engineering property rights!
In the US legal system, a distinction is made between contract law and property law.
Contract law is extremely permissive: parties can make contracts about pretty much anything that concerns just those parties.
Example: Michael Jordan notably had a “Love of the Game” clause in his NBA contract that allowed him to play basketball outside of the NBA in the off-season, something usually prohibited in player contracts for fear of injury.
Property law is much more limited, in large part due to the fact that property law affects large undefined swaths of people, often everyone not specifically mentioned in the contract.
View the full summary here:
foresight.org/salon/nfts-and-engineering-property-rights-kate-sills-agoric/
NFTs and Engineering Property Rights | Kate Sills, Agoric
foresight.org
Kate Sills, AgoricNFTs and Engineering Property RightsKate Sills is a software engineer with an interest in economics and law. She has been a columnist for the Cato Institute and was previously a boar...
2022 Foresight Fellowship Applications in Biotech & Health Extension, Molecular Machines, Computer Science & Cryptocommerce are open!
Learn more, apply to become a Fellow, or share the app with others who could benefit from it: foresight.org/2022-foresight-fellowship-application/
Anders Sandberg | Post-Scarcity Civilizations & Cognitive Enhancement
“If we get to a post-scarcity society, with much greater levels of well being and really long lives, settling space, etc., that means we have a lot to look forward to when it comes to the future!”
What is available in the “nearer-term” for life if our immature civilization can make it past the current and upcoming tech/insight/coordination hurdles? In this episode we speak to Anders Sandberg on post-scarcity civilizations, to get a sense of what is possible just past current human horizons in the hope it may inspire us to solve humanity’s current challenges and to unlock this next level.
Anders Sandberg is a Foresight Senior Fellow and a Research Associate at the Future of Humanity Institute from the University of Oxford. Sandberg’s research at FHI centers on management of low-probability high-impact risks, estimating the capabilities of future technologies, and very long-range futures. Topics of particular interest include global catastrophic risk, cognitive biases, cognitive enhancement, collective intelligence, neuroethics, and public policy.
If you enjoy what we do please support us via Patreon: www.patreon.com/foresightinstitute.
If you are interested in joining these meetings consider donating through our donation page: foresight.org/donate/
Listen to the full episode here or in any of the regular podcast players:
foresight.org/podcast/
