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The Synthetic Minds podcastAuthor: Dr Mark van Rijmenam
Welcome to the Synthetic Minds Podcast, a thought-provoking podcast where the boundary between the imagined and the real blurs as we traverse from Science Fiction to Science Reality. In each episode, we delve deep into the visionary worlds of science fiction writers, uncovering the profound insights these storytellers offer about our future. This isn't just about the art of science fiction; it's a journey to explore how these futuristic narratives can inform and shape our actual world in business and our personal lives. For more information, see https://thedigitalspeaker.com Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Exploring Mind Uploading & Ethics in a Virtual World with Grace Chan – Synthetic Minds EP12
Episode 12
Tuesday, 15 October, 2024
If uploading your mind to a virtual world sounds like progress, what does that say about the future of being human? In this episode of Synthetic Minds, speculative fiction author and psychiatrist Grace Chan explores the moral complexities of emerging technologies like mind-uploading, virtual reality, and AI. Her novel Every Version of You imagines a world where consciousness can exist beyond the body—raising profound questions about identity, relationships, and what it means to stay human in an increasingly digital world. Chan cautions that businesses often focus on the coolness and convenience of tech innovations, sidelining their deeper ethical implications. - AI can complement but not replace human empathy and insight. - The “Four Cs” framework—Coolness, Convenience, Commercial Potential, and Consequences—helps evaluate new technologies. - Chan warns that mind-uploading may erode relationships and reduce human experience to mere data. The future demands not just innovation but thoughtful reflection—are we building technology that serves humanity, or are we adapting ourselves to serve the technology? About Grace Chan: Grace is an award-winning speculative fiction writer. She writes about brains, minds, and space. Her debut novel, Every Version of You, is about staying in love after mind-uploading into virtual reality. It won The University of Sydney’s People’s Choice Award, and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and The Age Book of the Year. It was longlisted for the Stella Prize and the Indie Book Awards. It has been optioned for a film adaptation by Cognito Entertainment. Every Version of You: https://amzn.to/3YmZmB8 The Digital Speaker: https://thedigitalspeaker.com
