Register and join us May 13 for our first 2024-2034 Map of the Decade event, a 2-hour interactive online Foresight Council in which we’ll share early findings from our research.
Generative artificial intelligence holds the potential to become the most impactful new technological driver we’ve seen since the rise of the Internet. But even as early experiments in boardrooms and classrooms across the world struggle with the astonishing-but-unpredictable outputs of large language models like ChatGPT, it is already clear that today’s generative AI models are on the precipice of an entirely new paradigm of human-technology interactions in the next few years: the Era of Relational Computing.
As we move from momentary conversational transactions with generic chatbots to building long-term relationships with the personalized agents, coaches, and co-pilots, how will we navigate the complicated layers of trust, accountability, and emotion that will be introduced into our personal, professional and civic communities?
We are excited to share that Toshi Anders Hoo, Dylan Hendricks, and Ben Hamamoto will be presenting new research and perspectives on The Era of Relational Computing at our first 2024-2034 Map of the Decade event. Register and join May 13 for this 2-hour interactive online event open to all Vantage partners!
The Age of Impersonation: Our Real Relationships with Synthetic Humans
Generative AI models have advanced beyond merely synthesizing realistic human language; they now give life to this language through increasingly lifelike voices and avatars. Soon, these synthetic entities will permeate many aspects of our lives, not just engaging in conversations but actively forming relationships with us.
Imagine discovering that your new coworker is an AI, collaborating with you on creative projects and contributing to decision-making. Envision a healthcare scenario where your provider is an AI, offering not only medical advice but also emotional support with startling accuracy. Or consider the political arena, where AI figures might campaign on behalf of—or even as—candidates, dramatically influencing public opinion. Will we be able to distinguish between talking to a biological human or a simulated one? Will society reject these digital impersonations, or will they become a normalized part of our daily lives?
As we teeter on the edge of these radical changes to our social fabric, a host of pressing questions emerge:
What does it mean to be human when machines can emulate human communication and emotions so convincingly?
Who governs the creation and implementation of these AI entities, and what rights should people have over an AI that might impersonate them?
How do we address issues of consent, privacy, and security when AI can learn from and mimic anyone it interacts with?
What ethical frameworks and regulations are essential to ensure these technologies are used responsibly and fairly?
Join us for a compelling discussion on how these novel forms of non-human entities might transform our society, our ethics, and our self-perception. The Age of Impersonation, presented by IFTF Emerging Media Lab Director, Toshi Anders Hoo, invites us to examine a future where the boundaries between synthetic and real humans are increasingly blurred. This talk will delve into the myriad ways generative AI is set to reshape our world, posing critical questions about identity, ethics, and the human condition.
Speaker Bios
Toshi Anders Hoo
Director, IFTF Emerging Media Lab
Toshi leads IFTF’s Emerging Media Lab, where he explores the implications of rapidly evolving technologies that are transforming the ways humans communicate, collaborate, and connect. Toshi regularly advises leaders from both the public and private sector, and he is a lead instructor for IFTF’s Three Horizons of AI course that explores the near-, mid-, and long-term implications for AI. Toshi’s work examines not only the direct applications of emerging technologies ranging from VR to AI, but also the wider implications and impact on individuals, organizations, and society at large. Prior to joining IFTF, Toshi served as media technology consultant for famed futurist Ray Kurzweil, with whom he produced ground breaking live VR demonstrations for the TED stage and co-directed the feature-length documentary The Singularity is Near based on Kurzweil’s best-selling book.
Dylan Hendricks
Director, IFTF Ten-Year Forecast
Dylan produces IFTF’s Ten-Year Forecast, the expression of IFTF’s foundational research. Dylan brings strategic imagination and a whole-systems perspective to his work across the Institute, facilitating and synthesizing diverse perspectives and disciplines to better understand and communicate the macro forces that are transforming our lives, our organizations, and our communities. Before joining IFTF full-time in 2012, Dylan had a previous career in media production, working closely with innovative tech companies and nonprofits to better tell their stories. Dylan has helped dozens of world-class universities, corporations, and civic organizations to strategically explore the future landscape in his decade of experience at IFTF. Dylan’s original design framework, Systems Mythology, has been taught to thousands of students, executives, and foresight practitioners around the world, and formally recognized by the Association of Professional Futurists.
Ben Hamamoto
Research Director, IFTF Vantage
Ben uses insights from his background in journalism covering issues of race and inequality to explore how well-being is shaped by social and environmental contexts. He has researched the future of food technology, environments that enhance well-being, and the design of healthy places; he has an ongoing interest in narrative and health, the meaning of place, and equity and social justice. In addition to his work at IFTF, Ben contributes to the Nichi Bei Weekly and edits the National Japanese American Historical Society’s official magazine, Nikkei Heritage. Ben believes that short-term thinking is a major cause of today’s social inequity and that foresight is critical to successful social change and effective governance. His upbringing in the diverse socioeconomic conditions of the San Francisco Bay Area inspired his interest in issues of race, class, and social justice. He spent half a decade covering these issues as a journalist at Youth Outlook, New American Media, and the Nichi Bei Times before coming to IFTF in 2011