By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 4 May 22
In August of 2021, Elon Musk revealed the Tesla Bot at the company’s “AI Day” event. At the time the announcement was so unexpected that some journalists, pundits, and analysts believed it to be a joke. But Musk subsequently clarified not only that the humanoid robot is a real product in development, but that the Tesla Bot, nicknamed Optimus, “[has] the potential to be more significant than the vehicle business.” On a recent earnings call, Musk said, “I was surprised that people did not realize the magnitude of the Optimus robot program … The importance of Optimus will become apparent
In August of 2021, Elon Musk revealed the Tesla Bot at the company’s “AI Day” event. At the time the announcement was so unexpected that some journalists, pundits, and analysts believed it to be a joke. But Musk subsequently clarified not only that the humanoid robot is a real product in development, but that the Tesla Bot, nicknamed Optimus, “[has]
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 4 May 22
Sometimes it’s hard to write into the news cycle. I don’t like to write hot takes on things, no matter how closely related they may be to my areas of expertise. I didn’t even write about Elon Musk’s proposed purchase of Twitter because, well, I don’t really care. Not when people in Ukraine are getting massacred, democracy is in peril, America has passed one million Covid deaths, the climate is ignored, a special bird in Hawaii went extinct, a big chunk of glacier broke off the ice cap, teen suicide is skyrocketing, New Mexico burns, and — oh yes —
Sometimes it’s hard to write into the news cycle. I don’t like to write hot takes on things, no matter how closely related they may be to my areas of expertise. I didn’t even write about Elon Musk’s proposed purchase of Twitter because, well, I don’t really care. Not when people in Ukraine are getting massacred, democracy is in peril,
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 4 May 22
Postdoctoral Associate at the Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS) at the University of Cincinnati Neşe Devenot and Managing Editor of Psymposia David Nickles help us evaluate the current psychedelic renaissance, as well as those who may be abusing the power unleashed by the substances. In his monologue, Rushkoff discusses how psychedelics, like everything else, are political. Read a written version of Rushkoff’s monologue, Avoiding the Power Trip, on Medium. Listen to Cover Story: Power Trip from New York Magazine. Click here to stream Team Human. The post Team Human ep. 208: Neşe Devenot and David Nickles appeared first on
Postdoctoral Associate at the Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS) at the University of Cincinnati Neşe Devenot and Managing Editor of Psymposia David Nickles help us evaluate the current psychedelic renaissance, as well as those who may be abusing the power unleashed by the substances. In his monologue, Rushkoff discusses how psychedelics, like everything else, are political. Read a written
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 25 Apr 22
I was a member of the psychedelic counterculture in the 1980s when pretty much every mind-expanding substance was illegal. For us, that illegality was just an obstacle. Taking a psychedelic or growing a marijuana plant was not considered a stand against a draconian legal system and repressive government but simply a way of getting what we wanted in spite of a draconian legal system and repressive government. Many of us who witnessed the very end of the Sixties and the eventual sell-out of the yuppies, gave up on politics and revolution. The hippies became Bill Clinton, who seemed to us
I was a member of the psychedelic counterculture in the 1980s when pretty much every mind-expanding substance was illegal. For us, that illegality was just an obstacle. Taking a psychedelic or growing a marijuana plant was not considered a stand against a draconian legal system and repressive government but simply a way of getting what we wanted in spite of
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 20 Apr 22
The Institute is now hiring for a newly created executive position in our growing organization: Communications Director. The primary focus of this remote position is to “spread the word” in mainstream media, in social media, and online in general. While the position requires good writing skills, the majority of our organization’s core communications will be written by the think tank’s principals. Job candidates should have a marketing and promotion orientation, with a solid track record of getting results through charming persistence and multi-platform media coordination. Our ideal candidate will have experience promoting, publicizing and marketing complex ideas to mainstream audiences.
The Institute is now hiring for a newly created executive position in our growing organization: Communications Director. The primary focus of this remote position is to “spread the word” in mainstream media, in social media, and online in general. While the position requires good writing skills, the majority of our organization’s core communications will be written by the think tank’s
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 20 Apr 22
As media theorist John Culkin first observed, we shape our technologies at the moment of their conception, but from that point forward they shape us. We humans designed the telephone, but from then on the telephone influenced how we communicated, conducted business, and conceived of the world. We also invented the automobile, but then rebuilt our cities around automotive travel and our geopolitics around fossil fuels. Read more from, Program or Be Programmed, on Medium. The post Program or Be Programmed appeared first on Rushkoff.
As media theorist John Culkin first observed, we shape our technologies at the moment of their conception, but from that point forward they shape us. We humans designed the telephone, but from then on the telephone influenced how we communicated, conducted business, and conceived of the world. We also invented the automobile, but then rebuilt our cities around automotive travel
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 20 Apr 22
Writer, researcher, and curator at Advaya Hannah Close helps to bring us from mere reciprocity to true kinship. In his monologue, Rushkoff discusses how haggling holds us all together. Read a written version of Rushkoff’s monologue, The Fabric of Society, on Medium. Click here to stream Team Human. The post Team Human ep. 207: Hannah Close appeared first on Rushkoff.
Writer, researcher, and curator at Advaya Hannah Close helps to bring us from mere reciprocity to true kinship. In his monologue, Rushkoff discusses how haggling holds us all together. Read a written version of Rushkoff’s monologue, The Fabric of Society, on Medium. Click here to stream Team Human. The post Team Human ep. 207: Hannah Close appeared first on Rushkoff.
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 14 Apr 22
I have always been a fan of fake news. I don’t mean the kind that we see in today’s disinformation campaigns on Facebook and Twitter. It’s the work of 1960’s pranksters such as Paul Krassner, Abbie Hoffman, or Robert Anton Wilson and the Discordians that I always admired. That tradition has been carried on well to this day by fabulous media activists including my friends with the YesMen, Adbusters, Ubermorgen, and the Birds aren’t Real movement (who contend that the CIA has replaced all real birds with spy drones). Read more from, Beyond Pranks, Satire, and Sensemaking, on Medium. The post
I have always been a fan of fake news. I don’t mean the kind that we see in today’s disinformation campaigns on Facebook and Twitter. It’s the work of 1960’s pranksters such as Paul Krassner, Abbie Hoffman, or Robert Anton Wilson and the Discordians that I always admired. That tradition has been carried on well to this day by fabulous
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 13 Apr 22
We’re pleased to announce that our organization’s headquarters website at www.culturalevolution.org has evolved. Please check out our completely rebuilt site. In addition to a fresh look and feel, the new website showcases the innovative programs, activities, and ideas the Institute has developed since its founding in 2013. Highlights include our many published articles and op-eds, our platform of policy recommendations, and a multi-level description of our developmental approach to politics. Also featured are our tests and exercises, as well as details on our board, staff, and fellows. Taken as a whole, the new Institute for Cultural Evolution headquarters website provides
We’re pleased to announce that our organization’s headquarters website at www.culturalevolution.org has evolved. Please check out our completely rebuilt site. In addition to a fresh look and feel, the new website showcases the innovative programs, activities, and ideas the Institute has developed since its founding in 2013. Highlights include our many published articles and op-eds, our platform of policy recommendations,
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 10 Apr 22
I’ve made no secret of my skepticism about the blockchain as a solution for our economic woes. Yes, the economy is tilted, corrupt, and easily gamed — but the solution is likely social, not technological. While national, debt-based central currencies create terrible incentives, abstractions, and growth mandates, moving our transactions to a decentralized ledger maintained by wealthy hackers may not truly be any better. And most people know this, deep down. Read more from, Yearning for Proof, on Medium. The post Yearning for Proof appeared first on Rushkoff.
I’ve made no secret of my skepticism about the blockchain as a solution for our economic woes. Yes, the economy is tilted, corrupt, and easily gamed — but the solution is likely social, not technological. While national, debt-based central currencies create terrible incentives, abstractions, and growth mandates, moving our transactions to a decentralized ledger maintained by wealthy hackers may not