The Futurists starts 2026 with a stimulating conversation with serial entrepreneur Matt Miesnieks, a true pioneer of AR/XR and spatial computing. In his new startup venture, Primate AI, Matt is focused on a novel approach to artificial intelligence. He intends to construct spatial and dimensional concepts that replicate the way humans develop a mental model of the real world. Topics in this episode: how the limitations of LLMs create opportunities for new approaches, such as Yann LeCun’s JEPA (Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture); the distinction between trying to understand the real world and trying to generate new worlds; why it is so hard to get a robot to cross a busy street safely; why 3D world models are needed; what happens when the real world is machine-readable.

Technology innovator Akshay Chopra joins the Futurists to discuss his new book: “After Us: A Tale of Life Beyond Superintelligent AI.” In this work of speculative fiction, Chopra posits scenarios of a world dominated by a benevolent superintelligence. Topics include: the challenge of envisioning a positive outcome in a world organized by AI; the perils of AI-induced delusions; AI as an evolution of mankind, not a substitute for humanity; the Dataism philosophy and the Panspermia hypothesis; the appeal and relevance of magical realism; how AI denialism is a form of grief processing as we mourn the loss of our status as a species; the struggle to think exponentially instead of linearly; the threats that Akshay thinks we should be concerned about.

http://mybook.to/afterus/opt/1

This week, The Futurists offers a human interest story from Brett’s conference travels. Listen as Brett connects with Arwa Damon, former CNN reporter based in Istanbul, and current President and Founder of INARA, an NGO working in Palestine.
INARA, International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, is a humanitarian organization providing rapid response and treatment to refugee children, its mission to ensure every child has the agency to create a dignified life.
Arwa provides a first-hand look at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and discusses how it impacts the basic needs and access to financial services for people living there.