Category: Technology and Humanity

Audio and Video of my keynote at Mercedes Benz Vans Innovation Campus in Stuttgart Sept 7, 2016: the future is already here!

Event details. Thanks to Mercedes Benz Vans for asking me to speak and for making this video available me! This was a pretty amazing event, indeed! Download the slides: mb-vans-the-future-is-already-here-gerd-leonhard-public-deck Audio-only:

Team Human (Weekly Podcast with Douglas Rushkoff)

Author, media theorist, and professor Douglas Rushkoff is coming back on the air with a new audio show. It’s a weekly podcast called Team Human, looking to challenge the operating systems driving our society, reveal its embedded codes, and share strategies for sustainable living, economic justice, and preservation of the quirky nooks and crannies that make people so … Continue reading "Team Human (Weekly Podcast with Douglas Rushkoff)"

The world wide cage (via Nicholas Carr)

“Silicon Valley and China should not become ‘mission control for humanity”, writes Gerd Leonhard in Technology vs. Humanity (released on September 8 2016). In-line with Gerd’s vision is the brilliant The world wide cage article by Nicholas Carr on the aeon website. In his provocation, Nicholas writes how “Technology promised to set us free. Instead it has trained us to withdraw … Continue reading "The world wide cage (via Nicholas Carr)"

The trouble with capitalism

We can afford the things we don’t need, but we need the things we can’t afford. For many Americans today, that shiny new flat-screen TV is now more within reach financially than it’s ever been. But it has become harder to afford the house to put it in, food to eat in front of it, or … Continue reading "The trouble with capitalism"

My new book “Technology vs Humanity” is now available for pre-reading and pre-ordering!

This is a big day – after 18 months of intense writing and crafting, my new book is finally ready to be published on September 8, 2016. I have teamed up with fellow futurist Rohit Talwar’s new publishing company Fast Future Publishing and today I am delighted to announce the availability of a pre-publication test-read on … Continue reading "My new book “Technology vs Humanity” is now available for pre-reading and pre-ordering!"

Technology vs. Humanity: a Forbes interview with Futurist /Author Gerd Leonhard

Thanks to Paul Armstrong for conducting this interview on my new book Technology vs. Humanity (pre-order via the site while the discount still applies:)).    Read this exclusive preview PDF about my book: Technology-vs.-Humanity Gerd Leonhard Preview Here are some of the best excerpts: “Technology is no longer just a tool we use to achieve something – … Continue reading "Technology vs. Humanity: a Forbes interview with Futurist /Author Gerd Leonhard"

New podcast interview with Gerd Leonhard: Technology vs Humanity? Via Digital Mindfulness

…published a few hours ago, here. Thanks to Lawrence Ampofo. Technology vs Humanity Opening Chapter Free Read Gerd Leonhard Read the preview PDF: Technology-vs.-Humanity-Ch-1-Prologue-to-the-Future Gerd Leonhard Preview 🙂

Here’s a brand-new video clip introducing my new book “Technology vs Humanity” (Conversations with Gerd, episode #1)

We (TFA Studios) just launched a new video series called ‘conversations with Gerd’ and the first episode is about my new book, Technology vs Humanity.  Most of the upcoming episodes will be related to the topics covered in the book. You can watch it below and of course via my Youtube channel. A special thank-you … Continue reading "Here’s a brand-new video clip introducing my new book “Technology vs Humanity” (Conversations with Gerd, episode #1)"

PRESS RELEASE: Gerd Leonhard’s new book: Technology vs. Humanity – The coming clash between man and machine

PRESS RELEASE: NEW BOOK – Technology vs. Humanity: The coming clash between man and machine Read the exclusive preview PDF: Technology-vs.-Humanity- Gerd Leonhard Preview In his latest book ‘Technology vs. Humanity’, futurist Gerd Leonhard once again breaks new ground by bringing together mankind’s urge to upgrade and automate everything (including human biology itself) with our timeless … Continue reading "PRESS RELEASE: Gerd Leonhard’s new book: Technology vs. Humanity – The coming clash between man and machine"

PRESS RELEASE: Gerd Leonhard’s new book: Technology vs. Humanity – The coming clash between man and machine

PRESS RELEASE: NEW BOOK – Technology vs. Humanity: The coming clash between man and machine In his latest book ‘Technology vs. Humanity’, futurist Gerd Leonhard once again breaks new ground by bringing together mankind’s urge to upgrade and automate everything (including human biology itself) with our timeless quest for freedom and happiness. Before it’s too … Continue reading "PRESS RELEASE: Gerd Leonhard’s new book: Technology vs. Humanity – The coming clash between man and machine"

Democratising algorithms

It may seem a surprise but the original data accountability standard was set by president Richard Nixon in the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 1970. Nixon – not otherwise known for his commitment to transparency,  included the right for citizens to examine and challenge the data used to make algorithmic decisions about them. Meanwhile, algorithms have become ubiquitous in … Continue reading "Democratising algorithms"

Interesting Infographic: Digital Assistants are coming!

Machines of Loving Grace. Interview with John Markoff. Good read !

Insightful Max Planck and Peter Guber quotes

Consciousness is fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness."

Of prediction and policy, via The Economist

How to see the future (podcast interview with Glen Hiemstra)

How to think like a futurist. Glen Hiemstra, founder of futurist.com, explains what he looks at when spotting trends and how to see the future. In this 30-minute podcast interview, Glen discusses the 3-part filter he uses to judge the future likelihood of a particular development. The podcast is part of the Popular Mechanics longer series How … Continue reading "How to see the future (podcast interview with Glen Hiemstra)"

Good read via The Economist: machine learning and government

Read: of prediction and policy (The Economist)  Governments have much to gain from applying algorithms to public policy, but controversies loom Machine-learning systems excel at prediction. A common approach is to train a system by showing it a vast quantity of data on, say, students and their achievements. The software chews through the examples and learns … Continue reading "Good read via The Economist: machine learning and government"

Pretty amazing stuff: VIV intelligent assistant (video)

… I discussed IDAs (intelligent digital assistants) in my new book a lot… seriously #hellven 🙂  Watch this:

The Internet is not evil (interview with Werner Herzog). New film: Lo and behold

Very much inline with Gerd Leonhard‘s vision in Technology Vs. Humanity:  the new film Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World of Werner Herzog (to be released later this week on Amazon Video and iTunes). In this long, feature-length documentary, the 73-year-old director tackles the most expansive project of his career: the Internet. Herzog is considered one of the greatest figures … Continue reading "The Internet is not evil (interview with Werner Herzog). New film: Lo and behold"

Who Should Control Artificial Intelligence?

Great interview by Jack Clark on Bloomberg with Google’s AI wonder boy Demis Hassabis, on using artificial intelligence on everything from climate change to aging. Demis was the co-founder and CEO of DeepMind, a neuroscience-inspired AI company, bought by Google in Jan 2014. He is now Vice President of Engineering at Google DeepMind and leads … Continue reading "Who Should Control Artificial Intelligence?"