Illusions of Life

Jay Iorio, IEEE-SA

BC Biermann, The Heavy Projects

AWE USA 2016 1-2 June 2016 Santa Clara, California

ILLUSIONS OF LIFE:an informal discussion

“This is a very complicated case Maude. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.” - The Dude

jay ioriodirector of innovation

IEEE-SA

bc [ heavy ] biermannfounder

the heavy projects

ILLUSIONS OF LIFETECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE

+ SHOULD WE PROGRAM SERENDIPITY AND “SEEMING” RANDOMNESS INTO FUTURE SYSTEMS

+ WILL SUCH RANDOMNESS BE DESIGNED INTO A GAMIFIED AND ILLUSION-BASED FUTURE SO THAT HUMAN DESIRE CAN BE MORE EASILY MANIPULATED?

+ WHAT ARE THE SHORT TO LONGER TERM SOCIAL, COGNITIVE, AND EXISTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS CONVERGENCE?

+ JUST BECAUSE WE “CAN” EVOLVE THESE TECHNOLOGIES… DOES IT MEAN WE “SHOULD”?

+ ARE WE CREATING AN ECHO-CHAMBER EXPOSING US TO ONLY WHAT WE WANT TO ENCOUNTER, OR HAVE BEEN CONVINCED WE WANT TO ENCOUNTER?