Gaia Wakes: When Earth Grows a Brain

13/10/2025 57 min Temporada 6 Episodio 42

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Episode Synopsis

What happens when Earth itself starts to wake up? In this episode, Kroc School Prof. Topher McDougal joins us to talk about his new book Gaia Wakes, where he explores the idea of Earth’s emergent consciousness and the possibility of a global AI-powered governance system. From the collision of economics and ecology to the Butlerian Jihad of the Dune series, McDougal pushes us to rethink humanity’s role in an AI-dominated future.In this wide-ranging episode, we dive into Luddites, the idea of a grand bargain between humans and AI, and what it really means to have — or be — a soul. In this episode we discuss: The four radical evolutionary upgrades (so far…)Humans as natural phenomenaWhy our future may demand a new relationship with technologyThe ethical risks of being domesticated by our own toolsCheck out these links for more information after you listen: Gaia Wakes The Book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/gaia-wakes/9781788218283/Follow Us: ⁠https:http://www.instagram.com/krocschool/⁠Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/school/krocschool/posts/?feedView=allReach Out: [email protected]

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