Welcome to the podcast version of New World Same Humans, a weekly newsletter on trends, technology, and society by David Mattin.
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The world around us tends towards chaos. Meanwhile, we seek constantly to impose our structures on it.
This week is all about a structured way of thinking about the future. More specifically, it’s about three trends.
Trends allow us to process, and make sense of, the changes we see around us. They do that by asking us to see that change through the lens of fundamental and unchanging human needs.
Specifically, trends ask us to look at how change is unlocking new ways to serve those age-old needs: security, value, social connection, and others. When that happens – when change unlocks new ways to serve basic needs –new behaviours, habits and expectations are sure to follow.
In this week’s episode, you’ll hear about three emerging trends that I’ve been tracking recently. I think each is powerful, and will help shape the new world that lies ahead:
🔎 Truth Verticals: An ecosystem of new armies in the information war
🤖 The Represented Self: Live your best life – because the machines are always watching
🎓 Silicon Schools: Big Tech companies become the new Ivy League
That’s enough by way of introduction. Hit play and start listening! And if you’d rather read this instalment, check out the text version of New World Same Humans #29.
Links in this week’s instalment
Truth Verticals:
1. Chinese internet censorship aims to impose an alternate reality on citizens.
2. New technologies can help us identify deepfakes.
3. The brilliant Our World in Data.
4. A new UN Truth Vertical around the coronavirus.
The Represented Self
1. Fawkes is a new privacy tool that allows users to cloak their pictures against facial recognition.
2. These tee-shirts confuse facial recognition technologies.
3. Amazon is using AI and facial recognition to monitor staff behaviour at fulfilment centres.
4. Kia Motors want to build cars that respond to the emotions of their drivers.
Silicon Schools:
1. Over 20% of this year’s freshman Harvard class has deferred.
2. Google has launched a range of new courses that its recruiters will consider equivalent to four-year degrees.
Let’s start trending
Thanks so much for listening this week.
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I’ll be back next Sunday! Until then, be well.
David.
New World Same Humans #29 – Audio Edition