What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis with MALCOLM HARRIS

What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis with MALCOLM HARRIS

Author: The Creative Process Original Series: Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Innovation, Engineering, Robotics & Internet of Things August 27, 2025 Duration: 0:00

“One day, I woke up with this concept of oil being tied up in our lives in ways that we don't talk about. It’s sort of a value-theoretical approach to climate change and the climate crisis. Something that's impersonal and goes to the root of our entire social metabolic structure.”

In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liuwelcomes Malcolm Harris back to the show. Previously, he talked with us about his mammoth study, Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World. This time, we are looking not at a history of Capitalism and the World, but our possible futures under the threat of catastrophic climate change. We talk about not only failed policies, but failed perspectives on society, politics, and culture, and focus on a deadly form of Value that has led us to the abyss precisely because it has emanated from a basic rift between humans and the world. It is a rift that Capital has always both fed and exploited, but will end up exhausting a finite resource—the Planet. We talk about what is needed to heal this, what we are up against, and his latest book, What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis.

Malcolm Harris is the author of the national bestseller Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Kids These Days: The Making of Millennials; and Shit is Fucked Up and Bullshit: History Since the End of History. He was born in Santa Cruz, CA and graduated from the University of Maryland.

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The conversation about our technological future is often dominated by headlines and hype, leaving little room for nuance. AI & The Future of Humanity moves beyond the soundbites to explore the profound questions shaping our collective tomorrow. This podcast delves into the intricate landscape of artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging fields like quantum computing and nanotechnology, examining not just their potential but their real-world implications. Each episode features in-depth discussions with a diverse range of voices-from scientists and engineers to philosophers, activists, and policy experts. Listeners will hear thoughtful analysis on the ethical dilemmas of algorithmic bias, the societal shifts prompted by automation and the future of work, and the creative possibilities within virtual and augmented reality. We grapple with how big data and the Internet of Things are reshaping daily life, and critically assess the promises and perils of generative AI. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding of how these powerful tools are developed and deployed. By focusing on the roles that individuals, organizations, and governments can play, the series aims to cut through the noise, offering a grounded perspective on how we can steer innovation toward outcomes that benefit all of humanity. It’s a space for meaningful dialogue about the design choices we face today that will define the world we inhabit tomorrow. Tune in for a necessary and nuanced exploration of the forces that will shape the coming decades.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 142

AI & The Future of Humanity:  Artificial Intelligence, Technology, VR, Algorithm, Automation, ChatBPT, Robotics, Augmented Reality, Big Data, IoT, Social Media, CGI, Generative-AI, Innovation, Nanotechnology, Science, Quantum Computing: The Creative Proce
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