FBL93: Angus Fletcher - Why Storytelling Will Prevent AI Dominance

FBL93: Angus Fletcher - Why Storytelling Will Prevent AI Dominance

Author: Singularity University March 6, 2023 Duration: 56:24

This week our guest is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative, Angus Fletcher, who pulls on his background of literature and neuroscience to understand how brains and machines process story and narrative.

Angus has recently made some extremely bold claims, including putting forth a proof that “even a sentient, self-aware, and infinitely powerful computer could never innovate” because it can’t engage in narrative thought. In essence, computer AI cannot replicate human creativity, and all of our expectations around self-driving cars and ChatGPT come down to a human-guided prank that pretends to do something it’s not really doing. In this episode, I obviously push back on this idea that narrative limits computer AI, but Angus makes some strong counter-arguments.

Find out more about Angus and his work at angusfletcher.co 

**

Apply for registration to our exclusive South By Southwest event on March 14th @ www.su.org/basecamp-sxsw

Apply for an Executive Program Scholarship at su.org/executive-program/ep-scholarship

Learn more about Singularity: su.org

Host: Steven Parton - LinkedIn / Twitter

Music by: Amine el Filali


Hosted by Singularity University, The Singularity Discussion Series is a deep and ongoing conversation about the forces that will define tomorrow. Rather than offering quick tech news, this podcast creates a space for sustained exploration. Each episode features leading thinkers and practitioners who examine exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blockchain, and quantum computing. The discussions go beyond isolated innovations to focus on their powerful convergence-the point where these fields intersect to reshape everything from global industries and economic models to the fabric of our daily lives. You’ll hear nuanced analysis on both the immediate implications and the long-term trajectories of these changes. The goal is to unpack the breakthroughs that are actively redefining the boundaries of the possible, providing listeners with a clearer, more thoughtful understanding of the complex future we are building together. Tune in for a consistently insightful and forward-looking dialogue that challenges assumptions and illuminates the path ahead.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Singularity Discussion Series
Podcast Episodes
FBL106: Adam Gazzaley - Digital Medicine for Distracted Minds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:30
This week my guest is neuroscientist and entrepreneur, Adam Gazzaley, who co-authored the 2016 book The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, and whose company Akili Interactive has developed the world's…
FBL105: Gerd Leonhard - Empowering Humanity Towards a Good Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:35
This week our guest is futurist and speaker, Gerd Leonhard, who authored the 2016 book Technology vs Humanity: The Coming Clash Between Man and Machine. In this episode, we explore the ideas Gerd puts forth in his book,…
FBL103 - Edward A. Lee: How Humans and Machines Co-Evolve [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:31
This week our guest is distinguished professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley, Edward A. Lee, who has written extensively about the relationship between humans and technology in books such…
FBL101: Anne Scherer - How AI is Shaping You and Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
This week my guest Anne Scherer, a professor of marketing at the University of Zurich who specializes in the psychological and societal impacts that result from the increased automation and digitization of the consumer-c…
FBL99: Karl Friston - How Free Energy Shapes the Future of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:37
This week my guest is professor of neuroscience at University College London, Karl Friston. Viewed by many as one of the world’s most influential neuroscientists, Friston rose to prominence when he pioneered one of the k…
FBL98: Jean Twenge - How Generations Are Shaped By Technology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:42
This week my guest is Jean Twenge, a renowned psychologist, professor, and author who has been one of the world’s leading researchers investigating generational differences and the impacts of technology. This includes he…
FBL97: Nessa Carey - Epigenetics & Gene Editing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:14
This week our guest is British biologist, Nessa Carey, who has researched and written extensively about the latest trends in molecular biology and biotechnology for several decades now. This includes her 2011 book, the E…