The Future of You
Tracey Follows
The Future of You is the home of Tracey Follows’ ongoing work on identity, agency, and the changing relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world.This channel now brings together three strands of that work.The Future of You podcast explores how technology is reshaping identity, from digital selves and predictive systems to automation, intimacy, trust, and human futures.The Future of You audio series is the original 2021 book, released here chapter by chapter. It explores what Tracey came to call the technology of the self: a third dimension of identity, alongside the psychology of the self and the biology of the self. These recordings are presented as an audio archive of the original published text. Me:chine Dialogues is a special series from The Future of You exploring identity, agency, and AI-mediated systems — where the machinable and unmachinable selves meet. It follows the emerging synthetic condition shaping who we are becoming: not man versus machine, but the meeting of selves, the part that can be copied and the part that can never be caught. Together, these three strands trace an evolving inquiry into identity: from the digital self, to the technological self, to the Me:chine self.Across all of them runs one continuous question: what happens to human identity when the systems around us begin to see us, sort us, predict us, generate us, and increasingly speak in our name?Identity is becoming infrastructure for systems. This channel explores what remains of the self inside them.Core concepts include:Systems & SelfIdentity as InfrastructureThe Technology of the SelfMe:chine — the machinable and unmachinable selfNew here? Start with:→ Me:chine Dialogues: Manifesto→ The Future of You audio series: Chapter 1, Knowing You→ The Future of You podcast archiveVisit:→ Me:chine World and essays: me-chine.com→ Podcast archive: The Future of You→ Audio series: weekly chapters on this channel Introduction About Tracey FollowsTracey Follows is a futurist specialising in identity, agency, and the relationship between systems and selves in an AI-mediated world. Her work includes the frameworks Systems & Self, Identity as Infrastructure, and Me:chine, exploring the machinable and unmachinable dimensions of human identity.The Future of You was named Best Tech Show at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Her central premise: “The future is written between the system and the self.”Follow to receive each new transmission as it is released.AI-mediated systems - where the machinable and unmachinable selves meet.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 18, 2023 • 45min
The Discussion: ‘Your Face Belongs To Us’ with Kashmir Hill #27
Increasingly we’re using facial recognition to do everything from unlock our phone to make payments. But what might the long-term impact of giving away our facial data be? In this episode I talk to New York Times technology reporter and author of “Your Face Belongs To Us”, Kashmir Hill. We talk about the impact of facial recognition technology, the potential for misuse of the tech and its limitations. We also discuss the importance of data privacy and what’s happening to the billions of photos millions of people share online every day.‘Your Face Belongs To Us’ by Kashmir Hill Amazon UK https://bit.ly/45DFs58Amazon US https://bit.ly/3tAUQC2The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK https://bit.ly/44ObTha and US https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk
Oct 4, 2023 • 46min
The Discussion: AI, Agents and Swarm Intelligence #26
In this episode, the CEO of Unanimous AI discusses the impact of conversational AI on everyday interactions, the hidden data in our movements, the dangers of AI systems gathering personal data, brain data reading, and the concept of swarm intelligence and its applications.
Sep 20, 2023 • 37min
The Discussion: The Game of Identity: entertainment meets education #25
Interactive experiences like Roblox are giving children the chance to explore their identity like never before. In this episode I speak with kids media consultant Jo Redfern about the intricacies of Gen Z’s digital identity, self-expression, and the power children have in the 21st century to shape their virtual personas.We discuss the new Barbie movie and the intersection of merchandising and identity. As well as thinking about the future of education and the alternative the learning paths that gaming and digital platforms are revealing.The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)Jo Redfern's LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/joredfernKids Media Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kids-media-club-podcast/id1573404550Future of Education 2050 Report https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Cu0aisIbr_9c-UucelETT92cRUppubYmTracey in Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12513183/EXCLUSIVE-Former-Google-futurist-predicts-classrooms-future-look-like-include-virtual-reality-lessons-downloadable-knowledge.htmlTracey in the Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/future-education-technology-3d-virtual-30900376
Aug 31, 2023 • 52min
The Briefing: Customer Wallets, Customer Futures #24
Jamie Smith, founder of Customer Futures, discusses the future of digital wallets and identity, including personalized AI, customer engagement, and data control. The podcast explores the relationship between trust frameworks, governance frameworks, and digital wallets, as well as the potential of using behavioral information for census questions. It also delves into the concept of good friction, customer wallets, and the idea of businesses subscribing to individuals.
Aug 16, 2023 • 1h 13min
The Discussion: Biometrics: The Rights And The Responsibilities #23
Guests Andrew Bud, Founder and CEO of iProov, and Bronwyn Williams, a futurist and economist, discuss biometric face verification, the advantages of face biometrics, the potential issues with a centralized global infrastructure for digital identities, the rise of digital injection attacks, the responsibility of using biometrics to deliver human rights, generative AI and identity manipulation, building trust frameworks for digital identity, and the implications of quantifying and managing things.
Jul 31, 2023 • 17min
The Briefing: What is Worldcoin? #22
The podcast discusses the creation of a synthetic self and the launch of Worldcoin. It explores the pros and cons of is-a-person solutions, security threats around biometrics, and the use of AI tools in consultancy work. The future of AI and human involvement is also explored.
Jul 19, 2023 • 59min
The Discussion: Identity, Audiences and Avatars #21
Guests David Boyle and Matthew Kershaw talk about AI-enhanced content creation, the rise of digital avatars, the anthropomorphism of digital assistance, the impact of technology on job roles, evolution of online identities and social media, the role of humans and AI in art and culture, democratization of creative powers through digital tools, imagining a future of gesture control and ambient computing, and the power of anthropomorphism and emotional connections with AI.
Jul 6, 2023 • 31min
The Briefing: AI: The Death of The Artist? #20
This podcast explores the impact of AI on art and artists, including discussions on creativity in the age of AI, China's advancements in AI technology, and the potential of AI as an enabler for artists. It also explores the tensions between art for elites and art for the masses, and questions the value and identity of AI-generated art. The podcast concludes by discussing the transformative nature of AI on artistic practice, emphasizing that it will not render artists obsolete but instead birth a new kind of artist.
Jun 21, 2023 • 1h 7min
The Discussion: Generative AI - from Consumer Rights to Human Rights #19
Josh Muncke, Commercial Director at Faculty, and Sam Gregory, Executive Director at WITNESS, discuss generative AI models, prompt engineering, shallow fakes versus deep fakes, and the future of GPT. They explore the rapid progress of generative AI technology, its impact on customer experience, and the importance of human insight. They also touch on AI collaboration, risks and safeguards of language models, and the significance of media forensics.
Jun 7, 2023 • 43min
The Briefing: Building Trust in Digital Identity #18
Chris Holmes, an expert in digital identity and Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE, discusses the trends in generative AI, the UK's plans for digital ID, and the contrast to the EU approach. They also explore the importance of trust and public engagement in digital ID and its role in leveling up and addressing exclusion.
