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
Sep 21, 2022 • 53min
Robot Rights and Relationships #9
What is the origin of the word robot? Who makes the definitions of these words robots, avatars, nanobots, etc? Who gets to define them? How do we decide? Is there a new social category that's emerging, and should see non biological intelligences through the lens of our own social interaction?Do avatars as representations of the self need the same rights as humans, and importantly, should there be distinctions around the governance of virtual worlds versus physical worlds? What do we need from our relationships with this new set of beings in the future?Today, I speak with Dr Julie Carpenter, research fellow in the Ethics and Emerging Science Group at California Polytechnic State University, and Dr David Gunkel, Professor of Media Studies at Northern Illinois University. Dr Carpenter’s primary research goal is to investigate human-technology emotional attachment and trust issues, looking at the ways in which embodied AI offers a testing ground for media, communication and cultural theories. She is currently writing her latest book, The Naked Android. Dr Gunkel’s work focuses on the philosophy of technology and emerging ethics relating to AI, robots and algorithms. He has published twelve influential and award-winning books including How To Survive a Robot Invasion, The Machine Question, Gaming The System, and Robot Rights. His latest book is called Deconstruction and is part of MIT's Essential Knowledge Series. This episode of The Future of You covers:The origin of robots and who defines themThe person-thing dichotomy in legal and social categoriesAvatar rights and responsibilitiesThe governance of virtual spacesEmotional valence of non-human personalitiesHow to engage the public in thinking about the rights and relationships of robotsThe Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBBLinks and references at: www.traceyfollows.com
Sep 7, 2022 • 57min
Digital Identity & Death with Dr Patrick Stokes and Dr Elaine Kasket #8
Millions of profiles of the dead haunt the internet. What do we do with all these digital souls? Can we simply delete them? Or do they have a right to persist? What does it mean for the self now that digital technologies are transforming the notion of legacy, and in the future, how you will persist beyond your own death?Today, I speak with Patrick Stokes, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. His work sits at the intersections of the continental and analytic traditions with research interests that include personal identity, narrative selfhood, and philosophy of religion. I'm also joined by Elaine Kasket, counselling psychologist, a speaker and author with a BA Honours in Journalism and Psychology. This episode of The Future of You covers:Whether we can and should attempt to manage our online legacies after death.How deep fake and AI generated material using the deceased will impact our understanding of history.The death of nostalgia and technology’s enthusiasm for the music of the past.Will the truth be replaced with the telically possible?Who controls our digital afterlife?The therapeutic possibilities of digitally reanimating the dead.The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBBLinks and references at: www.traceyfollows.com
Aug 10, 2022 • 2min
"The Future of You" Season 2 - Trailer
Discover how emerging technologies are impacting our identity in the digital world. Topics include AI shaping our identity, virtual reality, and the possibility of immortality.
May 4, 2022 • 58min
Digital Identity and Self Sovereignty with Kaliya Young & Lucy Yang #7
Kaliya Young and Lucy Yang discuss digital identity and self-sovereignty. They cover topics such as the importance of digital identity, anonymity and self-sovereignty, evolving wallets, the principles of physical identity in a digital solution, and the role of open standards. They also explore advancements in digital identity technologies, the importance of open standards and interoperability, challenges with mobile driver's license standards and privacy, and digital identity initiatives and challenges.
Apr 20, 2022 • 1h 2min
Superlongevity, Memory and Identity with Transhumanist Pioneer, Dr Natasha Vita-More #6
Dr Natasha Vita-More, a transhumanist pioneer, discusses longevity and radical life extension, AI augmentation for senses and emotional responses, practical developments in transhumanism, being a pioneering woman in the field, and the importance of continuity of identity.
Apr 6, 2022 • 1h 11min
The Age of Profilicity and Identity Politics with Hans-Georg Moeller and Sam Gilbert #5
Is the huge variety of social platforms and settings in which we present ourselves creating a multiplicity of our identities, demanding that we moderate our personalities? And is that such a bad thing?From the Chinese philosophy suggesting that sincerity trumps authenticity, to the future technologies ushering in an era of profilicity, the norms that surround identity are changing during our lifetime.Joining me to help foresee where our technology of identity is heading - in this truly international episode - are Hans-Georg Moeller, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Macau, and Sam Gilbert, an Affiliated Researcher with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.This episode of The Future of You covers:Use of data to create a picture of someone’s identity, and how that could be used for wider public benefitThe multiplicity of identity through social media sites with different norms and expectationA modern sense of profilicity, and how that links with ancient Chinese philosophiesHow AI might allow us to curate identity in a new way with a novel sense of self-insightThe need to leave authenticity behind in favour of situational sincerityThis episode does contain a brief discussion eluding to self-harm, suicide, and how we might use data to identify those in need. If you or somebody you know is in need, Samaritans are available by phoning 116 123.The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-You-Identity-21st-Century-Technology-ebook/dp/B08XBN4GBBThe TBD Conference - Get 25% off your tickets with code FUTUREOFYOU:https://www.thetbdconference.com/Links and references at: https://www.traceyfollows.com/
Mar 23, 2022 • 1h 1min
The Evolution of Identity over Generations with Dr Eliza Filby and Dr Ian Pearson #4
Dr Eliza Filby, historian, and Dr Ian Pearson, futurist, discuss the influence of generational changes on identity. They explore topics such as AI's role in representing personalities, individuality in the future workplace, and the potential end of class as an identity marker.
Mar 9, 2022 • 1h 5min
The Transhumanist Future of a Radical Identity with Zoltan Istvan & David Wood #3
Join Zoltan Istvan and David Wood as they discuss the future of transhumanism, including modifying our bodies, immortality, and personal identity. They explore the lack of female representation in transhumanism, the implications of longevity and cryonic suspension, and the possibility of conscious transfer. The chapter also touches on rational decision making, future technologies, and the importance of understanding their impact on our identities.
Feb 23, 2022 • 59min
Media and the Quest for Identity with Andrew McLuhan and Henry Jenkins #2
Henry Jenkins and Andrew McLuhan, director of The McLuhan Institute and grandson of philosopher Marshall McLuhan, discuss the impact of media on identity in a captivating conversation. They explore topics such as the rapid change of media assaulting our sense of self, the role of social media in raising essential issues about race and gender, the violence associated with language surrounding identity, and the intimate nature of podcasts compared to radio.
Feb 23, 2022 • 51min
How Virtual Worlds Shape our Real Identities with Richard Bartle & David Birch #1
Richard Bartle, Co-Creator of MUD, and David Birch, FinTech expert, explore virtual identities, tokenization, the interplay between digital and physical worlds, and the difference between credentials and biometric identification in this captivating episode. They discuss how characters in virtual worlds differ from our real-world identity, the gamification of personalities on different platforms, and the potential impact of biometrics on identification. This thought-provoking conversation also touches on the exploration of gender in virtual worlds and the liberating and constraining aspects of gaming on individual identity.
