Are We There Yet?
Jamie Hardy, Sonja Ernst
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Top 10 Are We There Yet? Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Are We There Yet? episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Are We There Yet? for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Are We There Yet? episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Academia, Industry, and AI at a Crossroads: Insights from Joachim Hornegger s1, ep. 3
Are We There Yet?
12/13/23 • 32 min
Ever wondered how universities are equipping future leaders to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape? In this episode, Sonja & Jamie interview computer scientist and Professor Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, to explore how universities balance independence in research and education while addressing the needs of society and industry as norms change with warp-speed. From state regulations, ethics, and business model disruption to green energy futures, machine consciousness, and the singularity—the conversation winds through the advantages and challenges of collaboration toward building the future we want to see.
06/19/24 • 40 min
What makes a story—an ancient myth, a newspaper article, even a map—powerful enough to shape a culture? Dr. Benjamin Strauss asks this question every day in his role as CEO and Chief Scientist of Climate Central, a scientific research and news organization focused on hyperlocal, actionable climate communication. Why have cautionary tales of centuries ago, such as Noah’s flood and Gunyah’s spearing of the sacred fish, persisted through to the present? What can they teach us about how we humans shape our values, and how we can apply these learnings to an abstract threat like climate change today? How are we using AI and other technology to turn global datasets into localized action plans? And why is it misguided to place too much hope on achieving specific outcomes?
Our conversation with Dr. Strauss sheds light on the Surging Seas project’s revelations, achieved using advanced neural networks to create accurate global coastal maps that identify at-risk populations who can be prioritized for local outreach and action. We also explore the transformative power of visual storytelling through initiatives like Mapping Choices and the brand-new FloodVision, which offer interactive, photorealistic depictions of future sea levels and storm surges for local leaders to deploy in their planning and advocacy campaigns. We discover how data, technology, and visual storytelling can combine to serve as a catalyst for people to tell their own stories and make meaningful change where it matters most: close to home.
This episode is essential for anyone passionate about bridging the gaps between climate science, public understanding, and effective action.
Water, Electricity, Gas, Artificial Intelligence: Insights on the Inevitability of AI from Policy Advisor Ami Fields-Meyer
Are We There Yet?
06/05/24 • 45 min
Imagine AI as a public utility—what would that look like? This episode, Sonja and Jamie ask: What are the hidden societal costs of broad AI adoption? How can we mitigate the implicit bias inherent in the creation of AI? And why are tech companies so interested in universal basic income, anyway?
Their guest is Ami Fields-Meyer, a political strategist and former policy advisor in the Biden-Harris administration, who worked on the creation of the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. This fascinating and far-reaching discussion touches on whether and how to make AI accessible to society’s most underserved people; how governments, from local to federal, each play a unique role in ensuring an equitable rollout of this new technology; and what lessons can be learned from historical rapid adoption of private-sector products before we knew all the externalities (think asbestos). Will our obsession with efficiency and convenience override the needs of our most vulnerable? As AI continues to take up most of the oxygen in the room, this comprehensive conversation is as timely as it is crucial.
Communicating Climate Urgency: Dr. Zoë Sadokierski and Dr. Timo Rissanen on the Power of Storytelling in the Sixth Extinction
Are We There Yet?
05/01/24 • 41 min
What happens when a bird no longer recognizes the song of its species? What is the role of art and storytelling in building sustainable worlds? Can AI unchain human creativity and center compassion in our daily lives? As climate change continues to rewrite the rules of existence on Earth, Dr. Zoë Sadokierski and Dr. Timo Rissanen join the podcast to confront the emotional weight of biodiversity loss and explore how stories help us understand the plight of endangered species, and our own part in shaping the narrative.
Using design as a vehicle for empathy and engagement, the two collaborators and ecological communicators reflect on technology’s role in supporting the resilience of the human spirit in the face of political short-sightedness and ecological amnesia that allows our fellow beings to slip away unnoticed during this sixth extinction we are living through. Resisting the cultural tide pushing us towards a baseline of fear, aggression, and self-preservation, the conversation explores the inherent kindness humans can display in times of crisis, and how we can access generosity and community to document changes around us, and learn from our collective history to shape the trajectory of our future.
The Intelligence AI Can Never Create: Dr. Rina Bliss on Humans, Creativity, and Our Future
Are We There Yet?
04/10/24 • 35 min
Intrinsic motivation, curiosity, emotional literacy, mindfulness, learning from our environment: these are aspects of intelligence that are uniquely human, and truly cannot be replicated by AI. Innate and accessible to everyone, these skills have incredible staying power even as our ways of being are shifting at light speed toward destinations unknown.
This episode, Sonja & Jamie welcome associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University Dr. Rina Bliss to challenge the concepts that have traditionally defined human intelligence. How do our established societal structures stifle creativity and limit individuals from reaching their full potential? How can we cultivate imagination and resilience amidst the surge of automation? Can an ethically wielded AI leave us the space we need to engage more deeply in mindfulness and the human connection we so deeply crave?
This conversation is for leaders, educators, and learners alike to spark ideas on how we can recognize and harness our greatest asset—our distinctive intelligence—to forge our path forward through an increasingly uncertain future.
03/26/24 • 32 min
Competition, meet collaboration. Solitary grit, meet mutual support. Fierce warrior, meet loyal ally. These seemingly contradictory identities come together in the Spartan Race experience, a symbiotic combination of personal and collective achievement that reveals the outer bounds of who we are and where we can go.
As a complement to the core Are We There Yet? season, Sonja and Jamie release extras that explore how we get “there,” and the diverse ways leaders have shaped their own lives and those of the people around them. In this first extra, elite Spartan racer Nick Miles pulls back the curtain on the indomitable spirit of teamwork that unites competitors, transforming daunting obstacles into shared triumphs.
Nick shares his journey through the mud while imparting valuable lessons in leadership and the power of a collaborative mindset. The conversation explores how the dynamics within a Spartan team mirror effective leadership strategies, driving each member towards personal and collective success that resonate far beyond the course. Join us for an energizing discussion that's as much about personal growth as it is about leaping over fire pits and scaling walls.
Human-Centric Leadership in the Age of AI: Mickaël Dufourneaud
Are We There Yet?
03/06/24 • 40 min
What are the true skills humans will need as AI pervades the workplace? How can we use technology to reinforce our humanness and augment our emotional intelligence—even if it has no feelings itself? How can a shared scarf serve as an analogy for authenticity and reciprocity in relationships? Join us as we welcome facilitator, executive & wellness coach, and COO of Kahler Communications, Mickaël Dufourneaud, to explore the nuanced realms of sustainable leadership, personal growth, and the impact of AI on our professional landscapes.
We dissect the importance of open communication in quelling the anxieties spurred by AI advancements and discuss the intriguing possibility of AI as a 'GPS of human behaviors'. We distinguish between raw emotional data and the brain's interpretation of feelings as a cornerstone for effectively managing our emotional landscapes—whether in leadership roles or personal relationships. We grapple with the paradox of perceived disconnection in an era of hyper-connectivity, the irreplaceable value of non-verbal cues, and the immediacy of genuine interaction.
We also talk about emojis and beloved—or dreaded—ellipses as a spontaneous and nuanced exchange of non-verbal cues. You know? 😀😃😄😉🙃😎
Our discussion ultimately affirms the enduring power of human emotion and empathy in the face of AI's ever-growing presence, and invites us all to foster deeper, more meaningful connections in our lives.
How do we know AI is Conscious? A deep dive with Computational Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr. Megan Peters
Are We There Yet?
02/07/24 • 44 min
Have you ever considered the possibility of robots and AI systems possessing a consciousness akin to our own? Dr. Megan Peters joins Sonja & Jamie in a compelling conversation on how we can determine whether a system has consciousness—and what that means for people and progress.
Dr. Peters shares her insights into the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and how her team's empirical research at UC Irvine—ranging from perception studies to confidence in decision-making—bridges the gap between theoretical neuroscience and computational models. Do we have free will? Do our decisions stem from gut instincts or conscious deliberation? How does evolution and experience influence our behavior? The exploration of these ideas not only deepens our grasp of human and artificial consciousness, but also invites introspection into the very essence of what it means to be alive and self-aware.
Embodied Intelligence and AI with Professor Ryan Adams
Are We There Yet?
01/10/24 • 44 min
Judgment, bias, assumptions, and the unknown: how have we taught machines to navigate uncertainty with the elegance of the human brain? Computational scientist, startup founder, and professor Ryan Adams joins us to discuss how Bayesian inference acts as a compass for AI in a sea of unpredictability.
This episode isn't just about binary and code; it's a philosophical journey into mechanical intelligence and the moral morass that comes with defining right or wrong for technology that learns from our every input. We address the importance of nurturing fundamental skills in humans, and the enduring value of independent thought; we reflect on the tools reshaping our lives and how they might sharpen or dull the human experience; we dive into how we can pass along the evolutionary intelligence of a human body to machines that help our society function, on a timescale infinitesimally shorter than our own. Join Sonja and Jamie as they gaze into the crystal ball of technology's symbiotic future with humankind.
How Do We Know Where We Are? s1, ep. 1
Are We There Yet?
11/15/23 • 32 min
How can we use technology to flow with the cycles that govern our world? Which technology trends may make us better (or worse) communicators? How is AI like a baby, full of potential and in need of some guidance from its elders (humans!)? Join Sonja and Jamie as they explore sustainability in context, and tap into a collective moment when it seems everyone is trying to figure out what comes next, and how we will know when it is here.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Are We There Yet? have?
Are We There Yet? currently has 16 episodes available.
What topics does Are We There Yet? cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Podcasts, Technology, Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence, Communication and Sustainability.
What is the most popular episode on Are We There Yet??
The episode title 'Climate Science & Action with Dr. Benjamin Strauss, CEO of Climate Central' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Are We There Yet??
The average episode length on Are We There Yet? is 39 minutes.
How often are episodes of Are We There Yet? released?
Episodes of Are We There Yet? are typically released every 21 days, 4 hours.
When was the first episode of Are We There Yet??
The first episode of Are We There Yet? was released on Nov 15, 2023.
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