Digging in: Should we mine in space?

04/02/24 • 44 min

The business of space is booming: Humans are leaving Earth’s atmosphere to mine for precious minerals that could bring trillions of dollars in profit. But with only a handful of laws currently regulating the final frontier, will space mining deepen existing global inequalities or could it save humanity?

Alice Gorman, space archaeologist, says space is for all humanity, but right now space mining isn’t focused on sustainability or moral responsibility. She argues that greater government oversight is necessary before we commercialize space. Jose Acain, co-founder of asteroid mining company AstroForge, says space mining is necessary to sustain Earth’s supply issues. He argues that government regulation is needed in regards to space ownership, but worries that too much regulation will stifle potential advancements. Listen to Doha Debates Podcast as these experts discuss the best way to explore space, mitigate mining risks and build a better future.

This special episode is inspired by Necessary Tomorrows, a podcast from Doha Debates and presented by Al Jazeera that combines fiction and fact to imagine better futures. To dig deeper into the core issues and ethics of space exploration and cultivation, check out episode three of Necessary Tomorrows, “A Feast for Cobalt.” Listeners are thrust into the near future, where an asteroid is discovered with enough minerals for Earth to run entirely on green energy.

Doha Debates Podcast is a production of Doha Debates and FP Studios. This episode is hosted by Joshua Johnson. Thoughts on this conversation? Let us know! Follow us everywhere @DohaDebates and join the post-episode discussion in our YouTube comments.

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ENCORE: Digital dilemma: Does AI help or harm the creative community?

It can write emails, essays and even songs. It has created award-winning pieces of art, and it can take simple text prompts and generate eerily life-like videos. That’s right—we’re talking about artificial intelligence.

Generative AI programs such as ChatGPT, Sora and Midjourney are getting smarter and more powerful by the day—just this week, Nvidia, one of the world's leading AI companies, announced a powerful new chip that could supercharge AI's already rapid growth. This technology is already worrying artists of all kinds about the future of art. Is AI coming for artists’ jobs and livelihood, or is it a helpful tool pushing art to a new horizon?

Jason Allen used generative AI to create his work “Théâtre d'Opéra Spatial,” which won the Colorado State Fair’s annual fine art competition in 2022, making news headlines. He says artists should be excited and more open to working with AI as a new artistic medium that can help break down barriers and democratize art for everyone. On the other side, Molly Crabapple, award-winning artist and writer, says artists—and everyone—should be concerned about generative AI, arguing that these programs are not only stealing from, but “sucking the lifeblood,” from living artists. Additionally, she contends that the limited creativity of AI art programs will ultimately impoverish human culture. Listen to Doha Debates Podcast as our guests debate the controversy surrounding AI art, the economics of artificial intelligence and the future of art around the world.

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ENCORE: Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world?

What does a shift in the balance of power mean for the world? For much of the last 100 years, Western countries have dominated the global order. But now, with many nations vying for power, new regional partnerships and middle powers are on the rise. Economically, strategic alliances like BRICS are bolstering the influence of non-Western countries. And in a world that’s more digitally connected than ever, the global rise of pop culture heavyweights like Bollywood, dizi and K-pop means there’s more soft power in the hands of countries outside the historical superpowers.

At the same time, conflict is on the rise globally. Last year, the UN said there were more ongoing conflicts than at any point since World War II. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to think about who should lead.

Students, recent graduates and expert speakers—Jon B. Alterman, Sawsan Chebli and Wadah Khanfar—come together for this Doha Debates town hall event that breaks down today’s most urgent issues, examines the impact of shifting global powers and answers the question: Who should lead in a multipolar world?

This town hall was moderated by journalist Femi Oke and produced in partnership with Doha Forum.