Taking a question from the audience, author Ian McEwan says that we’ll know we’ve achieved complete trust with lifelike machines once we stop asking them, “Are you real?”

From the Long Now Seminar, “Machines Like Me” by Ian McEwan. . .   Read More

There’s not going to be a ‘fix’ for climate change, says science journalist Jeff Goodell. There will only be adaptations. From the Long Now Seminar, “The Water Will Come. . .   Read More

Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology and philosophy at UC-Berkeley, believes that the changes AI will bring to humanity will be profound, but that we won’t notice them.

From John Brockman’s Long Now Seminar “Possible Minds. . .   Read More

Computer scientist Stuart Russell discusses the future and possible risks of artificial intelligence, focusing specifically on the problem of filter bubbles on social media.Read More

“We need to think globally, we need to think rationally, and above all, we need to think long-term.” – Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, speaking at Long Now.

Watch video of the full talk here. . .   Read More

Patagonia has released a mini documentary about skiers, snowboarders and scientists as they explore “an ancient story written in rings.” The doc was shot in part on Long Now’s Nevada property in Mount Washington, and shows stunning images of something we at Long Now have not yet had a chance to see: the ancient. . .   Read More

“I think it’s a dangerous delusion to think that space offers an escape from Earth’s problems.” -Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, speaking at Long Now in January 02019.

Watch video of the full talk here. . .   Read More

This October, hundreds gathered in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Whole Earth Catalog. Long Now was a sponsor and helped produce media for the event, which is now available online. The evening program (viewable above) featured conversations between Whole Earth Catalog contributors. . .   Read More

We’ve just released six full length videos of recent Conversations at The Interval talks including Long Now board member Esther Dyson, science fiction author Hannu Rajaniemi, and legendary photographer Fred Lyon. They are free for everyone to enjoy on the Interval website thanks to support from Stripe. In coming weeks we’ll add lectures. . .   Read More

Changing demographics will do more to shape the future than the politics of Washington, says George P. Shultz. The politics of Washington is something Shultz knows well: now 97, Shultz served in four cabinet positions over two decades. Under Nixon, he served as the Secretary of Labor, the Director of Office of Management and Budget. . .   Read More