Archive - Ethical Futures Lab

EFL Summer Break

Hello friends! We’re writing to let you know that we will be taking a short hiatus from the newsletter for the next few months. In addition to all the…

May 16, 2022 •

and

April 2022

Future #67: It takes two rainbows to jump from Hawaii to seventeen

This week, we explore many aspects of machine intelligence: What does it mean, philosophically, for computers to create original texts and imagery? How…

Apr 25, 2022 •

and

Future #66: On both sides of the looking glass

This week, we look at the increasingly blurred space between our virtual and physical experiences. From code that enforces laws (whether contracts or…

Apr 4, 2022 •

and

March 2022

Future #65: Where the game's made up and the points don't matter

From the philosophy of games to the memes of war, this week’s signals examine the limits of our imaginations when it comes to the future. So much of…

Mar 21, 2022 •

and

February 2022

Future #64: Bridges and boundaries

This week’s signals speak to ideas of togetherness — from recommendation systems that can forge connections rather than division, to apps that aim to…

Feb 21, 2022 •

and

Future #63: Our cyborg selves

We discuss how we might want robots to care for us, when it’s appropriate to offload ethics to machines, and how it feels when everything is an avatar…

Feb 7, 2022 •

and

January 2022

Future #62: All that you can't leave behind

When we imagine a future, we often bring all our beliefs, prejudices, hopes, and histories along with us, leading to limiting ideas of what’s truly…

Jan 24, 2022 •

and

Future #62: Invention & reinvention

Why web3 will probably become web2 redux, interactions with information beyond the infinite list, and the latest gadgets that may someday adorn your…

Jan 10, 2022 •

and

December 2021

Future #61: Technology vs. technique

We can have video games and we can have electric cars, but you probably shouldn’t put them together. This week, we look at how to tell the bad ideas…

Dec 13, 2021 •

and

November 2021

Future #60: Things that don't suck

This issue brings news of major initiatives to pull back from the brink and rethink policies and systems in more humane ways. Read on to learn how to…

Nov 29, 2021 •

and

Future #59: Metaverse, multiverse, or more of the same?

Buckle in, friends, because today we try super hard to get excited about Web3. (We manage to find begrudging acceptance, but stop well short of…

Nov 15, 2021 •

and

Future #58: Disentangling the future from the past

A re-imagining of books, a slower social network, and some tips on making better predictions.

Nov 1, 2021 •

and

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts