I’m thrilled that my new book Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies (Mango Publishing) is now available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobel, Indie Bound, and other good book outlets!
The book introduces readers to the profound capabilities presented by new and emerging technology trends and the complex personal and societal challenges they present, through the imagination and creativity of science fiction movies. Twelve movies provide the starting point for exploring key future trends, from genetic engineering (Jurassic Park) and brain-enhancing drugs (Limitless), to human augmentation (Ghost in the Shell), and artificial intelligence (Ex Machina). These are woven together with emerging ideas on technological convergence and responsible and ethical innovation, to provide a sweeping perspective on where our technologies are taking us, and how we ensure this is where we want to go.
To whet your appetite, here’s what’s between the covers:
Contents
Chapter One. In the Beginning
Beginnings • Welcome to the Future • The Power of Convergence • Socially Responsible Innovation • A Common Point of Focus • Spoiler Alert
Chapter Two. Jurassic Park: The Rise of Resurrection Biology
When Dinosaurs Ruled the World • De-Extinction • Could We, Should We? • The Butterfly Effect • Visions of Power
Chapter Three. Never Let Me Go: A Cautionary Tale of Human Cloning
Sins of Futures Past • Cloning • Genuinely Human? • Too Valuable to Fail?
Chapter Four. Minority Report: Predicting Criminal Intent
Criminal Intent • The “Science” of Predicting Bad Behavior • Criminal Brain Scans • Machine-Learning Based Precognition • Big Brother, Meet Big Data
Chapter Five. Limitless: Pharmaceutically-Enhanced Intelligence
A Pill for Everything • The Seduction of Self-Enhancement • Nootropics • If You Could, Would You? • Privileged Technology • Our Obsession with Intelligence
Chapter Six. Elysium: Social Inequity in an Age of Technological Extremes
The Poor Shall Inherit the Earth • Bioprinting our Future Bodies • The Disposable Workforce • Living in an Automated Future
Chapter Seven. Ghost in the Shell: Being Human in an Augmented Future
Through a Glass Darkly • Body Hacking • More than “Human”? • Plugged In; Hacked Out • Your Corporate Body
Chapter Eight. Ex Machina: AI and the Art of Manipulation
Plato’s Cave • The Lure of Permissionless Innovation • Technologies of Hubris • Superintelligence • Defining Artificial Intelligence • Artificial Manipulation
Chapter Nine. Transcendence: Welcome to the Singularity
Visions of the Future • Technological Convergence • Enter the Neo Luddites • Techno-Terrorism • Exponential Extrapolation • Make Believe in the Age of the Singularity
Chapter Ten. The Man in the White Suit: Living in a Material World
There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom • Mastering the Material World • Myopically Benevolent Science • Never Underestimate the Status Quo • It’s Good to Talk
Chapter Eleven. Inferno: Immoral Logic in an Age of Genetic Manipulation
Decoding Make Believe • Weaponizing the Genome • Immoral Logic? • The Honest Broker • Dictating the Future
Chapter Twelve. The Day After Tomorrow: Riding the Wave of Climate Change
Our Changing Climate • Fragile States • A Planetary “Microbiome” • The Rise of the Anthropocene • Building Resiliency • Geoengineering the Future
Chapter Thirteen. Contact: Living by More than Science Alone
An Awful Waste of Space • More than Science Alone • Occam’s Razor • What if We’re Not Alone?