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Brave New Planet

Utopia or dystopia? It’s up to us.
In the 21st century, powerful technologies have been appearing at a breathtaking pace—related to the internet, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and more. They have amazing potential upsides, but we can’t ignore the serious risks that come with them.
Brave New Planet is a podcast that delves deep into the most exciting and challenging scientific frontiers, helping us understand them and grapple with their implications. Dr. Eric Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, is a geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician who was a leader of the Human Genome Project and for eight years served as a science advisor to the White House for President Obama. He’s also the host of Brave New Planet, and he’s talked to leading researchers, journalists, doctors, policy makers, activists, and legal experts to illuminate how this generation’s choices will shape the future as never before.
Brave New Planet is a partnership between the Broad Institute, Pushkin Industries, and The Boston Globe's Opinion team.

Episode 4: Killer Robots and the Future of War

Brave New Planet

  • 1.6K views
  • over 4 years ago
  • 01:04:38

Fully autonomous lethal weapons—robots that can select and engage targets without human intervention—are fast becoming possible. They might minimize casualties and protect civilians in times of war. But is it morally wrong to put a computer in charge of life or death decisions? Could system errors lead to flash wars? But, as war gets faster and more complex, is it even feasible to keep humans in the loop? For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 3: A Radical Approach to Climate Change

Brave New Planet

  • 1.7K views
  • over 4 years ago
  • 59:06

Could altering the Earth’s atmosphere to reflect back some of the sun’s rays be a solution to climate change? It would likely decrease global temperatures, but it might lead to climate wars. Humanity might become “addicted” to it for survival. And ultimately, would this technology only distract us from tackling the real problem of carbon emissions? For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices