Extrapolate with Rob Hof

Rosi Braidotti: How to Redesign the Future of Humanity

World-renowned philosopher Rosi Braidotti explains why Silicon Valley transhumanism is a dangerous threat to democracy, why the modern "happiness industry" is a capitalist trap, and how the next generation can use "affirmative ethics" to redesign the future of humanity. Rosi Braidotti is a distinguished contemporary philosopher and feminist theoretician, best known for her pioneering work in posthumanism and affirmative ethics. She is a Professor Emerita at Utrecht University and the author of highly influential books, including The Posthuman and Posthuman Knowledge. For decades, her work has bridged the gap between classical philosophy, the rise of advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing, and the fight for social and ecological justice. In this episode, you get a profound masterclass in modern philosophy from one of Europe's leading thinkers—exploring how our culture arrived at its current technological crisis, why simply critiquing the system is no longer enough, and what digital natives must do to take control of an increasingly chaotic world. She explains, among other things: ◼️ Why the "crisis of humanism" occurred after WWII, and why history proves that human reason and horrific violence are perfectly compatible ◼️ The fundamental difference between her philosophy of "posthumanism" and the "transhumanism" championed by Silicon Valley billionaires like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk ◼️ Why she views modern transhumanism as an attempt by tech oligarchies to replace democracy with hierarchical, enslaved societies ◼️ The concept of "Affirmative Ethics": why just being "against" things isn't enough, and how to extract real knowledge from pain and frustration to build a better future ◼️ Why the modern "wellness and happiness industry" is a nightmare, and why true affirmation is much closer to stoicism than forced optimism ◼️ Her ultimate plea to Gen Z: why the apocalyptic "doomsday" narrative is fake, why reality has surpassed science fiction, and how young people possess the immense power to redesign the planet ◼️ Why you need to read philosophy today—and why the greatest historical thinkers were actually transgressive "wackos" who were designing robots and computers centuries ago Timestamps 00:00 The Crisis of European Humanism 03:40 Fanon, Decoloniality, and the Limits of Reason 08:31 Affirmative Ethics and the Happiness Industry 14:58 AI, Silicon Valley, and Defending Democracy 19:19 The Evolution and Threat of Transhumanism 27:10 Capitalism as Schizophrenia 30:49 Predictions for the Future and the Power of Gen Z 37:20 Navigating Information Overload and the New Library Explore Rosi Braidotti’s work ◼️ Books (selection): The Posthuman, Posthuman Knowledge, Posthuman Feminism, Nomadic Subjects. ◼️ Talks & interviews on posthumanism, feminism, and affirmative ethics: search for “Rosi Braidotti Posthumanism” or “Rosi Braidotti Affirmative Ethics” ◼️ https://rosibraidotti.com/ [https://rosibraidotti.com/] Connect with Robin / more episodes ◼️ All my work, newsletter & socials: https://robinduijvelshoff.com [https://robinduijvelshoff.com/]

Katherine Hayles: How AI Will Radically Change the Human Species

Pioneering literary scholar and critical theorist N. Katherine Hayles explains why our traditional ideas of free will are being dismantled by AI, why the transhumanist dream of downloading your brain into a computer is a dangerous fantasy, and why human destiny is now permanently entangled with machine intelligence. Katherine Hayles is a globally recognized theorist who has spent decades exploring the intersection of literature, science, and technology. She is the author of foundational books like How We Became Posthuman and her most recent work, From Bacteria to AI. With a unique background spanning both the natural sciences (chemistry) and the humanities, she has been at the forefront of posthumanist thought, examining how computational media and artificial intelligence are fundamentally altering our species. In this episode, you get a deep dive into the philosophical shockwaves of the AI revolution — from how algorithms and "smart" systems are breaking down our illusion of individual autonomy, to the ethical nightmares of extreme life extension, and how we can actually build a future where both humans and technology flourish. She explains, among other things: ◼️ What "cognitive assemblages" are – and why most decisions in the world (from ordering at a modern diner to operating military drones) are no longer made by autonomous individuals ◼️ Why the Enlightenment ideals of free will and rationality need an urgent update to survive an era of AI-generated propaganda and deepfakes ◼️ The fundamental flaw in transhumanism – why the fantasy of "uploading your consciousness" ignores the profound, biological connection between the body and the mind ◼️ Why the pursuit of radical life extension (living to 150 or beyond) creates massive, often-ignored crises around global inequality, resource distribution, and overpopulation ◼️ Why she believes current AI "transformer" models are too inefficient to reach true consciousness, but how future architectures with long-term memory just might ◼️ The "Two Cultures" problem: why thinkers in the humanities must move beyond just criticizing tech companies and start actively collaborating with scientists to design better systems ◼️ Her ultimate career advice for young people who want to change the world: how to be highly strategic while relentlessly following your passion Explore Katherine Hayles’s work ◼️ Books (selection): How We Became Posthuman, Unthought: The Power of the Cognitive Nonconscious, From Bacteria to AI: Human Futures with Artificial Intelligence. ◼️ Talks & essays on posthumanism, AI, and digital media (search: "N. Katherine Hayles Posthumanism" or "Katherine Hayles Cognitive Assemblages")   Connect with Robin / more episodes ◼️ All my work, newsletter & socials: https://robinduijvelshoff.com [https://robinduijvelshoff.com/]

The Techno-Progressive Future: UBI, AI, and and the Left – James J. Hughes

Sociologist and bioethicist James J. Hughes explains why the future of human enhancement and AI shouldn't belong to Silicon Valley billionaires, and how a "techno-progressive" revolution can guarantee radical life extension, basic income, and technological freedom for the 99%. James J. Hughes is a sociologist, bioethicist, and former Buddhist monk who serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET). He is one of the founding voices of democratic transhumanism and techno-progressivism, author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future, and a leading thinker on the intersection of radical technology, leftist politics, and human rights. In this episode, you get a deep, philosophical look at the political battle for the future—from the dangers of unregulated gene therapies and AI military systems to why the political left must overcome its fear of technology to build a fairer, post-work society. He explains, among other things:  ◼️ Why longevity escape velocity is currently blocked by inequality, "deaths of despair," and a lack of universal healthcare—not just biological limits  ◼️ How the tech elite and "fascist billionaires" have hijacked the transhumanist movement, and why we need a democratic, techno-progressive alternative  ◼️ Why Universal Basic Income (UBI) is inevitable due to AI-driven technological unemployment, but why we cannot abandon the regulatory state to pay for it  ◼️ The profound differences between Transhumanism and Critical Posthumanism, and why the academic left has become dangerously "technophobic"  ◼️ How Buddhist philosophy and the illusion of the "self" apply to the 21st century, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), and AI personhood  ◼️ The "Shoggoth problem" in artificial intelligence, and why training AI to act like humans might mask a much more dangerous, deceptive inner life  ◼️ Why the next major civil conflict might be anti-tech violence, with communities and luddites pushing back against AI data centers and scientific progress Explore James J. Hughes’s work ◼️ Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET): https://ieet.org/ [https://ieet.org/]  ◼️ Books: Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future  ◼️ Talks & essays on techno-progressivism, Buddhism, and bioethics (Search: "James J. Hughes IEET") Connect with Robin / more episodes ◼️ All my work, newsletter & socials: https://robinduijvelshoff.com [https://robinduijvelshoff.com]

The Architecture of Longevity and the Future of Conscious AI – Natasha Vita-More

Transhumanist pioneer and designer Dr. Natasha Vita-More explains why the AI "doomsday" narrative is a myth, why we need to stop using the flippant term "anti-aging," and how we must fundamentally redesign the infrastructure of human life for a 200-year lifespan. Dr. Natasha Vita-More is an award-winning innovator, academic, and a foundational figure in the transhumanist movement. She wrote the Transhumanist Manifesto in the early 1980s (which flew to Saturn aboard the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft), designed the first conceptual future whole-body prosthetic, and has spent over 40 years researching healthy longevity, neuroplasticity, and human enhancement. In this episode, you get a profound and original perspective on where humanity and technology are heading. Natasha challenges the academic critiques of transhumanism and offers a practical, architectural view of our future—arguing that longevity isn't just a medical treatment, but a complete restructuring of how we experience time, society, and consciousness. She explains, among other things:  ◼️ Why the current fear-based narrative around AGI is trapped in false metaphors like the "paperclip maximizer" and how we should actually view it  ◼️ Why true AI consciousness must be original and "seminal," rather than just a massive system parroting human data  ◼️ Why technology is not alien to us, but a "simpatico" system that co-evolves with humanity, much like mitochondria in our cells  ◼️ The concept of the "Human Infrastructure": why our bodies are an architectural project that requires constant maintenance and "utility" upgrades  ◼️ The three pillars of the growing longevity industry: scientific research, entrepreneurial business, and the lifestyle advocacy movement  ◼️ Why "anti-aging" is a flippant term, the critical difference between lifespan and healthspan, and why gaining years should fundamentally mean gaining wisdom  ◼️ How living to be 200 years old will force us to completely rethink the human timeline—from our education and 40-year careers to our relationship with time itself  ◼️ Why we must push past "virtue signaling" in academia and embrace the technologies that can end the tragedy of involuntary death and disease Explore Natasha Vita-More’s work ◼️ Books (selection): The Transhumanist Reader ◼️ Talks, essays & projects on longevity, AI, and design: https://natashavitamore.com [https://natashavitamore.com] Connect with Robin / more episodes ◼️ All my work, newsletter & socials: https://robinduijvelshoff.com [https://robinduijvelshoff.com]

MIT Engineer: We Are the Last Mortal Generation – Jose Cordeiro

MIT engineer and longevity expert Jose Cordeiro explains why we are between the last mortal generation and the first immortal generation, how AI is accelerating the cure for aging, and why he believes humans will achieve biological immortality by 2030. Jose Luis Cordeiro, PhD, is an MIT-trained engineer, transhumanist, and world-renowned advocate for life extension. He is the co-author of the international bestseller The Death of Death and the lead organizer of the International Longevity Summit in Madrid. He has spent decades working alongside pioneers like Ray Kurzweil and Aubrey de Grey to reframe aging not as an inevitable fact of life, but as a curable medical condition. In this episode, you get a front-row seat to the most optimistic and radical predictions about the future of humanity—from the rapidly dropping costs of gene therapy and the $101 million XPRIZE for rejuvenation, to the realities of cryopreservation and why our biological brains will soon be radically upgraded by artificial intelligence. He explains, among other things:  ◼️ Why he believes we will reach "Longevity Escape Velocity" by 2030—and why the cure for aging will eventually be essentially free  ◼️ The "Dirty Water Bag" theory: why manufacturing human rejuvenation therapies will ultimately cost less than a cup of coffee  ◼️ How AI and breakthroughs like AlphaFold are speeding up the discovery of cellular reprogramming and the "Yamanaka genes"  ◼️ Why Europe's heavy regulations are pushing longevity research to places like Japan and the "free city" of Prospera in Honduras  ◼️ Why he predicts we will have AI "robot politicians" running governments by 2035, leading to more rational decisions and a world without war ◼️ Cryonics as "Plan B": The actual science behind cryopreservation, the use of cryoprotectants, and his timeline for reanimating frozen brains ◼️ His personal encounters with sci-fi legends like Sir Arthur C. Clarke, and why religion and mythology will fundamentally change when we colonize Mars  ◼️ The three pillars of transhumanism: super longevity, super intelligence, and super happiness Explore Jose Cordeiro’s work ◼️ Books: The Death of Death: The Scientific Possibility of Physical Immortality and its Moral Defense ◼️ More of Jose's talks, interviews, and work on transhumanism: https://cordeiro.org/ [https://cordeiro.org/] ◼️ The International Longevity Summit (Madrid): https://longevitysummit.madrid/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://longevitysummit.world/] Connect with Robin / more episodes ◼️ All my work, newsletter & socials: https://robinduijvelshoff.com [https://robinduijvelshoff.com]