Possible Futures Podcast

AI, Mobility & The Near Future with Carlo van de Weijer | Singularity University

Carlo van de Weijer is a mechanical engineer, longtime automotive innovator (incl. TomTom/Siemens), and Managing Director at the Eindhoven AI Institute. We explore what AI really is (goal-oriented adaptive systems), why mobility is a perfect testbed, and how sensors are exploding. At the same time, actuators are improving linearly, and this has significant implications for self-driving, humanoid robots, education, leadership, regulation, and job opportunities in the next 2–3 years. What you’ll learn: - A clear, practical definition of AI (beyond “automation” and chatbots) - Why mobility + AI matters: compute on wheels, data loops, safety, emissions - Sensors vs. actuators: the exponential that’s quietly changing everything- How leaders should actually use AI (prompts, guardrails, real productivity) - Jobs: what gets automated vs. where humans add value Industries poised to benefit now (legal, transportation, energy/EVs, V2G) - Risks & guardrails: EU AI Act, Asimov-style constraints, “playing with fire” - Education & parenting: teaching thinking, not just testing- A realistic 10–15 year view: more prosperity, less friction, human constants

Robert Suarez on Biomimicry and Designing Possible Futures

What can nature teach us about building better futures? In this episode of Possible Futures, Gary sits down with Robert Suarez, Fellow for Innovation at Singularity University, longtime IDEO design leader, and expert in biomimicry to explore how natural systems can inspire breakthrough innovation. This episode covers: - The childhood experiences that shaped Robert’s curiosity - How biomimicry helps us design regenerative, circular systems - Why organizational design is at the heart of innovation- Humane technology, AI as a creative tool, and the risks of outsourcing innovation - His vision for the possible futures of design, work, and human creativity

Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom on How Space Must Be Democratized | Singularity University

Emeline Pat Dahlstrom, co-founder of Space Limited and coordinator of the Global Space Enablers Network, breaks down how access to space is shifting from government-only to truly global. We trace the inflection point from smallsats (Planet) to today’s open satellite data, why ecosystem-building matters, and how countries and founders can plug in. Emily contrasts an “Elysium” outcome with a Star Trek vision, and shares practical ways students, operators, and policymakers can get involved now. If you care about earth-impacting applications (GPS/banking, climate, agriculture), this episode maps what’s coming next.

Darlene Damm on How to Change the World—And Make It Work

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Darlene Damm, a fellow for impact at Singularity University, whose career spans decades of solving “wicked problems” in some of the world’s most challenging environments. From cofounding drone delivery networks for healthcare to launching global competitions that democratized space innovation, Darlene has shown how bold ideas—paired with the right teams—can create lasting change. Darlene’s journey includes roles with Ashoka, the World Food Programme, and exponential startups, as well as work in Asia helping communities rebuild and thrive. In this episode, she shares how her early life in a remote town shaped her empathy and determination, and how a neighbor who worked on the first liquid-fueled rockets sparked her lifelong passion for technology and impact. In this episode, Darlene delves into: * Empowering Communities to Lead Change: Why the people most affected by a problem are often best suited to lead its solution, and how rethinking power structures can unlock innovation. * From Drones to DIY Rockets: The origin stories of her groundbreaking ventures and what they reveal about turning constraints into creative breakthroughs. * Future Forces Shaping Impact: How exponential technologies like digital twins and biotechnology will transform resource challenges and create new opportunities. * Balancing Scarcity and Abundance: Why solving resource shortages is only half the challenge—and how overabundance creates new societal problems to tackle. * Building Future-Ready Teams: What it takes to assemble diverse, empowered teams that blend lived experience, capital, and technology to solve global challenges. * Making Impact Work Inside Big Organizations: Lessons on finding hidden impact in your current role, leveraging existing assets, and spinning out sustainable ventures. Discover how Darlene’s insights can help you turn big problems into bold opportunities, align doing well with doing good, and create your own possible future.

Nell Watson on How AI Is Already Rewiring Us

In this thought-provoking episode, Gary A. Bolles sits down with Nell Watson—Singularity University faculty member, AI ethicist, and president of the European Responsible AI Office—for a wide-ranging conversation on the exponential future of artificial intelligence and the ethical design challenges that come with it. Nell shares how a childhood steeped in engineering and science fiction shaped her vision for a more human-centered technological future. She reflects on lessons from the Titanic, the ethics of design, and how our values often lag behind our innovations. Together, they explore: * Why the real danger of AI isn’t Terminator—it’s the psychological and social rewiring already underway. * How AI will soon become a “supernormal stimulus”—deeply engaging, ever-present, and emotionally irresistible. * What it means to build AI that uplifts rather than addicts, inspires rather than replaces. * The importance of embedding ethics not as an afterthought but as a design foundation—much like safety standards in aviation or food. * How we must prepare children and society to thrive in a world where AI companions may one day be more influential than human ones. * Why learning to “be a beginner again” is one of the greatest skills we’ll need in the AI age. Nell offers a hopeful vision—if we’re wise enough to teach AI to make us better, not just more efficient.