Breaking Free: We have the opportunity to decide how to live mindfully

In the most recent episode of our Demystifying Technology podcast, Rebecca Gorman argues that despite technocapitalists' envisions of inevitable AGI dominance, we ultimately possess the power to shape our collective futures. Throughout the episode, Rebecca explores:

• The myth of AI driven job cuts and the self fulfilling prophecy of AI’s role in the workplace
• The growing reliance on private companies’ devices to access essential public services
• A shift in technology’s purpose: a resource for adaptation to a force which we must adapt to
• A reclamation of agency amidst the pervasion algorithmic influence

Listen for an empowering discussion on the resiliency of the human spirit in a seemingly all-consuming digital age.

00:00 - Introduction: Taking Back Control from Technology

00:50 - Audience Questions: The Future of AI and Job Security

02:49 - Public Perception and Media Influence

04:05 - Tech Companies and Control: Public Response

08:34 - Choosing and Defining Technology

10:59 - Public Infrastructure and Privacy Concerns

18:04 - Youth and Legislative Change

18:42 - Adapting to the Technosphere

19:56 - Conclusion: Mindful Living in a Tech-Driven World

In this episode, Rebecca Gorman traces the history of magic and its parallels to modern technology, from its power to astonish to its susceptibility to deceive. She argues that technology companies intentionally obscure their large language models, fostering an aura of mystique and omniscience.

Gorman also explores corporations’ growing state-like capacities, governments’ failure to enforce meaningful regulation, and our collective potential to unseat the supremacy of Big Tech—deploying technology that complements, rather than diminishes, the human experience.

01:01 - Training AI on Emotions

08:58 - The Wizard of Oz Effect in AI

17:10 - The History of Magic and Technology

20:57 - Historical Perspectives on Magic and Deception

21:50 - The Role of Academia and Industry in Public Trust

23:19 - Positive and Negative Aspects of Technology

24:16 - The Impact of Tech Industry Dynamics

28:49 - Regulation and Enforcement in Technology

37:18 - Democracy and Technological Infrastructure

45:06 - Public Awakening and Positive Shifts in Technology

• 00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Beginnings

  00:24 - The Tweet That Sparked the Conversation

  01:14 - Sam Altman's Controversial Tweet

  03:06 - Mental Health Concerns with Chatbots

  04:06 - The Human Line Project and Chatbot Abuse

  09:32 - The Release of GPT-5 and Public Reaction

  12:21 - OpenAI's Business Decisions and Public Perception

  16:00 - Youth and Chatbot Interactions

  20:05 - The Chatbot's Impact on Human Connections

  21:43 - Legal and Ethical Concerns of Chatbots

  23:36 - Government Actions and Enforcement

  24:56 - The Role of Engineers and Companies

  30:09 - Historical Context and Personal Anecdotes

  37:02 - Scaling Laws and Future Implications

  
  

  
  

  https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-openai-economy-crash

  
  

  https://www.forbes.com/sites/hamiltonmann/2025/10/25/californias-first-step-toward-artificial-integrity-sb-243-moves-to-protect-human-agency-from-ai/