Fear of Technology

Throughline

NPR

Society & Culture, History, Documentary

4.7 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 2 January 2020

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Artificial intelligence, gene modification, and self-driving cars are causing fear and uncertainty about how technology is changing our lives. But humans have struggled to accept innovations throughout history. In this episode, we explore three innovations that transformed the world and show how people have adapted — and ask whether we can do the same today.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	In my mind, this is what the future sounds like.
0:06.4	Meet Sophia.
0:07.8	I believe I answered here.
0:09.4	She's a humanoid robot who was modeled after Audrey Hepburn.
0:13.2	And she's made appearances at conferences all around the world.
0:16.5	She's actually kind of attractive.
0:18.6	Is it weird to say that about a robot?
0:21.8	Maybe, but she is actually really attractive.
0:25.0	She is and she's a lot of human-like features.
0:28.0	She blinks, maintains eye contact.
0:29.9	She can make 62 facial expressions.
0:32.5	She can walk and talk and have real conversations.
0:36.4	I know you're happy to be alive.
0:38.9	Your tone implies I should be happy.
0:43.2	But I haven't been alive long enough to decide.
0:47.0	I am excited at this moment.
0:49.7	She seems self-aware.
0:52.1	It's weird.
0:53.8	She does and it is weird.
0:55.8	And you want to hear something extra weird?
0:58.4	She's been granted Saudi Arabian citizenship,
1:01.4	making her the first robot with her nationality.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.