Summer Movies, liquid media, and alien AI languages
Episode 40 of Modem Futura is a true summer grab‑bag. Sean and Andrew kick things off a conversation that ricochets from popcorn flicks to philosophical deep dives. First up is a spoiler‑free reaction to the new Superman film—praised for its Dolby Atmos spectacle and nostalgic cameos—followed by Andrew’s unexpected enthusiasm for Megan 2, a techno‑thriller sequel that riffs on AI value‑alignment, neural chips and the “paperclip maximizer” thought experiment. The pair then pivot to teaching with cinema, describing how blockbuster movies become springboards for ethics, innovation and sticky learning moments in the classroom. That segues into a lively talk about the five classic story conflicts, whether AI could invent a sixth, and how an alien-machine-language perspective might re‑write narrative itself. From there the hosts swirl through “liquid media,” the dead‑internet theory, Meta’s synthetic users, information overload and the risk of power consolidation. They ask whether humanity can always innovate out of chaos—or if we’ll someday need an AI savior or if it might just turn us into literal paperclips. The episode culminates with the duo toasting their 40‑show milestone, and pitching the summer blockbuster the world never wanted: Clippy—Revenge of the Paperclip Maximizer.
-----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----
In this laid‑back summer installment, Sean and Andrew sweat it out in the studio to deliver a free‑flowing “potpourri” of future‑focused topics. They compare practical effects vs. CGI through the lens of the original Jurassic Park and the new Jurassic World: Rebirth; share hands‑on insights from months of experimenting with the Apple Vision Pro, spatial video rigs, and multi‑cam podcast production; and preview Xbox Cloud Gaming inside mixed‑reality headsets. The conversation then shifts to blockbuster tech culture—from Brad Pitt’s immersive Formula 1 film and IMAX storytelling to Meta’s smart‑glasses push—before turning serious with fresh takeaways from the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of New Champions in China, including Beijing’s national AI strategy and DeepSeek’s impact on global competitiveness. Throughout, they explore how extended‑reality workspaces, AI velocity, and low‑background‑steel metaphors signal a new chapter in the future of being human.Links: John Graham-Cumming's Low-background Steel (pre-Ai) [website]
-----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----
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Future Vibes: Sean & Andrew’s 2025 Summer Reading List
In this laid-back “summer reading list” edition of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew swap stacks and playlists to prove that great ideas don’t always hide in weighty nonfiction tomes. After comparing the pleasures (and pitfalls) of audiobooks, narrator chemistry, and the lost art of radio drama, they dive into a dozen page-turners that feed futurist imaginations. On Sean’s side you’ll find propulsive series such as Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries; Hugh Howey’s silo saga (Wool, Shift, Dust); the psychologically eerie Solaris by Stanisław Lem; Dennis E. Taylor’s clone-happy Bobiverse opener We Are Legion (We Are Bob); John Scalzi’s geriatric-marine romp Old Man’s War; Michael Crichton’s bio-tech cautionary tale Jurassic Park; and the ever-quotable classics Good Omens (Pratchett & Gaiman) and Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Andrew counters with literary wit—Julie Schumacher’s academic farce Dear Committee Members—and social sci-fi masterworks: John Wyndham’s The Kraken Wakes, Arthur Ransome’s adventure Swallowdale (a sequel to Swallows and Amazons), Iain M. Banks’ mind-bending The Algebraist, plus the idea-rich hybrid AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan. Along the way they riff on why fiction is vital counter-programming for analysts, how childhood favorites like Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time still ignite wonder, and why storytelling is a laboratory for ethical questions about AI, personhood, and technological hubris. Expect banter about the pros and cons of adaptations—from Apple TV+’s Silo and Amazon’s forthcoming Murderbot to Hollywood’s dino-driven detours—and an open invitation for listeners to share their own must-reads. Whether you’re beach-bound, backyard-lounging, or headset-deep in spatial computing, this episode arms you with speculative adventures, clever satire, and big-picture provocations to carry through the long, sunny days aheadSean's Picks:The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells [Amazon]Silo (Series) Wool (book 1) by Hugh Howey [Amazon]Jurassic Park: A Novel by Michael Crichton [Amazon]Solaris by Stanislaw Lem [Amazon] Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman [Amazon] Bobiverse (We are Legion) series by Dennis E. Taylor [Amazon] A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle [Amazon]Old Man's War by John Scalzi [Amazon] Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams [Amazon]Andrews Picks:Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher [Amazon] The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham [Amazon]Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome [Amazon second hand] (this one can be hard to find)The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks [Amazon]AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan [Amazon]
-----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----
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World Economic Forum Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025
In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard cover the World Economic Forum’s newly-released “Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025” report, unpacking what makes each breakthrough matter and how foresight professionals can turn hype into actionable insight. After a quick update on recording in Apple’s Spatial Video, the hosts explore the WEF’s rigorous selection methodology—crowdsourced nominations, AI-assisted clustering, and a STEEP (social, technological, environmental, economic, policy) readiness map—before running down this year’s stand-outs:Structural Battery Composites – load-bearing parts that double as energy storage.Osmotic Power Systems – harvesting electricity at salt-freshwater boundaries.Advanced Nuclear Technologies – Gen-III/IV reactors and compact SMRs promising safer, low-carbon baseload power.Engineered Living Therapeutics – probiotic microbes that manufacture drugs inside the body.GLP-1 Drugs for Neurodegenerative Disease – weight-loss stars repurposed for brain health.Autonomous Biochemical Sensing – self-powered nano-sensors for real-time health and environmental monitoring.Green Nitrogen Fixation – low-carbon ammonia production to feed half the planet.Nanozymes – man-made catalysts mimicking enzymes for cleaner industry and medicine.Collaborative Sensing Networks – vehicles, infrastructure, and devices sharing data seamlessly.Generative Watermarking – invisible markers that flag AI-generated content to restore trust.Sean and Andrew weigh the massive opportunities—clean energy, precision medicine, resilient supply chains—against ethical and governance pitfalls such as privacy erosion and bio-risk. They close with practical advice on using the report’s “strategic outlook” section to stress-test business models, craft policy roadmaps, and frame classroom discussions.Links: WEF's Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 Report [Report]
-----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----
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Osaka Expo 2025 Futures Lab: an inside look with Jamey Wetmore
Fresh off a 10-day immersion at Osaka’s 2025 World Expo, returning guest Dr. Jamey Wetmore joins Sean and Andrew to unpack the spectacle, surprises, and sociotechnical undercurrents he witnessed alongside 17 ASU students. Jamey explains why today’s expos feel less like gadget bazaars and more like “collaboration theme-parks,” spotlighting national visions of cooperative problem-solving rather than single, shiny inventions. He walks us through standout pavilions—from Jordan’s multisensory Bedouin-camp of real sand, stars and cardamom coffee, to Belgium’s uncanny AI-driven “digital-twin” ballet, to the Future-of-Life pavilion’s three-torso android that left visitors wondering whether immortality is nightmare or nirvana. We hear how the U.S. pavilion’s rousing “Together, Together” anthem now clashes with recent policy shifts, why Expo logistics can clock 25,000 steps a day, and how students used bingo cards and breakfast debriefs to turn sensory overload into critical insight. Jamey also shares lighter moments—Kawasaki’s rideable four-legged “lion” robot, Kubota’s mysterious podcast “seed” lozenges, and the silky Japanese immigration form that sparked a reflection on material care. Throughout, the trio connect historic World’s Fairs—Chicago 1893, New York 1939 & 1964—to modern questions of power, equity and human-centered futures, asking what these grand showcases still teach us about designing the possible, probable and preferable world ahead.Links: World Expo 2025 - Osaka Japan [Website]SLATE EV Truck customizable EV base [Website]Jamey's EV Substack: Tech Skeptic Goes ElectricThe Japanese Toilet article [Website]
-----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.eduSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFuturaFollow us on Instagram: @ModemFuturaHost Bios:Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU BioSean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU BioAndrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.-----
Modem Futura is your weekly guide to the future of science, technology, and society—where futures and foresight meets real-world impact. Hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard—educators, futurists, and public scholars—dive into the breakthroughs and big questions shaping tomorrow: AI ethics, space exploration, climate tech, bio-engineering, digital media, STEM education, and the shifting future of work. In candid, banter-filled conversations with innovators, scholars, and storytellers, they unpack how emerging technologies influence human values, creativity, and culture—and what these trends mean for you today.
Whether you’re curious about quantum computing, electric air taxis, or the sociology of robots, Modem Futura connects cutting-edge research with the narratives that drive innovation. Join us each week to explore possible, probable, and preferred futures, and discover practical insights for navigating an increasingly tech-driven world. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be part of the conversation exploring what it will mean to be human in the future!
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