Future Tense - Full Program Podcast

Three perspectives on the power of Facebook and content platforms. Was Facebook’s current form inevitable? Can it be “constitutionalised”? And, understanding content moderation.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for decision making, and there are now fears about how that might impact on human rights.

Cross-laminated timber is becoming a construction staple and the towers of tomorrow may soon be predominantly built of wood. It's cheaper and faster.

Many countries now see great economic potential in space activity. Competition is increasing. Are we moving away from the notion that space is for all humankind? And is conflict in space inevitable?

Forget the humans versus machine dichotomy. Our relationship with technology is far more complicated than that. To understand AI, first we need to appreciate the role humans play in shaping it.

With big data and algorithms you could extend your 'virtual self' beyond the grave. And could meeting your future self help change your current behaviour?

US research says e-health data is particularly vulnerable to attack. The theory of the Extended Mind – should our tools be classified as a part of cognition. And forget the Anthropocene, we’re entering the Synthetic Age.

The future of diplomacy: Backroom manoeuvrings are giving way to public forums. And carefully laid plans can come unstuck with a single tweet.

Diplomacy is often viewed as a way of smoothing the friction points between states, but international relations are becoming increasingly assertive and highly personal.

Even those who campaign against the overuse of plastic, argue for a more nuanced understanding of its role in our lives. Future Tense looks at these nuances.

The advantages of going cashless are many and well known. But in the race to a completely cashless future, what do we put at risk and who benefits most?

Interesting alternatives to current burial practices include freeze-drying and shattering a corpse; and dissolving bodies in purpose-built alkaline washing-machines.

Let's look at the virtue of sharing: How could sharing shape our future, and what do we stand to lose if we refuse to share?

Could a fixation with metrics distract and divert us from the real work at hand? And how bad is the Dark Web - really?

"Good enough" solutions are damaging our ability to solve the major global problems of the world. And blockchain is revolutionising digital art.

In Canada, Google is set to re-develop and manage a large area of downtown Toronto. In China, the Communist Party government has been running trials on a personal rating scheme for all Chinese citizens.

Clive Hamilton says that the Communist Party leadership in Beijing has begun to subtly, and not so subtly, influence the political and social affairs of democratic nations.

Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”.

Nature Based Solutions is an environmental approach that seeks to counter the negative effects of climate change by working with nature.

Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices?