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The Odd Futurism Desk

  1. 'Empathetic' software is set to change the way we shop

    It’s grocery shopping day and you enter your favorite big store. One of the shop’s social robots, a shiny black-and-white humanoid with a round disc with a big blue eye for a face and a cylindrical base for a body walks up to you.

    By Stav Dimitropoulos , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  2. Tech CEOs should stop using Science Fiction as a blueprint for humanity’s future in space

    In September 2016, Elon Musk went before the International Astronautical Congress with a program that outlined an ambitious set of goals: lay out the steps that would help establish a permanent human presence on Mars.

    By Andrew Liptak , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  3. Drill holes in your skull and stream ads to your brain with Neuralink

    "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," is the official mission statement for Neuralink, according to Musk's tweet on July 9.

    By Aimee Pearcy , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  4. From sci fi to commercialization: the rise of digital avatars

    In the late 1990s, the Gorillaz — a virtual music band made up of four animated characters — introduced the concept of digital avatars to the general public.

    By Jerry Lu , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  5. Twitter earnings: The future will not be televised, but it will live video

    During its earnings call, executives used “video” 58 times and “live” 46 times.

    By Kevin Kelleher , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  6. “I’m here to answer basic Lubrication questions. How can I help you today?”

    Royal Dutch Shell launches artificial intelligence “lube specialist.” Why are you laughing?

    By Dan Raile , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  7. Tech and Science leaders confront strong AI with bold PR

    Elon Musk fired a shot across the bow of technological advance, but nearly hit himself.

    By Dan Raile , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

  8. If you build it, it doesn't matter: Author Kentaro Toyama throws cold water on tech utopias

    The author of Geek Heresy crashed the EFF with a simple thesis: Technology doesn't drive social change.

    By Dan Raile , written on

    From the Odd Futurism desk

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