What Do We Want Humans To Be? (And How TECHNOLOGY Gets Us There) │ Tech Optimism, Kindness & Curisosity

In early 2025, Kevin Kelly, one of the great technological philosophers of our time, joined Mark & Jeremy to Think on Paper. Before he left, he asked a question. A question about the future and technology: What should humans be? 

At the end of every show, we ask every guest this question. And the answers always resonate on an emotional, human level. They land on something universal. The same words, the same ideas, the same wants for humanity come up again and again. Creativity, curiosity, kindness, empathy, discovery, adventure, ambition. 

This is the first part of our series compiling the answers. A reminder, in the dark days that technology is built by us, for us, and most people are nice, kind and want the best for us all. As you'll see. Yes, it maybe a simple message at times, but we're OK with that. Because on simple ideas are civilizations born.

Please enjoy this special compilation of thoughts and ideas. And tell someone to come Think on Paper with us.

We'd appreciate that.

Be curious, stay disruptive, keep thinking on paper.

Cheers, 

Mark and Jeremy.

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Timestamps

(00:00) The Story

(00:58) Kindness (& Books)

(01:55) Meaning

(02:32) Connection

(03:03) Discovery

(03:36) Curiosity

(04:30) Consciousness

(05:00) Ambition

(05:31) Creativity

(06:07) Wisdom

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Videos appear thanks to:

“Documentary — The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by World Economic Forum, licensed under CC BY 3.0: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Documentary_-_The_Fourth_Industrial_Revolution.webm" 

"Wikimedia Commons

 "“Out of This World — Prelinger Archives / Public Domain (via Internet Archive)”

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Guests in this video

Mark Boggett: https://youtu.be/PExunxFL71E?si=XrpkRRmFCjR1VxC7

Rajeev Kapur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWEuQmPcqJ8&t=193s

Rob Locascio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaM8lITXx6Y&t=428s

Andrew Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk4BXeXS9wE&t=50s

Will Alpine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obs2vxp-SP0&t=44s

Katia Moskovitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwM0dCEYkI&t=185s

Robby Yung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHiSkSEQy-c&t=2010s

Khang Nguyen-Trieu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbnVirwbGBc&t=85s

Martin Soltau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-z1d6d_as&t=572s

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