SDF

Professor, investor, sci-fi writer, futurist, columnist, television presenter, non-profit director – I’ve had so many different titles that it’s hard for me to know which one best describes the real me. In any case, I’ve done a lot of different kinds of work in very different fields. I took a similarly wide-ranging approach in college, majoring in medicine, the social sciences, and engineering, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than trying something that’s never been done or looking for a completely new way to see or understand something.

Over the past two decades, the idea that has been at the center of all I do is convergence. Of course, as an engineer, I am compelled to try to understand the various new technologies that are already starting to bring sweeping changes to our society. But I also want to take a convergence-informed approach to these technologies, which means looking also to recognize the potential benefits and drawbacks of technology-driven transformation, in order to devise ways to fully tap into the benefits while preparing for the drawbacks. My interest also lies in understanding the philosophical and historical significance of technology and using the mediums of culture to relay and share this knowledge with the public. As a sci-fi novelist, I seek to offer a vision of the extraordinary and exciting ways science and technology may shape our future, while also shedding light on the implicit risks and the importance of making sure we are properly prepared.

Recently, I have been most interested in the topic of how digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and blockchain, are changing the face of society as we know it, and in unpacking and communicating their economic, social, and philosophical implications. I firmly believe that with a correct understanding of these technologies and the ability to use them well, we will be able to create a better world, together.