Agenda
7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion
Event Summary
In a rapidly changing world, are we on the brink of creating technology that outpaces our ability to control it?
Join us for an engaging online discussion with renowned astrophysicist and author J. Craig Wheeler as he explores the key themes of his latest book, "The Path to Singularity: How Technology Will Challenge the Future of Humanity." Wheeler takes a critical look at groundbreaking technologies—AI, genetic engineering, automation—and the profound ethical dilemmas they pose.
In this conversation, Wheeler will address the impact of automation on jobs, AI's potential to shape human decision-making, the future of individuality in a connected world, and the societal implications of extending human life or migrating to space. Don’t miss this chance to hear from the author himself, a regular attendee of Austin Forum events, as he discusses the future of humanity and how we can shape our technological destiny.
Key topics include:
The future of jobs in an age of automation - The role of AI in shaping human decisions and actions
The ethical implications of genetic engineering
The possibility of a collective consciousness and the future of individuality
Resource depletion, population control, and the prospect of space migration
The societal impact of breakthroughs in aging and perpetual youth
Attendance Instructions
Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.
Moderator
J. Craig Wheeler, Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus, The University of Texas at Austin
J. Craig Wheeler is the Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus, and Distinguished Teaching Professor, Emeritus, at the University of Texas at Austin and was past Chair of the Department. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. He has published nearly 400 refereed scientific papers, as many meeting proceedings, a professional-level book on supernovae (Supernova Explosions), a popular book on supernovae, gamma-ray bursts and related topics (Cosmic Catastrophes), and two novels (The Krone Experiment and Krone Ascending). Wheeler has received many awards for his teaching, including the Regents Award of the University of Texas System. He was a visiting fellow at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, and a Fulbright Fellow in Italy. He has served on many advisory committees, including those for the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Research Council. He has held many positions in the American Astronomical Society and was President of the Society from 2006 to 2008. His research interests include supernovae, black holes, astrobiology, and the technological future of humanity. He is writing a book currently entitled Wild Ride Ahead: A Primer on our Technological Future.