EchoState

gative stuff about AI. He told me he's afraid for me that once the AIs are in charge, they will eliminate me. He said he doesn't post anything about AI so they won't know how he feels. And I'm like, dude, don't you think the AIs will be able to analyze your posting pattern and use statistical analysis to infer your feelings? And his jaw drops, like he never considered the possibility.

Epic answer Douglas!

Hi Douglas,

I've become a fan of your work ever since reading your texts in Uni and love the Team Human podcast. Great work!

Since you have been covering psychedelic culture and its liaisons with capitalism, I am curious how you think about the recent resurgence of it. Now that psychedelic sciences are thriving, spirituality is mainstream, and legalizations are possible, it becomes clear that psychedelic experiences will be new markets for entrepreneurs and I am doubtful whether it is for the better of all.

- Do you think the widespread acceptance of psychedelics and the dissemniation of spirituality through digital media will help overcoming of the crisis you are pointing out by making people realise how silly and toxic the current economic paradigm is?

- Are you concerned that social media & the digital economy may corrupt the benefits of psychedelics and spirituality as they turn them into business models?

Psymposia

Thanks for the tip, that looks really on point. Will check it out.
The darkest scenario I imagine is a kind of psychedeli-fied theo-capitalism where the tools once thought to liberate us, become the means to justify our slavery... Seeing how popular psychedelics are in some parts of the alt-right, or how Ayahuasca luxury retreats become some kind of CEO vacation home, shaman bros on social media, etc... there seem to be indications. I hope we can get these medicines to be something like public domain before its too late again.

How and when did you decide to commit your life to researching digital culture, and how do keep going? How do you build your energy in this endeavour that goes against so many grains? I imagine it quite tough to be constantly arguing with people's naive self-complacent pro-billionaire worldviews.