Hi hi,

Greetings from LA where I'm currently riding out yet another "once in a lifetime" storm powered by an atmospheric river that's been causing flash floods and mudslides. I've been on the West Coast for work and implementing one of my intentions for this year: slower paced travel so that I can properly catch up with friends.

I ended 2023 feeling like my whole world had turned upside down. The on-going atrocities in the Middle East, in Congo, in Sudan and in Yemen opened my eyes in a way that made me realize there was so much I didn't know about...everything. I've been reading non-stop since then, devouring books on geopolitics, history, diplomacy, colonialism and more.

It's forced me to reconsider my responsibilities as a citizen of the world, and how I can use my platform and my work to be a force of good. Silence is no longer an option.

This newsletter has always been about technology and digital culture, but it will also have some more content about our role in the world too. I understand that might not be for everyone, so no pressure if it's not your jam.

I'm trying to answer some big questions in my own life - including what kind of activism or awakening is helpful, and how do we go about contributing to real meaningful change beyond liking and sharing content on social media?

This year, everything is up for examination: our beliefs, our assumptions, our viewpoints - in pursuit of a more grounded, more loving, and more compassionate way of living in a digitally connected world.

I hope you'll join me!

In this dispatch:

1. Announcing the Foushy Book Club's First Book
2. Is Global AI Governance Possible?
3. Deep Fakes in a Super Election Year
4. The Rise of Digital Intimacy
5. Tell Elmo how you're doing
6. Book Club Week 1 Summary

Foushy Book Club: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet

In case you missed my news over on Instagram, I've decided to start a Book Club/ Buddy Read Club to discuss some of the big questions I've been grappling with. With so many tragedies occurring simultaneously I've been feeling deeply overwhelmed both by the complexity of the world we live in and by the magnitude of human despair.

There are no quick fixes. No easy solutions. And that sucks.

I picked "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" because it teaches us the skills we need to navigate an era of increasing volatility: mindfulness, resilience, and the capacity to navigate suffering without losing ability to live with joy and love.

I'm inviting you to join me on this buddy read - where we'll read the book together and discuss the concepts as we go. Every week, I'll send you the major highlights in terms of concepts, my own thoughts, and some reflection questions. I'll also link any video content I make about these topics.

You can participate however you like. Hit reply on this email, leave me a message on Instagram or Tiktok or LinkedIn. Once we finish the book, I'll host a live zoom discussion. You can find the notes from this week's readings further down.

Is Global Cooperation around AI possible?

As a member of the UN's high-level advisory board on Artificial Intelligence my colleagues and I have been focused on the various regulatory initiatives being launched around the world as we all grapple with Gen AI's impacts.

Our interim report, Governing AI for Humanity, outlines the challenges and risks in the current AI landscape as well as concrete recommendations for how nation-states can work together to make sure this technology is harnessed in service of the Sustainable Development Goals. I'll be heading to Geneva and Singapore in the next few months to meet in person and continue our recommendations for Secretary General Guterres. As always, you'll get the inside scoop first.

Deep Fakes and Global Democracy

2024 will be a defining year for Gen AI. It's a super-election year. In addition to the US Presidential Elections (please, no), roughly HALF of the world's population is going to be hitting the polls, with some of the biggest countries in the world holding elections.

AI's impact is already being felt: in the US, a deep-fake of President Biden urged voters in New Hampshire not to participate in the Democratic primary. This is the tip of the iceberg as experts are predicting deep-fake videos, articles, and disinformation to run rampant.

This Wired article lays out how one developer used consumer-available tools to build an entire almost autonomous disinformation network for just $400 USD.

Lastly, deep-fakes went mainstream when Taylor Swift became the victim of disturbing AI generated pornography - images that were widely circulated on X., demonstrating the harm this new horrific form of Gender-Based violence can wreak in the digital age.

Once again, this issue brings us back full circle to the regulations discussion. In addition to the ease of creating these images, what responsibility do platforms like X have in enabling their mass distribution? In 2022, Europe updated their Code of Practice on Disinformation, where platforms are now liable for fines of up to 6% of Global Revenue.

With democracy at stake, this will become one of the highest priorities for leaders around the world and could be the catalyst for regulations that might completely change how technology platforms operate. The web might look very different in 2025.

Digital Intimacy: The Manipulation Economy

I recently wrote a new piece about digital intimacy being an emerging market norm, whereby companies are deliberately designing AI products to intentionally engender trust. Is the gamification of intimacy ethical? Should companies be able to hijack our human need for connection in pursuit of revenue streams?

The most interesting part of my research was this (yes, I'm quoting myself, lol) :

All this hype around super AI misses the point that human beings can form emotional attachments to anything. Do you remember in 2019 when the entire Internet collectively cried because the Mars Rover's last message was " My battery is low and it's getting dark"?

People were so upset about it, they even started petitions begging NASA to bring the robot home. The major issue isn't JUST ground-breaking new technology - it's our ancestral instincts to form emotional bonds.

Elmo Hits a Collective Nerve

You never know what's going to go viral, and I had to laugh when a tweet from Elmo's official account triggered an avalanche of collective malaise. Poor Elmo was just checking in, and wanting to see how we were all feeling, and the replies were... a lot.

But, I guess it's good to talk about our feelings?

Here's the weekly book club summaries for those that want to participate. Skip to the bottom if it's not your thing!

Book Club: Week 1

Introduction + Pages 1 to 16.

This week, we've delved into some truly transformative concepts, and I'm eager to share these reflections with you.

Video Summary on Instagram

The Two Truths: Conventional and Ultimate

We started with the concept of 'The Two Truths'.

The first, the Conventional Truth, is the realm of our everyday experiences – a world defined by labels and the tangible. It's where our senses lead and our minds follow, often without question. Hahn (known affectionately as Thay) reminds us, “Our mind is the instrument with which we engage and interact with the world,” highlighting the incredible influence our perceptions have on our reality. It's compelling to realize that the very way we see the world is actually the starting point for any change in thinking.

Then, there's the Ultimate Truth, which delves deeper, reaching the intrinsic essence of the universe that transcends our direct sensory experience. This truth is not as easily grasped because it lies beyond the surface appearances and labels we are so accustomed to.

It's fascinating to think that by challenging our usual ways of seeing, we might uncover new pathways for thinking and being.

The Two Awakenings

Next, we explored 'The Two Awakenings.'

The first awakening calls us to open our eyes to the beauty of the Earth, to see ourselves as children of this verdant home. Thay urges us to let this beauty heal us, to let the love for our Earth nurture our spirit. I find this awakening to be a call to gratitude, to embrace the gifts of nature not just as a backdrop for our lives but as the essence of life itself.

The second awakening is more urgent, a clarion call to recognize the suffering of our world. It is an invitation to not only see but to feel the pain of the Earth as it endures neglect and exploitation. Thay implores us to act from a place of love, to help heal what we have hurt. This awakening is not gentle; it is a profound realization that we are inextricably linked to the Earth's destiny.

Why Start with Us?

The question then arose: Why must this awakening start with us? The answer lies within. Our individual awakenings contribute to the collective. By cultivating our own peace and enlightenment, we not only reduce our suffering but also become more capable of helping others. This is a journey of introspection and personal growth, vital for broader societal change. This was so reassuring - as we often look outward in our desire to seek change we overlook our ability to change ourselves, an act that can have a profound impact on the world. It also gives us an excellent and tangible first step. We can start work on ourselves immediately.

Facing Despair

Finally, we faced the concept of despair, particularly the despair that comes with the harsh reality of potential human extinction. Yet, within this despair lies a seed of transformation. To sit with the weight of this potential reality is to dance with a profound sadness, yet it also invites us to ponder what lies beyond. The notion of an ending is inherently uncomfortable, but what if it is also a gateway to a new paradigm of thought?

By re-examining our views and embracing the impermanence of life, we can find a new perspective that alleviates our existential angst and opens us to new ways of being.

Breathing deeply into the acceptance of our potential disappearance, I find myself questioning the very views that fuel despair. It is a transformative process, reshaping the mind entrenched in discrimination, which is the source of our suffering. How can we, as individuals and as a collective, embrace this shift in perspective to alleviate our existential angst?

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Reflection Questions:

• How can recognizing the distinction between Conventional and Ultimate Truths change the way I interact with the world around me?
• In what ways can awakening to the Earth's beauty and its suffering influence my daily choices and actions towards a more sustainable future?
• What steps can I take to ensure that my personal journey towards awakening contributes to the collective enlightenment of society?
• How can embracing the concept of impermanence help me to transform my feelings of despair into actions of hope and resilience?

Next week's Pages: The Diamond Sutra

Read pages 16-46. Start at the Diamond Sutra (cool!) and stop at "The Way Out Is In". We'll cover:

• The Diamond Sutra
• The Three types of Action
• The Five Remembrances

While this text is Buddhist in nature, I found the premises to be very compatible with other religious practices, so if you're on the fence about it, please give it a chance knowing you can easily integrate most of the advice into the framework of your own beliefs. (I am not Buddhist but am applying these concepts in a way that makes sense to me).

Thanks for letting me into your inbox! I'll see you next week.