Modem Futura Podcast
Episode 23, March 18, 2025
Also available on Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere good podcasts are available.
In this episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the impact of technology on everyday life and education. They discuss the rising costs and exaggerated hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) subscription services, and reflect thoughtfully on the potential consequences of overpromising on AI capabilities, emphasizing the need to strike a healthy balance between innovation and practical usefulness.
A significant focus of the conversation revolves around the transformative potential of AI in education. Sean and Andrew discuss how AI can enhance learning experiences, rather than merely replacing traditional methods. They highlight the crucial role educators play in thoughtfully integrating technology into the classroom and advocate for a care-centered approach to innovation, while briefly touching on TPACK and SAMR as existing frameworks for integrating emerging technology into educational environments.
Drawing inspiration from philosopher John Dewey and the four natural impulses of learners (1899), they emphasize the importance of shifting from traditional assessments toward performance-based, authentic learning experiences. Ultimately, this episode highlights the exciting possibilities AI offers for creating more engaging, meaningful, and human-centered educational environments.
Links:
- John Dewey – American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer [wikipedia]
- TPACK – Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge
- SAMR – Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition
- Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive $30k Camera
- OpenAI’s NextGenAI Consortium Announcement $50M
Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit – https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu
Related:
AI: the Medium is the Message
Join Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard as they navigate the evolving landscape of technology and its influence on our personal and professional lives.
Going Pro with ChatGPT and DeepSeek – with Mark Daley
Andrew Maynard, Sean Leahy, and special guest Mark Daly explore the rapid advancements in AI technology with a spotlight on OpenAI’s 01 Pro model. They examine how AI is reshaping game development, creative industries, and research, and discuss the urgent need for academia to adapt to these changes.
AGI, Superintelligence, Synthetic Personas, and is the Internet dead?
Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the rapid developments in technology as we enter 2025. They discuss the implications of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the potential for superintelligence, and the ethical considerations surrounding these advancements.
Host Bios:
Sean M. Leahy, PhD – ASU Bio
Sean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.
Andrew Maynard, PhD – ASU Bio
Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.