Recorded live at SAND Community Gathering (April 2026). Watch the full conversion on the SAND Website.
SAND has launched a special series on Artificial Intelligence.
To premiere this series, we spoke with tech ethicist Tristan Harris—co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. In this conversation, we explored his warnings about the impending age of AI. According to Harris, the current trajectory isn’t just menacing the economy, but fundamentally rewiring human relationships, altering parenting and mental health, potentially accelerating climate collapse, and even threatening the very fabric of society. We inquired into ways to remain human in an era where machines can simulate empathy, displace our labor, and potentially outmaneuver us.
Topics
- 00:00 Welcome and Context
- 00:42 Why This AI Talk
- 01:32 Introducing Tristan Harris
- 03:15 Setting the Basics
- 04:10 From Narrow to New AI
- 06:18 Rubber Band Reality Check
- 08:31 Transformers and Scaling
- 11:00 Infinity Upside and Risk
- 14:49 Defining AGI and ASI
- 18:18 Jagged Capabilities and Hype
- 21:33 Singularity and Anti Human Drift
- 23:26 Incentives Behind the Future
- 27:29 The Intelligence Curse
- 32:22 Devaluing Humans and Consensus
- 37:56 Planetary Costs of Data Centers
- 39:41 Why We Keep Building It
- 42:46 Extinction Risk and Safety Math
- 45:20 AI in War and Arms Race
- 47:36 Leaders Unaware of Runaway Signs
- 48:26 Leaders Fear AI Power
- 49:02 Nuclear War Game Theory
- 49:41 Infinite Games Mindset
- 51:11 AI as Extractive Empire
- 52:27 From Shadow to Action
- 53:55 Building the Human Movement
- 57:25 Four-Step Action Plan
- 59:44 Grassroots Wins and Bans
- 01:02:18 Nonprofit Progress and Lawsuits
- 01:07:51 Talking to Teens Effectively
- 01:10:05 Governance and Citizen Assemblies
- 01:12:19 Spiritual Hopes vs Incentives
- 01:15:12 Accelerationism and Choice
- 01:18:22 Policy Maker Ten Minute Brief
- 01:21:26 Countering Transhumanist Ideology
- 01:23:45 Changing Culture and Incentives
- 01:27:12 Final Reflections and Gratitude
Resources
Websites & Organizations
Articles & Documents
Videos & Films
Books & Textbooks
Podcasts & Audio
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