Who Owns the Future?

Jaron Lanier is the bestselling author of You Are Not a Gadget, the father of virtual reality, and one of the most influential thinkers of our time. For decades, Lanier has drawn on his expertise and experience as a computer scientist, musician, and digital media pioneer to predict the revolutionary ways in which technology has transformed our culture. Now, Lanier calculates the effects network technologies have had on our economy. He asserts that the rise of digital networks led our economy into recession and decimated the middle class. Now, as technology flattens more and more industriesΓÇöfrom media to medicine to manufacturingΓÇöwe are facing even greater challenges to employment and personal wealth. He offers a solution by charting the path toward a new information economy that will stabilize the middle class and allow it to grow, rewarding ordinary people for what they do and share on the web.

[@DHQTheBestLivesAround]

so sad to see less then 1000 people have seen this. This is one of the deepest and smartest analysis of our present i have ever seen.

[@auditoryproductions1831]

True.

[@CandidDate]

How about we live one day at a time? Every day you wake up to a balance of Social Tokens. You then distribute your creativity, earning Social Tokens, and paying others for their creativity, spending Social Tokens. When I grew up, video games cost a quarter. Something like that.

[@cubeincubes]

im watching this with goosebumps and it only has 20k views :(

[@addhoc256]

But he gives a lot of lectures so maybe the view numbers are diluted

[@___olympia6233]

Not any more bro

[@andreadaerice]

This is the voice that needs to be heard around the world. Jaron Lanier is my newest hero.

[@colourinmyrainbow]

He is mine too!

[@madzangels]

I fkn died when he pulled that instrument out and started bossing life

[@l3vyte315]

Me too 🤣🤣🤣

[@teslafudge1585]

"is that OK?" Busts out a Blues Traveler 16-bit mouth organ jam "OK, so that was music". LOL. Jaron is amazing.

[@harrycoleman6208]

this may be one of the brightest and most clear speakers I've ever encountered in my life

[@madzangels]

Harry, listen to a man called EckharteTolle, i think you will enjoy :D

[@m.burgesszbikowski8049]

Harry Coleman . He is so very clear when explaining these complex topics, I feel a lot smarter, then I deserve.

[@Finiteinfinity123]

I'm totally loving his style!!!!! Informative and intellectual, yet very very fun. 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@MrInk113]

man i fuckin bursted out laughing when he pulled out that instrument and started playing , enjoyed it none the less

[@sickomode2345]

Jesse Ink me too

[@JeffPittman]

Listening to Jaron while coding is like having a genius friend in the room. Somehow his mere voice translates to solutions in C#.

[@brainSull]

Lol! Spot on dude.

[@inachu]

The reason Jaron's mind is the way it is because he never put the societies blinders on that most people do as they grow old. So his mind go everywhere like a childs mind where as an adult your mind gets more narrow as you age and set in your ways.

[@joserosa2385]

FACTS OF LIFE 3 6 9 AND 12D SUPERIOR POWERNOMICS!

[@thelement3363]

Wow! Might be one of the most sincere and enlightening talk of this century. I have learned more in this hour than was taught in 13 years of public education.

[@OwenModamwen]

I can’t help but smile every time he plays his music. He just jumps right in and goes for it lol I love his passion.

[@l3vyte315]

Damn “We are swallowing our own futures just for short term gains”

[@OfficialFrizzo]

The thought of 3D printers becoming so prevalent that they undermine the manufacturing power of China is pretty fascinating, this dude is awesome.

[@gregcekot8875]

I’m convinced he summoned the aliens with the instrument.

[@supernova11491]

Lol!

[@stripes1483]

This guy can solve 100 of the world’s biggest problems in like ten minutes. This is truly incredible

[@billy-joes6851]

The poster boy of don't judge a book by its cover lol. I only watched because I saw him on my favorite news show "Democracy now" one time so I figured it would be decent . Better than decent it was though lol .

[@jurvanoerle2845]

"If someone says: 'this is the bargain price', it just means they would otherwise overcharge you"

[@papadjrowe]

Guy is not just a genius, he is a pioneer and has molded what we perceive as reality literally as we know it!!

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

Guy is a genius

[@dabbyj509]

It's always so wonderful to come across some one of such intellectual spirit and grace as Jaron Lanier and his pleasant way for presentation of mind with logical truths.

[@SBecktacular]

That intro with the instrument was so cool and different! 👍👍👍✌️✌️🤩 The whole Microsoft/ technology Societal influence thing however is much heavier and complex.

[@CYI3ERPUNK]

it is just fucking AMAZING how much knowledge is contained within this one man's brain ; truly we will all be losing an amazing mentor when he dies if we have not figured out how to download/copy a mind before then ; i am always worried about his health and well-being ; thank you Jaron for sharing with us some of the wisdom of the ages =] ; also dude, the WAVE is here brother, it is now =]

[@dwaynesbadchemicals]

One of the best speeches on modernity I’ve heard.

[@gusdagher5968]

in 2018, he is still proving himself correct🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@KevKam]

Please get this man on the Joe Rogan expérience podcast. The system needs considerable tweaking, before the planets world leaders guide us further down the shitter. What’s occurring globally in 2020 is related to extreme unequal amassing of wealth, assets and resources.

[@alexsupremewolf]

Joe Rogan is an idiot

[@dwaynesbadchemicals]

He’s been on Lex Fridman. Great interview that led me here.

[@KevKam]

@@dwaynesbadchemicals Sweet, I’ll have to watch that one. Thanks.

[@clarkpalace]

And being on joe rogan is a cure all? I agree that many more people should hear JL

[@KevKam]

@@clarkpalace No one said "cure all". The exposure would be good though.

[@jasonsebring3983]

I love that idea of micro payments in code as a programmer myself. The "AI" flip is a really interesting concept as well because it is so commonly looked at as without human intervention.

[@Floxflow]

Fantastic. Essential.

[@xuanius]

6:33 to skip the instrument and start the talk

[@JamesKagelberg]

Why skip it

[@th3giv3r]

Honestly, same. It's more of a drone and starts to get repetitive if you watch enough of his talks. The real treat is the ideas; much more interesting.

[@jeremiahmacclure]

How would you get around the issue of programmers writing inefficient code to get more from the micropayments, entering 100 lines of code when they could have used 10? Edit: nevermind the compiler would optimize inefficiencies out and the compensation framework would be based on the compiled code, not the uncompiled version. Of course employers might start enforcing lazy evaluation and functional languages...which would increase efficiency and reduce wages.

[@alexseitsinger]

It's refreshing to hear him reference an earlier success like Napster

[@Flying1Machine]

guys has anyone kept notes of any books that he mentions generally in his videos?(not his own of course)

[@australopithecusss]

Jaron Lanier for president 2020!

[@jaysphilosophy1951]

Haven't heard from him in awhile. Where is his wisdom?

[@43nostromo]

Greetings, my friend. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember, my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future.

[@kieronmurphy4836]

Interesting talk but I think Universal Basic Income would be a much more efficient way of ensuring their is always consumers with money rather than administering micropayments where no one knows if they will even make enough from it to pay rent that month...

[@BigLyfe09]

I think I love him lol

[@thomasmagnus518]

What writer does he mention at @29:23? McCloon? Can't find them online.

[@th3giv3r]

Marshall McLuhan, I believe.

[@maxamerimaka]

Who else is listening in 2022?

[@zarjesve2]

Is there transcription for this talk? Thanks!

[@LeonardBustos]

If you have Microsoft Word, use the "Dictate" feature and it will transcribe it live for you ;-)

[@Orf]

3:50 cool sounds

[@korbenjoseph3276]

This man is genuinely an oracle

[@danielrichard1451]

Talking about the class system really hit home, a strong middle class is the foundation of a sustainable society. The Hindu caste system had it right all along. Great video, thank you for sharing, love hearing Jarons talks!

[@Cruelty-Torture]

The Hindu caste system is a fucking disgrace. Nope. Maybe take some elements but id suggest maybe look at it first before talking shit...

[@parasitelights3158]

Oh yeah. And Adolf and the Third Reich too, but you all curse them. That, and even Stalin too.

[@Orf]

49:00 micropayments concept predated networks...?

[@chrisray9653]

CZinger car in 2020 has AI designed parts that can be 3D printed. The printers spray liquid metal and not just goops. That could become something much bigger in the new decade.

[@monoonlagoon7641]

Jah caan be serving two masters dread boy and lose the tummy it shows your indulgence in the babylon

[@V8SplashMan]

I believe the answer is Google, although it might be something like Hunger Games with Amazon, Verizon etc having their own districts fighting a turf war.

[@paularata8145]

Either that history of music/math or all humans have always been equally creative and inventive

[@ethanfrye31]

he's such a nerd but I LOVE it!!!!!

[@memorabiliaexpert]

Thanks

[@trustinyeshua5966]

Pure Genius! LOVE him

[@l3vyte315]

Wow.... 🤯

[@user-rp9jn6dt2u]

when he started blowing on that broken goalie stick, I knew I was in the right place

[@NanoartsNet]

I yuv you Jaron!

[@raypuna3111]

I saw the future when he pulled out that Fence Harmonica and started jamming with the ancestors.

[@jimthompson939]

I get the feeling that this guy has been to Burning Man multiple times.

[@cbo208]

That khene low-key slaps though

[@billydiaz7280]

Still waiting for Russell Brand to interview this guy❤

[@addhoc256]

Dear Microsoft Research, was the interpreter signing deaf signs? If so: why is it not in the picture?

[@fmifu4100]

Dear ADDHOC, there are subtitles available for the video, so why would the interpreter be required anywhere other than the live event

[@addhoc256]

@@fmifu4100 but if you have a signer, why not show. Subtitles are still in a phonetic language. I dont know im not deaf and dont know sign. But ever since corona press conferences are signed where i live, i learned about it a bit, and its conceptual and not semantic. So you cannot say "square circle" in sign. I think that is a great idea to have politicians signed so they cant talk without saying anything. I watched our priminister say a lot of words and the signer only could make a few signes because he wasnt really saying anything, that was so funny. So Im curious how very abstract words would be signed. Imagine to be the signer of Jaron Lanier. ok maybe he does speak rather clear. But lets say a very abstract philosopher. I am just curious to see how they sign certain concepts. How do you sign " privacy" or "owning the future" or "the AI singularity" that would be cool to watch.

[@parasitelights3158]

@@addhoc256 The problem is that you don't know anything about sign language, otherwise it wouldn't look so exotic to you.

[@wayneuk62]

I love this man

[@Marrrrrrrk79]

OMG HE PULLED OUT A FUCKING QUEEJ AND I JUST LOST MY SHIT!

[@bocckoka]

motorized vehicles poop in the air you breathe. lazyness kills.

[@mustavogaia2655]

The naivete in Silicon Valley, condensed in this lecture, never fails to amaze me. Their solutions will not make a wonderful new world. Not only the real world is a tough place, but those algor-utopic solutions can't really solve problems. How many aviation enthusiasts haven't dreamt with a free world without borders and with easy locomotion, only to see in a few decades later planes dropping bombs. It is hard to see some of those silicon people trying to solve all the problems in the world witha few lines of code when they apparently can't see the whole picture of how the world really works. They seem enamorated with their magic solutions. It is almost beyond naivete not to expect that those who better know and gather data resources would get an advantage. And now that those advantages accumulated into billion dollars companies they come up with a "better solution" to the golum they helped to create. I can only suppose that Mr.Lanier is very profficient in this line of work, but listening to him reminds me the hours we spend listening to economists in the 20th century proposing solutions to problems that their - the economists - previous solutions did not solve - or even make them worse.

[@phiavir5594]

Your word salad aside, I can only assume you fail to listen to the many times he suggests problems can only be sold if it weren't for the human nature. Ergo, what he proposes would work in a vacuum. He's not naive because, like all philosophers and prominent thinkers, he realizes the limit of human nature.

[@th3giv3r]

lol "enamorated"

[@johnfarris6152]

If you let a user use you it, will never stop.

[@100Noddy]

This man is genius.

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

but you cant print people and animals....

[@ketsune23]

maybe you can ;O with a biological 3D printer

[@maxmuster8015]

the addsuported business model is really near to the micropaymentcheme he proposed, like youtups, where views generate income for contentcreators.

[@orca2276]

My nerdy parents named me after this guy 😕 wtf

[@E-102]

hey, that's pretty good

[@sebholdk9084]

Lucky you 😉

[@inachu]

Soon this music 4:04 will be turned into techno or something

[@walter0bz]

just do UBI or we'll have to clutter everything with the tracking for micropayments, which will really bog things down. Micropayements for LOC sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, some of the best programming work minimises the LOC actually running, and you'll get people going round in circles with rewrites. Living on UBI wont mean laziness: people can still put effort into their own problems, and learn how to contribute in a way that encourages people to build on each others work better; if people are supported they'll be able to put more effort into that. People will have time for craft to fill in the gaps of what 3d printers can do, ride bikes for short range transport not done by self-driving cars, grow local produce to complement mass produced grain, etc The only way in which open-source 'fails' is if people don't have access to resources (e.g. shares in the land and physical industry) UBI would be like a certain minimum 'dividend' that everyone has

[@destrudoalexandros5562]

1.14.06

[@paularata8145]

Bundled BALLOON PAYMENT mortgages. foreclosure should have been outlawed and extending the term of the mortgages mandated.

[@carolynwertelecki698]

Rich people!

[@pumpuppthevolume]

the answer ....rich people :P

[@Elijahdrixon]

2:42 : What connecting to the internet sounded like in the 90s

[@Elijahdrixon]

btw sounds rad.

[@mikebarktic7416]

The cortical modem Gestapo think they own the future & their saturation surveillance & targeted IP's, they think, makes it so: military influencing. *Like Cambridge Analytica, they manipulate emotional neurotics first, 'cos they're easy & thick.

[@yark618]

1:06:03 The Social Dilemma

[@Orf]

21:00 yikes. Health insurance industry excited about computing to deny guy coverage to a guy who might get a heart attack way I advance!!!!!

[@mark-edward.9232]

show me the future? or even the past

[@danielgarcahernndez8236]

12:23

[@TohnoTakaki]

You have interesting views on the social consequences of technological progress. However, solutions--micropayments or not--will be messy. Future is anything but predictable.

[@supernova11491]

I liked his other instrumental song better! Lol!

[@zzzzxxxx341]

Who owns the future? The owner of anyones lives who simulates us. The aliens!

[@SPDATA1]

Working for Microsoft(🙄)...rest my case.

[@forrestmacquarrie5534]

algorithmic comment

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

Microsoft. I will remember how you have treat Me.

[@JaquelineVanek]

do share

[@dwaynesbadchemicals]

Needs to take better care of himself. It’s hard losing bright stars so early.

[@harrycoleman6208]

ok, after that intro Microsoft owes me Office 365 free for life

[@JamesKagelberg]

That was beautiful

[@wombatcitystudios]

If a 3D printer can make a phone or another 3D printer then anyone can make a gun or grenade

[@destrudoalexandros5562]

I fu love u

[@ziggernaut652]

ugh not the labour 'movement' tonight... a first pulse

[@billy-joes6851]

* 19 out of 20 people are criminals the 1 is Def blind and dumb , just kidding lol .

[@cacheteinflado1]

He need to become vegetarian seems he doesn’t have a good diet

[@tobyiy]

does MS suck? jk, burnem

[@Catdadquinn]

His given reasons for disliking Karl Marx are so bad I’m pretty sure he’s a crypto communist. No one as educated as this guy thinks Marx was attempting to predict the future or build a utopia. I see you hippy man ☭ For those curious: Karl Marx did not invent communism, he developed Historical Materialism which suggests that there is a ruling class and a working class which have been in conflict since the agricultural revolution. This is a fact. Historical Materialism as a theory is as rooted in imperial evidence and scientific understanding as the theory of evolution. Regardless of your opinions on it’s application, the foundations of communism (the economic and social application of Historical/dialectical materialism) as a concept are pretty inscrutable and it behooves working people everywhere to keep finding ways to make economic and social equality mesh with their cultures.

[@Douglas_Gillette]

Your comment was great until you used the words inscrutable and behooves. Please use simple language.

[@MrFrank107]

Interesting. No disrespect to the man, but the body doesn't reflect the mind.

[@th3giv3r]

"No disrespect" = "Brace yourself, I'm about to say something disrespectful."

[@mcren6781]

Damn that kahn sounds like shit. Either that or he cant play it very well.

[@parasitelights3158]

First, it is Khaen, not Kahn. Secondly, his playing dare to say is a hundred times cooler than traditional music playing with this instrument.

[@lukecronquist6003]

Smart technically, absolutely naive philosophically and socioeconomically.

[@Scathingly]

@Luke Cronquist - I'm uncertain about your pronouncement that Jaron is socioeconomically naive. Do you mean juxtaposed to a rigged system which has been imposed by deliberate design--no happenstance involved. He seems to dance around that one. I'm thinking that's what you're referring to.

[@lukecronquist6003]

Nah, I don't think the system is rigged top down. Miss me with that conspiracy shit lol

[@lukecronquist6003]

I mean he's utopian and doesn't understand economic basics like supply and demand

[@Scathingly]

@@lukecronquist6003 = Too funny. Group think is fine if one can't put things together on their own. The moment someone throws "conspiracy" on the table, I know immediately that that individual is not paying attention to what's going on around them much less giving any of it serious thought as to causality. Generally, this person is also a proponent of Occam's Razor--a problem solving strategy which people conveniently use far too often leading to conclusions that eventually turn out to be wrong--but alas, too late.

[@Catdadquinn]

“I hate Marx because he thought he knew what the future would be like. He was totally right and we should do almost everything he said but gosh do I hate him!”

[@chavdarnaidenov2661]

You should really sit down and read some Marx. No perfect society there.

[@richardnailhistorical3445]

Amazing how many comments here think this guy is some sort of 'genius'? He's just a person who spent too much of his youth in a closet with a dull light studying algorithms & computer code; sorry, not impressed!