The Discussion: Digital Identity - State of the Nations #15

In the age of AI is proof of personhood more important than anonymity?


In this episode of The Discussion I speak with Steven Boykey Sidley about cryptography, identity and ownership in the digital world.


We discuss privacy, anonymity and personhood in the digital age and the importance of crypto regulation, touching on the debate around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the need for stable, decentralised alternatives like stablecoins. We think about how people in emerging markets can protect against currency debasement and where tokenization and NFTs fit in.


Steven is Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg and the author of several books on cryptocurrency including “It’s Mine” (https://bit.ly/3Qtvm1e) and “Beyond Bitcoin” (https://bit.ly/3MyYd2V).


Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)


Find Tracey or book her to speak at https://www.traceyfollows.com/

How is the digital age affecting our identity?

In this episode I explore the impact technology and social media are having on how we express ourselves and connect with others. Initially given as a presentation on identity, I talk about the fluidity of identity and our shift in awareness from the “authentic self” to the “complex self”.

I also think about Meta’s launch of celebrity likeness AI chatbots and the debate raised there over ownership and control. As well as how digital media has shifted our understanding of identity and self-representation, with a focus on the role of profiling and personal data.

We also have some good news to announce! The Future of You has been named Best Technology Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2023. Thank you to everyone who has listened, liked, shared, rated and reviewed the show over the last two years. 

Watch the presentation ‘Identity: The Existential Risk of the Century’ on our YouTube channel here - The Endless Presentation   On Identity by Tracey Follows

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Find Tracey or book her to speak at https://www.traceyfollows.com/

Increasingly we’re using facial recognition to do everything from unlock our phone to make payments. But what might the long-term impact of giving away our facial data be? 

In this episode I talk to New York Times technology reporter and author of “Your Face Belongs To Us”, Kashmir Hill. 

We talk about the impact of facial recognition technology, the potential for misuse of the tech and its limitations. We also discuss the importance of data privacy and what’s happening to the billions of photos millions of people share online every day.

‘Your Face Belongs To Us’ by Kashmir Hill 

Amazon UK https://bit.ly/45DFs58

Amazon US https://bit.ly/3tAUQC2

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK https://bit.ly/44ObTha and US https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk

#SwarmIntelligence #Avatars #MotionPrints

This week I’m talking to Louis Rosenberg, CEO and chief scientist of Unanimous AI and the chief scientist of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance.

We discuss the impact of conversational AI on our everyday interactions and whether marketing will be morphing into manipulation as virtual salespeople become a reality. 

We also discuss the data hidden in our movements and the work being done to protect our motion privacy. The conversation ends with a discussion about swarm intelligence and what we might learn from biological systems in nature.

Louis Rosenberg film link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsE_Pas2OQU

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Interactive experiences like Roblox are giving children the chance to explore their identity like never before. In this episode I speak with kids media consultant Jo Redfern about the intricacies of Gen Z’s digital identity, self-expression, and the power children have in the 21st century to shape their virtual personas.

We discuss the new Barbie movie and the intersection of merchandising and identity. As well as thinking about the future of education and the alternative the learning paths that gaming and digital platforms are revealing.

The Future of You is a finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2023.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Jo Redfern's LinkedIn 

linkedin.com/in/joredfern

Kids Media Podcast 

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kids-media-club-podcast/id1573404550

Future of Education 2050 Report 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Cu0aisIbr_9c-UucelETT92cRUppubYm

Tracey in Daily Mail 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12513183/EXCLUSIVE-Former-Google-futurist-predicts-classrooms-future-look-like-include-virtual-reality-lessons-downloadable-knowledge.html

Tracey in the Mirror 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/future-education-technology-3d-virtual-30900376

Will brands have their own wallets for customers? Will customers have their own wallets that they give brands access to? How will digital wallets reshape the data we store? And what’s the difference between personal and personalised wallets?

In this episode of The Briefing I discuss all of this and more with Jamie Smith, founder of Customer Futures.

This episode also features an announcement about the future of this podcast. The Briefing will only be available to members in future. To find out more about the membership and how to join visit www.traceyfollows.com

The Discussion episodes continue to be available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jamie Smith https://www.customerfutures.com/

Tracey’s deck, Identity Century: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFrapqZWbo/view?utm_content=DAFrapqZWbo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=embeds&utm_source=link

Accenture’s Tech Trends https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/a-com-custom-component/iconic/document/Accenture-Technology-Vision-2023-Full-Report.pdf

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

In this episode of The Discussion I speak to Andrew Bud, Founder and CEO of iProov, the world leader in biometric face verification. We discuss the importance of keeping ahead of security in biometrics, the advantages of face biometrics over the iris or palm - and what he thinks about the future of anonymity.

I also speak with Bronwyn Williams, a futurist and economist based in South Africa. We discuss the issues that could arise from a single company becoming the centralised global infrastructure for digital identities ie Worldcoin’s World ID. 

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

iProov

website https://www.iproov.com

Genuine Presence Assurance

 https://www.iproov.com/why-iproov/the-problem-we-solve/genuine-presence

Biometric Threat Report 

https://www.iproov.com/reports/biometric-threat-intelligence

Flux Trends website 

https://fluxtrends.com

Bronwyn's blog

https://whatthefuturenow.com

Bronwyn's book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Starts-Now-Insights-Technology/dp/1472981502

In this episode of The Briefing I talk with Ian Crocombe of Superheroic about the creation of TF14 (my “synthetic self”). We discuss how TF14 was made, the tools and platforms employed, and the use cases for  digital representations such as this.

I also talk about the launch of Worldcoin, the pros and cons of is-a-person solutions and explore security threats around biometrics.

BBC News article on the launch of Worldcoin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66128111

Vitalek's essay https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2023/07/24/biometric.html

Tracey Follows, Forbes article on Synthetic Self https://www.forbes.com/sites/traceyfollows/2023/07/21/i-used-generative-ai-to-create-a-synthetic-self-and-you-can-too/?sh=1e97b2216dbd

Ian Crocombe Linkedin linkedin.com/in/iancrocombe

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK (https://bit.ly/44ObTha) and US (https://bit.ly/3OlDxgk)

Let’s dump the doomerism and take a positive look at AI. In this episode I’m speaking with audience expert David Boyle. As co-author of ‘Prompt’ David has quite literally written the book on how AI can be used to enhance the creation of all types of content across a variety of sectors. I also chat with Matthew Kershaw, VP of commercial strategy at D-id.com, about the rise in the creation of digital avatars, the anthropomorphism of digital assistance and what it means for our future digital selves.

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US 

David and Richard’s website https://prompt.mba/

David’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/PROMPT-Brands-practical-ChatGPT-Practical/dp/B0C1JD7C32

Audience Strategies website https://www.audiencestrategies.com/

Matthew is at D-ID.com’s website https://www.d-id.com/

D-ID.com on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/deidentification/

TF14 was built by https://thepeeps.xyz/ 

In this episode of The Briefing I consider how AI is impacting art and artists. We drop in on the Stanford event around Creativity in the Age of AI, we consider some of the news making headlines about China and AI. And we end up at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, in Warsaw, from where I spoke about AI and the Death of the Artist. 

Tracey's book 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' available in the UK and US 

China Inc. Shows How Generative AI Can Be Serious Business https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-Inc.-shows-how-generative-AI-can-be-serious-business

Is AI Killing Art? https://radii.co/article/ai-art-zhang-huan-xu-bing

Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence: Creativity In The Age of AI event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9wOvFihY74

Mateusz Szsiedlecki on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/mateuszsiedleckiphoto/

"'AI: The Death of the Artist?' is part of the Culture Tensions discussions curated by Manick Govinda and Agnieszka Kolek, commissioned by the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw Poland”. 

Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw Poland https://u-jazdowski.pl/en