Kevin Kelly+

A Billion Dollars

What would you do with a billion dollars?

Without a theory of intelligence

The history of science — and of progress — is a series of benefits that are direct results of new tools.

Worldbuilding with Spatial Intelligence

The next stage in the development of AIs is to give them spatial intelligence.

88 Prompts for Long Term Thinking

In January 2019 I wrote out scores of prompts for thinking long term that I felt should inform the foundation I was later co-chair of, The Long Now Foundation.

Protopia

For over a decade I have been talking about protopia, but I have never written out my description of it.

Better Than Free

In the analog world, it takes great effort to make a copy.

Latent Space as a New Medium

Lately I’ve been asking myself: what might artificial intelligence be good for besides answering questions and writing code?

Quiet, My Exoself

Someday real soon, most of us — starting with young adults — will carry an always-on AI.

The Forever Book

A key idea in cybernetics is the self-reproducing machine: a machine that can make a perfect copy of itself, and importantly, a copy whose copy can itself make a copy.

Why Are LLMs Smart?

A popular way to explain how current LLMs work is to say that “all” they do is predict the next most likely word in a sentence.

Conscious or Not

For as long as I remember, people have been arguing about whether machines could be intelligent or not.

Still Out of Control

I published Out of Control 32 years ago (1994).

AIs Want to Be Honest

Every system exhibits biases, and tendencies toward some states.

Myth of the Lone Villain

A classic Hollywood trope is the evil genius madman who is using new technology he just invented to murder (or threaten to murder) a large chunk of humanity.

Your Most Improbable Life

Your life’s goal should be to become the most improbable person you can be.

The Emergent Self Loop

Nearly once a week I receive an email from a different stranger.

Speculations on the Future of the Scientific Method

The following essay was published 20 years ago (January, 2006) on my blog The Technium. I edited the intro here, but the speculations are basically unchanged.

Our Uncertain Uncertainties

Even the experts inventing AI don’t know what will happen next.

A Catechism for Robots

[First Draft of a work in progress; V 1.0, April 13, 2026 by Kevin Kelly]

Dumbsmarten

We need a better word than smart.

Some Contemporary Heresies

I define a heresy as: something you believe that the people you most admire and respect don’t believe and reject out of hand.

Your Security is My Security

Speaking to the world, I care about how good the security of your machines are.

The Big Here Quiz

You live in the Big Here.

How to Future

A good futurist focuses on the 3 time phases: past, present, future.

Growth vs Evolution

English conflates two meanings of growth.

Three Modes of Cognition

Intelligence is not elemental.

Law of Universal Uniqueness

I propose the Law of Universal Uniqueness.

Cringeworthy in the Future

The New York Times asked me (and others) to suggest some things our descendents might be embarrassed about in the future.

Six Selfish Reasons to Have Kids

Until the sale of contraception pills in 1960, no one needed a reason to have children.

The Singularity Is Always Near

I wrote and posted this piece 20 years ago.

The March of Nines

In the modern world we measure things a lot.

The Unpredicted vs the Over-Expected

It is odd that science fiction did not predict the internet.

How Will the Miracle Happen Today?

When I was in my twenties I would hitchhike to work every day.

Ingenic

Ingenic means “the genesis happens within.”

Data Manifesto

1) Data cannot be owned.

The Oil and Water Planet

One of the most worrisome graphs in the world is the correlation between the rise of cheap oil and the rise of living standards — or what we might call progress.

Thinkism

Here is why you don’t have to worry about the Singularity in your lifetime: thinkism doesn’t work.

Show and Tell #414: Michael Garfield

Paleontologist-Futurist Michael Garfield works in mind-jazz across genres to help navigating our world of accelerating weirdness and cultivate the curiosity and play for people to thrived in it. Host of Future Fossils, former Digital Media Strategist for The Santa Fe Institute and host of Complexity Podcast, former Community Manager for The Long Now Foundation and Research Analyst for a stealth Mozilla AI spin out, his latest project Humans On The Loop examines agency in the age of automation through conversation, music, essay, social weaving, and the rearing of bespoke language models. LINKT

Show and Tell #413: Doug Burke

Mr. Burke is a serial entrepreneur. Mr. Burke has over 34 years of enterprise software company management and start-up experience and has worked for 11 software and technology services companies. Mr. Burke is a father of 3 kids and husband to his lovely wife, Irina. WEBSITE: https://cognitivemedicalsystems.com/ TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:31 - Leatherman Skeletool: https://www.leatherman.com/skeletool-18.html 6:13 - Samsung Galaxy Ring: https://www.samsung.com/us/rings/galaxy-ring/buy/galaxy-ring-titanium-silver-sm-q50xnzsaxar/ 14:26 - Kindle Paperwhite: https://geni.us/BcMqe2n 19:2

Show and Tell #412: Christina K

Christina K. is a home organizer based out of metro Vancouver area. She helps the neurodivergent to the neurotypical find space and peace in their home whether virtually or in person. She also in a previous life was a marketing coordinator helping small and big businesses in the tech space find their voice in a loud world. When not working you can find her baking, watching educational YouTube or collecting too many squishmallows. WEBSITE: https://www.fruitfulspaces.ca/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fruitfulspacesca/ TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Snackle Box: https://www.saltysidedish.com

Show and Tell #411: Chordophony

Based in Texas, Chordophony, is a software engineer by day who moonlights as a music technologist and sound explorer. He has developed innovative devices and software to facilitate sonic creation and streamline production workflows. Chordophony is an avid collector and enthusiast of music-related tools and instruments. Social Media Links: Instagram.com/chordophony Twitter.com/chordophony TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Bluetooth MIDI Footpedal: https://geni.us/7TB9NXz 8:18 - iPad Air as musical instrument: https://www.apple.com/ipad-air/ 13:45 - AUM: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aum-audio-mixer

Show and Tell #410: RJ Andrews

Data storyteller RJ Andrews is obsessed with data graphics. He helps organizations solve high-stakes problems with visual metaphors and persuasive graphics. He recently produced designs for The White House, Google, and MIT. RJ's newest book is "Info We Trust: How to Create Value with Data Graphics." He is also author of "Florence Nightingale: Mortality and Health Diagrams" and other works. Learn about all publications at Visionary Press. RJ lives/works in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. Links: Newsletter: chartography.net X Profile: https://x.com/infowetrust Bluesky Profile: bsky

Show and Tell #409: Julian Bleecker

Julian Bleecker, Ph.D., is an accomplished engineer and author with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, an MSEng from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz. He founded Near Future Laboratory in 2005 and OMATA, a one-person innovative hardware product design studio, in 2014, which he sold in 2022. Julian has written It's Time To Imagine Harder and co-authored The Manual of Design Fiction. He also wrote the influential essay, Design Fiction: A Short Essay on Design, Science, Fact and Fiction. His engineering expertise and innovative work in Design Ficti

Show and Tell #408: Mac Moss

Mac Moss is an Idaho based graphic designer who operates his own one man studio known as mm.s. Heavily inspired by science fiction and the American West, his work has naturally drifted into predominantly the outdoor industry. Outside of work, Mac races competitively at ultra marathon distances. Links: Instagram: @macmoss.studio Website: macmoss.studio TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Ultrapire Running Belt: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/UltrAspire_Fitted_Race_Belt_20/descpage-UAFRB2.html 6:02 - Albion Insulated Jacket: https://www.albioncycling.com/products/all-road-ultralight-insulated-jacket

Show and Tell #407: David Rager

David Rager is an accomplished Creative Director with over two decades of experience in design leadership, brand building, and environmental experiences. As NASA's current Creative Director, he oversees the agency's visual brand and iconic Graphics Standards Manual and is responsible for reintroducing the NASA Logotype (Worm). Previously, Rager led teams at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Disney, the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, and the New Museum, and co-founded Weekends, a design studio operating between Paris and Los Angeles. WEBSITE: https://davidrager.co/ TOOLS: 0:00 - Intr

Show and Tell #406: Danny Kim

ABOUT DANNY KIM: 20+ years of vehicle architecture & prototype development. Inventor w/ 65 issued int'l patents, 22 USPTOs. Focus of HBS case study: Industrial design & sustainable transportation. Former Land Rover mechanic, machinist, woodworker, welder, and vehicle integrator. Reed College, UCB, RISD, & Media Lab. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:19 - 48" Margining steel lead screw shaft Rockwell 52 (AKA Handy File) 7:48 - Spectrum 375 Plasma Cutter (1/2" lightsaber "Scissors') 14:35 - Edwards 65 Ton Ironworker 16:07 - Miller MIG Welder: https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/mig-gmaw 23:58 -

Show and Tell #405: Aishwarya Khanduja

Aishwarya Khanduja is the founder of a stealth entity working to solve wicked problems through lenses of complexity, markets, and power. She's spent the majority of her career thus far being a founder or supporting founders. Her companies span biotech, ed-tech, and the future of work. She writes a weekly letter, essays, technical primers, and other musings on aishwaryadoingthings.com. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:08 - Hero 329 pen: https://geni.us/jcjsKx 8:48 - bamboo book stand: https://geni.us/mPf9 11:06 - tetr app: https://tetr.app/ 16:30 - vestoj: the journal of sartorial matters: https://

Show and Tell #404: Adam Hill

Adam Hill (He/Him) is a dad who loves science, cooking, math, engineering, skepticism, espresso, and politics! He has been a teacher, an engineer, and now a software business analyst. Curiosity now and forever! Website: adamrhill.com TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Burley Bee Bike Trailer: https://geni.us/7wmxpk4 5:20 - Nanofoamer Pro: https://subminimal.com/products/nanofoamer-pro 12:07 - Magsafe wallet: https://geni.us/693mpwe 16:22 - Eat Your Books: https://www.eatyourbooks.com/public-bookshelf For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/adam-hill-software-business-analyst

Show and Tell #403: Mia Coots

Mia Coots is a Senior at Nokomis Regional High in central Maine and an amazing presenter for the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine for the Department of Education. LINKS: http://SLAMShow.org TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - ATEM Mini Switcher: https://geni.us/65p0c 7:50 - Rode Wireless II Mics: https://geni.us/BWqoADJ 15:22 - MuteSync: https://geni.us/f971aS 18:50 - Canva http://canva.com For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/mia-coots-student/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

Show and Tell #402: Josué Moreno

Josué Moreno, a Spanish composer and sound artist, has made Finland his home, where he inspires the next generation of musicians as a teacher at the prestigious Sibelius Academy’s Music Technology Department. Known for pioneering Urban Sonic Acupuncture, Josué seamlessly blends the vibrancy of live electronic compositions with the innovative realms of Computer-Assisted Composition and Generative Arts. Since 2017, he has been creating interactive soundwalking experiences through cutting-edge phone applications and guided sonic acupuncture exercises broadcasted through engaging radio shows. Josu

Show and Tell #401: Kern Kelley

Kern Kelley is a Technology Integrator at Maine School Unit #19. Starting his teaching career in New Zealand, he has provided support to educators for over two decades and conducted professional development across the globe. He advises a student produced technology show for the Maine Department of Education at MLTI.me and brings his student presenters, the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine to numerous conferences around the world and authored the Google Apps Guidebook. LINKS: http://SLAMShow.org http://KernKelley.com TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Air Rocket Launcher Educational Kit htt

Show and Tell #400: Rich Edwards

Rich Edwards is the CEO of Mindspan Systems, which helps community financial institutions transform themselves with data-driven strategies and technologies. Rich has worked extensively with banking, insurance, and financial services clients worldwide during his career. He has led product strategy in data center automation and artificial intelligence, including the launch of IBM Watson Developer Cloud. Rich has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as an en