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The Beyond Tomorrow Podcast with Julian Issa · August 7 · 1 hr 20 min

AI Expert JOSCHA BACH: AI Might Send Us Into Civil War, Unless We Understand This!

What happens when intelligence stops being uniquely human? I’m really excited to announce our new sponsor, AgelessRx, a leading longevity telehealth platform that connects you with licensed clinicians for evidence-based treatments. Get 20% off your first order at agelessrx.com using code BEYONDTOMORROW AI may be changing more than how we work. Joscha Bach argues that it could fundamentally reshape how we think, relate to others, and understand ourselves. The future may be difficult to predict because technology is changing the very models we use to understand it. The conversation moves from AI agents and universal basic intelligence to consciousness and agency. Bach explores whether machines could become more than tools, and whether AI might eventually extend human minds and biology onto new substrates. But the biggest question may not be whether AI becomes conscious. It is whether humanity can build and govern these systems wisely. Bach argues that AI could make society more capable, but only if we develop better incentives, stronger long-term thinking, and a positive vision for the future. Joscha Bach is a computer scientist, philosopher, and researcher focused on artificial intelligence, cognition, and machine consciousness. He founded the California Institute for Machine Consciousness to explore how minds can self-organize through controlled experiments. What You’ll Learn Why the AI revolution may be bigger than previous technological shifts How AI could become an extension of human intelligence Why agency may matter more than machine consciousness How the brain creates a simulated model of reality Whether consciousness could emerge on different substrates Why AI alignment is also a problem of human alignment How AI could help humanity become smarter and more coherent ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:09 What Happens When AI Escapes? 02:08 Can AI Become Your Second Mind? 05:30 The Rise of Universal Basic Intelligence 07:42 Will AI Make Everyone Smarter? 10:52 Doomers vs. AI Companies 16:15 Why AI Progress Surprised Everyone 17:27 Why Nobody Believed in AI 21:00 Could AI Become Smarter Than Humans? 27:23 Your Brain Is Running a Simulation 29:01 Does AI Really Need Consciousness? 32:48 AI Could Help Build a Better World 36:24 AI Is the Interactive Internet 38:22 Is Humanity Running Out of Time? 41:03 What Is AI’s Greatest Risk? 43:46 We Are the AI 45:30 Why China Could Lead AI 48:17 Why Elon Builds What Others Won’t 51:17 Who Controls How Smart AI Gets? 55:47 Can AI Threaten Our Freedom? 57:13 Why Does Everyone Fear AI Doom? 01:00:33 The AI Panopticon Is Coming 01:04:48 AI Is Already Surpassing Experts 01:06:14 Can AI Actually Destroy the World? 01:08:21 Why AI Experts Disagree 01:09:09 Is Death Real in a Simulation? 01:09:36 Do Minds Really Have Identity? 01:11:55 Can Claude Actually Feel? 01:14:06 Is the Universe a Computer? 01:15:45 What’s the Best Advice You’ve Received? 01:17:58 Is Free Will Just Psychological? 01:19:06 If Tomorrow Was Your Last Day... Connect with Joscha Website: http://bach.ai/ Substack: https://joscha.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joschabach/ X: https://x.com/Plinz Connect with Julian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

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What happens when intelligence stops being uniquely human?

I’m really excited to announce our new sponsor, AgelessRx, a leading longevity telehealth platform that connects you with licensed clinicians for evidence-based treatments. Get 20% off your first order at agelessrx.com using code BEYONDTOMORROW

AI may be changing more than how we work. Joscha Bach argues that it could fundamentally reshape how we think, relate to others, and understand ourselves. The future may be difficult to predict because technology is changing the very models we use to understand it.

The conversation moves from AI agents and universal basic intelligence to consciousness and agency. Bach explores whether machines could become more than tools, and whether AI might eventually extend human minds and biology onto new substrates.

But the biggest question may not be whether AI becomes conscious. It is whether humanity can build and govern these systems wisely. Bach argues that AI could make society more capable, but only if we develop better incentives, stronger long-term thinking, and a positive vision for the future.

Joscha Bach is a computer scientist, philosopher, and researcher focused on artificial intelligence, cognition, and machine consciousness. He founded the California Institute for Machine Consciousness to explore how minds can self-organize through controlled experiments.

What You’ll Learn