In this thought-provoking episode of Singularity.FM, I sit down with Dr. Jad Tarifi, CEO and co-founder of Integral AI, to explore the cutting-edge developments at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human potential. Dr. Tarifi shares insights into Integral AI’s mission to create foundation world models for real-world applications and the profound implications of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Our conversation delves into a wide array of topics, including:

The essence of intelligence and its evolution into artificial and general forms.
The challenges of AGI alignment and the importance of fostering collective human wisdom.
Dr. Tarifi’s personal journey from growing up in war-torn Lebanon to becoming a pioneer in AI.
The philosophical and practical dimensions of art, science, and technology as co-authors of our shared reality.
Why Integral AI believes we now have all the components necessary to achieve AGI—and what that means for humanity’s future.
Dr. Tarifi’s perspective is not only informed by his extensive academic and professional background but also deeply rooted in his lifelong curiosity about the nature of reality. He emphasizes that AGI is not the endpoint but a new beginning for humanity, offering unprecedented opportunities and risks.

Join us for a compelling discussion that challenges conventional thinking and illuminates the path toward a future shaped by the convergence of intelligence, creativity, and freedom.

You can see the full video interview here: https://www.singularityweblog.com/jad-tarifi/

Dr. Jad Tarifi of Integral AI: “We Now Have All the Ingredients for AGI”

In this episode of Singularity.FM, Neil Redding, a near futurist and innovation architect, joins Nikola Danaylov for an insightful exploration into the intersections of technology, ecosystems, and human agency. With over 30 years of experience unlocking the transformative power of emerging technologies, Neil offers a fresh perspective on what it means to co-create reality in an increasingly interconnected world. 

Throughout the conversation, Neil discusses his journey from studying computer science and philosophy to becoming a thought leader in near futurism. He explains how his work bridges the possible and the practical, helping brands and individuals adapt to the rapid pace of technological change. Topics covered include the implications of spatial computing, the convergence of digital and physical ecosystems, and the role of AI in shaping our collective future. 

Neil also delves into the ethical dimensions of innovation, emphasizing the need for ecosystem-centered thinking and responsible co-creation. Together, Nikola and Neil examine humanity’s greatest challenges, from polarization to sustainability, offering actionable insights on how to navigate the accelerating future. 

Don’t miss this compelling dialogue that challenges conventional thinking and invites us all to participate in shaping the future. Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking episode.

If you want to see the full video interview, click here: 

https://www.singularityweblog.com/neil-redding

Near Futurist Neil Redding on Co-Creating Reality

In this episode of Singularity.FM, I sit down with renowned author and philosopher Donald J. Robertson to explore his latest book, How to Think Like Socrates. As we navigate the crossroads of ancient wisdom and modern challenges, Donald shares timeless insights from Socrates that remain profoundly relevant in today’s age of rapid technological transformation and AI.

We dive into the art of critical thinking, the value of questioning assumptions, and the ethical considerations of integrating philosophy with cutting-edge innovation. About halfway through our conversation, Donald turns the tables and starts asking me some Socratic questions, sparking a dynamic and thought-provoking exchange that takes the discussion to new depths.

Together, we tackle big questions: What can Socrates teach us about living wisely in a world dominated by AI? How do we balance our pursuit of knowledge with the necessity of wisdom? And how do ancient philosophical techniques help us confront the uncertainties of our time?

Whether you’re a fan of philosophy, curious about the future, or looking to deepen your understanding of critical thinking in the digital age, this episode offers a rich dialogue packed with insights and practical takeaways. Join us as we explore the enduring legacy of Socrates and its implications for humanity’s evolving relationship with technology.

You can watch the full video interview here: https://www.singularityweblog.com/donald-j-robertson/

Donald J.  Robertson on How to Think Like Socrates in the Age of AI

In his second appearance on Singularity.FM, Professor Angus Fletcher returns to dive even deeper into the story of human intelligence. [See the first interview here.]

Fletcher is no ordinary guest. A rare hybrid of neuroscientist and Shakespearean scholar, he has advised DARPA, Hollywood, and the U.S. Army, where his narrative-based research earned him the Commendation Medal for groundbreaking work with Special Operations.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore the core ideas behind his bestselling book “Storythinking” and his upcoming book “Primal Intelligence” (Penguin, 2025) — and why story is not just for telling, but for thinking.

We unpack how story rewires our brains, restores purpose, and can even help individuals — and entire nations — reclaim their agency in an increasingly automated world.

You’ll learn: Why narrative, not logic, is humanity’s true superpower.

How imagination, intuition, emotion, and common sense form a “primal intelligence” that Angus believes AI will never replicate.

Why content isn’t king — context is.

How “plot twists” can transform trauma into growth — individually and collectively.

What happens when the U.S. military tests ancient storytelling theories on modern warriors.

From ancient wisdom literature to cutting-edge neuroscience, from baking bread with ChatGPT to surviving in war zones, this conversation doesn’t just span disciplines — it connects the dots that matter most to our future. This interview is not about AI. It is about being human in the age of AI.

Angus Fletcher on Storythinking and Primal Intelligence

Adam Becker is a science journalist with a PhD in astrophysics and the author of the provocative new book More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity.

I reached out to Adam because I found his book sharp, timely, and necessary — a long-overdue reality check to the fantasies of techno-utopianism flooding our culture. In More Everything Forever, Becker dissects the dominant visions of the future being sold by Silicon Valley’s billionaire elite: godlike AI, digital immortality, interstellar empires, and a future populated by trillions of posthuman minds. His thesis? These aren’t scientific forecasts. They’re billionaire fever dreams—ideological weapons dressed up as inevitabilities.

Drawing on over fifteen years as a science communicator and journalist, Becker traces how a fringe worldview — steeped in misunderstood sci-fi, hubris, and colonialist logic — has moved from the internet’s margins into university labs, government hearings, and mainstream media. We discuss why these ideas aren’t just wrong; they’re dangerous distractions from the real crises we face: war, climate change, inequality, and a fraying shared reality.

So, if you’ve ever questioned the hype around AI overlords, Mars colonies, or techno-salvation, this conversation is for you.

I hope you enjoy my interview with Adam Becker as much as I did.

My favorite quotes from this conversation with Adam Becker are:

Silicon Valley has confused science fiction with science — and science with branding.

We are solving imaginary future problems while the world burns right in front of us.

AI overlords, Mars colonies, and posthuman utopias aren’t visions of the future. They’re distractions from the present.

See the video here: https://www.singularityweblog.com/adam-becker/

Adam Becker on More Everything Forever and Big Tech’s Future Myths

What if the world isn’t just a stage… but a circus? 🎪

In this opening keynote at St. John’s International Circus Fest 2025, futurist and philosopher Nikola Danaylov (aka Socrates) explores why context is more powerful than content — and why those who create context don’t just win attention, they shape the future.

👉 Themes you’ll hear in this talk:

Content vs. Context — why meaning, not information, defines value.

STEAM over STEM — reuniting science with the arts and humanities.

AI & Human Flourishing — why technology is the how, not the why.

The Circus Metaphor — resilience, artistry, and transformation as lenses for our times.

From Performer to Context Creator — how we can reframe the future together.

📍 Recorded live at The Well Room, St. John’s, NL on September 19, 2025.

 

The World’s a Circus but We’re Not Just Performers, We’re Context Creators!
In an age of AI-generated content, infinite data, and algorithmic noise, what truly sets us apart as human beings? In this powerful, playful, and thought-provoking keynote, futurist and bestselling author Nikola Danaylov argues that the answer is not more content—but better context. Through storytelling, neuroscience, history, and circus arts, Nikola reveals how context is the invisible force that shapes perception, meaning, and ultimately, the future.​

Drawing on everything from Renaissance humanism and McLuhan’s media theory to personal stories and plastic horse heads, this keynote challenges the myth that “content is king.” Instead, Nikola shows why meaning—not data—is our greatest asset. And circus? It’s not just performance. It’s a living metaphor for risk, awe, vulnerability, and transformation. You’ll walk away seeing circus—and your own work—not as entertainment or output, but as a vehicle for reframing reality itself. Because when you change the context, you change the story. And when you change the story… you change the future.

The World’s a Circus | Nikola Danaylov Keynote at St. John’s Circus Fest 2025

What do Facebook, Google, and TikTok really see when they look at us — and what do they miss?

In this episode of Singularity.FM, Nikola Danaylov (aka Socrates) interviews Petter Törnberg, Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science at the University of Amsterdam and co-author of Seeing Like a Platform: An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity.

Together they explore:

How platforms have become the new eyes of power

Why algorithms don’t just mirror society — they reshape it

The dangers of algorithmic tyranny and invisible control

The shift from industrial modernity to digital modernity

Why self-organization often hides new forms of hierarchy

Whether AI will become the ultimate platform of platforms

How citizens, activists, and policymakers can still resist

📘 Petter’s books:

Seeing Like a Platform (2025)

Intimate Communities of Hate (2024)

You can watch the full video recording here: https://www.singularityweblog.com/petter-tornberg/

Petter Törnberg: Algorithmic Tyranny & Digital Modernity

Robot Souls & Junk Code Dr. Eve Poole on Programming Humanity into AI

What happens to free will in a world where AI tells us what to watch, buy, believe, and even who to love? In this new episode of Singularity.FM, I sit down with Jacob Ward — veteran technology journalist and author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back — to ask a deceptively simple question: what is a choice, and what happens when we quietly hand that power to machines?

Jake argues that AI is doing to our decision-making what Google Maps did to our sense of direction: turning a hard-won human capacity into a service layer we outsource by default. Drawing on decades of reporting from Silicon Valley, behavioral science labs, addiction research, and the front lines of “decision technology,” he shows how our brains are shortcut engines that love to offload hard thinking — and how AI, optimized for engagement and profit, exploits that instinct to narrow our options, dull our skills, and automate even our moral judgments.

We dig into the psychology that makes us so hackable, the business models that reward “decision outsourcing,” and the cult-like belief that adding AI to anything automatically makes it better. But we also talk about what we can still do — culturally, politically, and personally — to defend human autonomy, preserve difficult choices, and protect the “friction” that makes life meaningful rather than merely efficient.

In this conversation with Jacob Ward, we explore:

Who Jacob Ward is and how a tech reporter became obsessed with the psychology of choice and AI
The core thesis of The Loop: how AI and decision-shaping tech are shrinking the space in which real human choice lives
What a “choice” actually is, why it’s rare, and how much of our lives run on unconscious autopilot
The brain as a shortcut machine: why we naturally try to offload heavy cognitive work — and how apps, platforms, and algorithms weaponize that
Story as both poison and cure: how narrative explains our addictions, identities, and blind spots
The chilling dinner with addiction scientists hired to make consumer apps as addictive as possible
Why we outsource hard moral decisions (hiring, lending, welfare, bail, custody) to opaque algorithms we don’t understand
Google Maps, Spotify, Netflix & co: from convenience to skill-loss and dependency
ChatGPT and the new AI wave: why Jake thought he was early, and why the cult of AI “solutionism” worries him more than the tech itself
“AI will fix everything” as the ultimate cop-out: from politics and climate to governance and war
Great ideas we shouldn’t pursue: the missing virtue of restraint in tech culture
Stoicism, free will, and “loving fate” versus outsourcing it to machines
Cultural resistance: kids calling AI “clankers,” the return of film cameras, and the hunger for authentic creativity
Legal and regulatory pushback: psychological harm, AI distortion, and why insurers are already nervous
How we can still fight back: defending autonomy, re-valuing effort and difficulty, and protecting the best parts of being human

If you care about AI, ethics, free will, and the future of human agency, this conversation with Jacob Ward is a bracing reality check — and a reminder that protecting our ability to choose may be the most important design problem of the 21st century.

Jacob Ward on The Loop, AI, and a World Without Real Choices

In my latest Singularity.FM conversation with Dr. Jad Tarifi, CEO of Integral AI, I heard something I don’t say lightly: a credible claim that AGI may have just arrived — or at least the foundation of it. I don’t often say “Wow” during interviews, but in this one I simply couldn’t stop. Tarifi describes a new AGI-capable model built on an architecture and learning paradigm fundamentally different from today’s large language models, and he argues it can scale toward artificial general intelligence at human-level energy efficiency. If you haven’t seen our first interview, I strongly recommend watching it first — it provides the context that makes this one hit even harder.

At the heart of Tarifi’s announcement is a shift from prediction-only LLMs to an abstraction-first world model designed explicitly for AGI. Instead of cramming benchmarks, his system compresses knowledge into deep conceptual structures and then re-derives understanding when needed — a hallmark of genuine general intelligence. Layered on top is a new Interactive Learning loop: planning, taking action, generating its own training data, “dreaming” to consolidate memories, and continually updating its own weights without catastrophic forgetting. According to Tarifi, this is what allows the model to actually learn — not just infer — the way a true AGI must.

Tarifi also introduces a concrete approach to AGI alignment, grounded not in rules or filters but in maximizing collective agency — freedom — for individuals and the whole. The AGI evaluates simulated futures and chooses actions that increase our ability to know, choose, act, and renew ourselves. This becomes the moral foundation for what he calls the Alignment Economy, where value is tied to how much an action increases or decreases absolute human freedom.

All of this feeds into a larger AGI-driven vision: the Supernet, a global network of embodied AGI agents coordinating factories, robots, labs, homes, and infrastructure to turn human intentions into real-world outcomes. In Tarifi’s view, AGI isn’t just a digital mind — it’s an embodied, operational intelligence capable of reshaping how we work, build, learn, and create.

Whether you believe this is the moment AGI truly begins or simply the start of a new chapter in the race toward artificial general intelligence, one thing is certain: Tarifi’s announcement represents a serious, technically grounded break from the “just scale LLMs harder” era. If you’re interested in AGI, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.

As always, you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support, you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation, or become a patron on Patreon.

Breaking: Did Integral AI’s Jad Tarifi Just Announce AGI?

Singularity.FM is the first and best known singularity podcast - the place where we interview the future. 

Singularity.FM is a series of singularity podcast interviews with the best scientists, writers, entrepreneurs, film-makers, philosophers and artists, debating issues such as the technological singularity, transhumanism, artificial intelligence, life-extension and ethics.

Past guests of this singularity podcast include people such as Ray Kurzweil, Peter Diamandis, Noam Chomsky, Stuart Hameroff, Marvin Minsky, Aubrey de Grey, Max More, Michio Kaku, Vernor Vinge, Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross and many, many others.

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