If uploading your mind to a virtual world sounds like progress, what does that say about the future of being human?

In this episode of Synthetic Minds, speculative fiction author and psychiatrist Grace Chan explores the moral complexities of emerging technologies like mind-uploading, virtual reality, and AI. 

Her novel Every Version of You imagines a world where consciousness can exist beyond the body—raising profound questions about identity, relationships, and what it means to stay human in an increasingly digital world. Chan cautions that businesses often focus on the coolness and convenience of tech innovations, sidelining their deeper ethical implications.

- AI can complement but not replace human empathy and insight.
- The “Four Cs” framework—Coolness, Convenience, Commercial Potential, and Consequences—helps evaluate new technologies.
- Chan warns that mind-uploading may erode relationships and reduce human experience to mere data.

The future demands not just innovation but thoughtful reflection—are we building technology that serves humanity, or are we adapting ourselves to serve the technology?

About Grace Chan:
Grace is an award-winning speculative fiction writer. She writes about brains, minds, and space. Her debut novel, Every Version of You, is about staying in love after mind-uploading into virtual reality. It won The University of Sydney’s People’s Choice Award, and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and The Age Book of the Year. It was longlisted for the Stella Prize and the Indie Book Awards. It has been optioned for a film adaptation by Cognito Entertainment.

Every Version of You: https://amzn.to/3YmZmB8
The Digital Speaker: https://thedigitalspeaker.com

Exploring Mind Uploading & Ethics in a Virtual World with Grace Chan – Synthetic Minds EP12

The Digital Speaker thinks about technology and the impact on business & society. He is the author of 3 management books, including his latest The Organization of Tomorrow. Dr Mark van Rijmenam is the founder of Datafloq.com and Mavin.org.