Can we hold on to the essence of being human as we move toward a world shaped by artificial intelligence, space colonization, and radical self-enhancement? What does progress look like when the most valuable traits of the future may be ones we haven’t yet evolved to understand?

Dr. Anders Sandberg is a renowned Swedish researcher, futurist, and transhumanist. He holds a PhD in computational neuroscience and is currently a researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies in Stockholm. Formerly a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, his work spans topics such as AI safety, human enhancement, long-term future planning, and the philosophical implications of technological advancement.

In this episode, we explore everything from transhumanism and cognitive enhancement to the aesthetics of complexity and the ethical challenges of powerful technologies. Dr. Sandberg shares his own intellectual journey—from a child devouring science fiction in Sweden to a scholar at the cutting edge of existential risk and future studies. He reflects on how our increasing dependence on infrastructure and the acceleration of social change shape not only our lives but also our identities.

We also examine why imagining a better future—not just a more efficient or safer one—is crucial to our development as individuals and civilizations. Dr. Sandberg challenges us to think beyond our immediate lifespan, to view education as a gateway into broader participation in society, and to treat the open-ended nature of the universe as a canvas for moral, aesthetic, and intellectual discovery. This conversation will leave you thinking differently about what it means to evolve.