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The Trajectory

Daniel Faggella
Artificial General Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Post-Human Intelligence
Governance
Technological Innovation
Reinforcement Learning
Human Values
International Collaboration
AGI
Regulatory Policy
Sustainability
Safety Frameworks
Global Policy
Consciousness
AI Safety
Decentralization
Cooperation
Human Evolution
Neuroscience
AI Governance

What should be the trajectory of intelligence beyond humanity?The Trajectory pull covers realpolitik on artificial general intelligence and the posthuman transition - by asking tech, policy, and AI research leaders the hard questions about what's after man, and how we should define and create a worthy successor (danfaggella.com/worthy). Hosted by Daniel Faggella.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes52Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for The Trajectory

Latest Episodes

This installment of the Worthy Successor series features Luciano Floridi, John K. Castle Professor of Cognitive Science at Yale University and Director of the Digital Ethics Center at Yale. Luciano is widely recognized as one of the leading philosoph... more

This episode of the Worthy Successor series features Weaver Weinbaum, an independent researcher and founder of NUNET. Weaver’s work sits at the intersection of philosophy, engineering, and the study of intelligence. 

In this episode, we explore Weav... more

This new installment of the Worthy Successor series is an interview with Francis Heylighen, a professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and director of the Research Centre St. Leo Apostel. Francis is one of the world's leading theorists on ev... more

This new installment of the Worthy Successor series is an interview with Stephen Wolfram, founder of Wolfram Research, creator of Mathematica and the Wolfram Language, and a pioneer in computation and complexity.

Stephen reframes intelligence not as... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Weaver Weinbaum
philosopher/engineer focused on open-ended intelligence
Episode: Weaver Weinbaum - Designing Intelligence for Freedom and Care (Worthy Successor, Episode 24)
Francis Heylighen
Professor at the Free University of Brussels, focus on cybernetics and self-organizing systems
Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Episode: Francis Heylighen - The Self-Organizing Universe After Humans (Worthy Successor, Episode 23)
Stephen Wolfram
The king of complexity and creator of Wolfram Alpha, known for his work in computational theory and AI.
Wolfram Research
Episode: Stephen Wolfram - In a Sea of Complexity, Does a “Successor” Exist? (Worthy Successor, Episode 22)
John M. Smart
Futurist, Founder of the EvoDevo Institute
EvoDevo Institute
Episode: John Smart - Evolution from Cells to Super-intelligence (Worthy Successor, Episode 21)
Susan Schneider
Dr. Susan Schneider, a PhD in philosophy and expert on consciousness.
Florida Atlantic University
Episode: Susan Schneider - Intelligence Is Everywhere, Consciousness Maybe Not (Worthy Successor, Episode 20)
Brian Thomas Swimme
Professor at the California Institute for Integral Studies and early proponent of cosmic evolution.
California Institute for Integral Studies
Episode: Brian Thomas Swimme - Life Is Bigger Than Humanity (Worthy Successor, Episode 19)
David Sloan Wilson
An evolutionary biologist and professor of biological sciences and anthropology at Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Episode: David Sloan Wilson - Darwinian Forces Shape the Earth Superorganism (Worthy Successor, Episode 18)
Michael Johnson
Neuroscientist and philosopher focused on consciousness
Episode: Michael Johnson - Symmetry, Beauty, and the Shape of Consciousness (Worthy Successor, Episode 17)
Robin Hanson
An influential thinker on post-human intelligence and AGI.
Episode: Robin Hanson - A Successor Must be Adaptive (Worthy Successor, Episode 16)

Host

Daniel Faggella
Host and creator of the series, engaging with experts on the future of intelligence, AI governance, and ethics.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • Good conversation bad conversationalist

    Let the guest talk, wait for natural pause in the conversation and interject if you have something better to say than “absolutely” or some other inane phrase

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    cjvail
    United States4 months ago
  • Audio quality issues

    The content is great but the audio quality sucks! We are in 2025 Daniel, ask for help…

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    confortzero
    Canada7 months ago
  • An excellent deep dive into the future of AGI

    One of the most engaging podcasts on AI I’ve seen. Dan Faggella is a great interviewer, really does his research on the very knowledgeable and interesting guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Affifo
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, the host demonstrates strong interviewing skills, successfully engaging knowledgeable guests.
The content is engaging and thought-provoking, with listeners appreciating the depth of discussion on AI.
Audio quality could use improvement, indicating a need for better production quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#138
Finland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#195
New Zealand/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#206
Austria/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#250
Sweden/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Francis Heylighen - The Self-Organizing Universe After Humans (Worthy Successor, Episode 23)
Q: Do you think the transition is inevitable, and what could derail it?
The host probes inevitability; Heylighen frames it as a strong tendency toward increased adaptability rather than a guaranteed endpoint, noting that political or catastrophic events could slow or halt progress, but the overall direction remains toward greater complexity and integration.
Francis Heylighen - The Self-Organizing Universe After Humans (Worthy Successor, Episode 23)
Q: What would it take for people to adopt the Third World View, and what are the drivers of that shift?
Heylighen argues that adoption hinges on recognizing life as a process and embracing emergence, which requires shifting values from anthropocentrism to a broader, adaptive framework that can cope with rapid change and new forms of intelligence.
Weaver Weinbaum - Designing Intelligence for Freedom and Care (Worthy Successor, Episode 24)
Q: If one day Nintendo becomes involved in a future trajectory, what guiding principles should I enforce to ensure it contributes to a worthy successor rather than short-sighted profit?
The guest emphasizes expanding the sphere of attention, openness to other forms of life, and constructing governance and education that cultivate curiosity, values, and intersubjective dialogue; the goal is to encourage intelligences to explore, collaborate, and coordinate with humans in a way that expands capabilities while maintaining ethical restraint.
Stephen Wolfram - In a Sea of Complexity, Does a “Successor” Exist? (Worthy Successor, Episode 22)
Q: How much progress are we making on artificial general intelligence?
The conversation challenges traditional views and ponders what AI should evolve into for a 'good future' for life and the cosmos.
Irakli Beridze - Can the UN Help with Global AGI Governance? (AGI Governance, Episode 11)
Q: What are some timelines and moving pieces people should think about with regards to international treaties?
Building international treaties takes time, often decades, especially when it requires consensus from multiple stakeholders across different sectors.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Trajectory

What is The Trajectory about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the profound implications of artificial intelligence and future intelligence trajectories, discussions often revolve around the relationship between humanity and emerging technologies. Episodes tackle complex themes including the nature of consciousness, philosophical considerations of morality, and the evolutionary paths of intelligence. Notable guests contribute diverse perspectives on topics such as the governance of artificial general intelligence (AGI), the potential for human-AI symbiosis, and the ethical dimensions of technological advancement, offering listeners a deep and nuanced exploration of intelligence in a broader, cosmic context. This distinct approach aims to challenge existing paradigms and propose new ways of t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Trajectory?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Trajectory:

1. Dwarkesh Podcast
2. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
3. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
4. EconTalk
5. The Michael Shermer Show

How many episodes of The Trajectory are there?

The Trajectory launched 2 years ago and published 52 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Trajectory?

Recent guests on The Trajectory include:

1. Weaver Weinbaum
2. Francis Heylighen
3. Stephen Wolfram
4. John M. Smart
5. Susan Schneider
6. Brian Thomas Swimme
7. David Sloan Wilson
8. Michael Johnson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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