Synthetic Minds | Resilience and Truth in the Age of AI

Dr Mark van Rijmenam, CSP -

'Synthetic Minds' continues to reflect the synthetic forces reshaping our world. This week’s newsletter discusses why resilience is key in the age of AI, as well as AI job disruption, TikTok’s misinformation impact, carbon-capture tech, tactile robots, and tech accountability.

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The AI Survival Guide: Embrace Resilience in a World of Change

My latest article

We’re living through a 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, where AI, quantum computing, and automation are rewriting the rules of business. But with innovation comes challenges—job displacement, hyper-surveillance, and misinformation are reshaping industries. 

The key to thriving? Resilience.

👉 Build a culture where adaptability thrives.
👉 Empower teams with digital literacy and critical thinking.
👉 Foster ethical leadership to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Companies like Ferrari and WPP have shown us that resilience isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. Empowering employees to question, innovate, and lead makes organizations stronger against the unpredictable.

Last week, I delivered a keynote for Mastercard's Digital Safari on Resilience in the Synthetic Age. I discussed that to succeed in this age of change, we need to understand that we are all futurists.

The future isn’t something that happens to us—it’s something we build. Will you step up as an architect of tomorrow? Let’s shape a future where technology and humanity thrive together.

Synthetic Snippets: Quick Bytes for Your Synthetic Mind

Quick, curated insights to feed your quest for a better understanding of our evolving synthetic future. The below is just a small selection of my daily updates that I share via The Digital Speaker app. Download and subscribe today to receive real-time updates. Use the coupon code SynMinds24 to receive your first month for free.

1. THE AI ARMS RACE: PROGRESS, PROPAGANDA, AND THE POLITICS OF REGULATION

Tech titans and politicians push deregulation to accelerate AI innovation, risking societal harm. With jobs automated, misinformation rampant, and environmental impacts mounting, public demand for oversight grows. Proposals like international governance and engineer licensing face resistance from corporate lobbying. Should unchecked moguls shape AI’s future, or is stronger accountability the answer? The choice will define society’s trajectory. (NY Books)

2. A TREE IN A TUBE? UC BERKELEY’S NEW POWDER CAPTURES CO₂ FASTER THAN NATURE

UC Berkeley’s COF-999 powder absorbs CO₂ as effectively as a tree but in days, not years. Capturing carbon 10x faster, it’s durable across 100+ cycles and scalable for industrial use within two years. As innovations like this emerge, are we nearing a breakthrough in carbon capture, or is time running out? (LA Times)

3. META’S TOUCHY FEELY BOTS: AI GETS PHYSICAL

Meta’s new AI tools bring robots closer to mastering touch. Sparsh enhances tactile sensitivity, Digit 360 captures detailed touch data, and Digit Plexus enables versatile robotic hands. Combined with PARTNR, a benchmark for human-robot collaboration, these innovations could transform medicine, VR, and daily life. Are we on the brink of a tactile robotics revolution? (VentureBeat)

4. AI’S QUIET REVOLUTION: THE WORKFORCE SHAKE-UP NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT

The Tony Blair Institute downplays AI-driven disruption, calling 3 million UK job losses “modest,” but this ignores exponential risks. Cognitive and manual roles face rapid automation, with global job losses potentially hitting 1 billion by 2030. While GDP may rise, societal destabilization looms. How do we balance AI progress with safeguards to protect livelihoods? (The Guardian)

5. MISINFORMATION 101: WHY TEENS NEED MEDIA LITERACY NOW MORE THAN EVER

Teens trust TikTok over Reuters, but with 80% exposed to conspiracy theories weekly and only 15% seeking credible news, media literacy is alarmingly scarce. Schools lag behind, with just three US states mandating such education. As algorithms amplify misinformation, how do we empower the next generation to navigate truth in a digital age? (Fast Company)

❤️ If you’ve enjoyed my insights and it gave you a glimpse into the future, the best compliment is a referral! Know someone ready to navigate the next frontier of AI and innovation? Send them my way—I’ll help them unlock tomorrow, today. ❤️

In Synthetic Minds, I dig deep into the increasingly synthesized universe, navigating the breathtaking opportunities, the philosophical curveballs, and yes, even the ‘Are we living in a simulation?’ moments. If you are interested in bringing Synthetic Minds to your organization, you can book me, a Certified Speaking Professional, Global Guru (Futurist) and Global Speaking Fellow, for your next event. Just reply to this email. 
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— Mark