"Authentic moments between real people are increasingly scarce, but scarcity creates value." @EricMarkowitz
My latest essay—The Hunger for Human Connection—is now published in @bigthink's print magazine.
bigthink.com/the-outlast-jo…
In the piece, I make a pretty simple argument: the AI boom will inevitably change culture and society in many ways, but perhaps the most obvious is that a desire for real, in-person connection.
From the piece:
"The robots are coming, yes, and many of them will genuinely help us lead safer, healthier lives. But it’s on each of us to ensure that in automating the labor of life, we do not automate away its substance: the bond of community. Which is, in the end, the purpose of being alive."
And if you want to get the print magazine (who wouldn't?!) sign up here: bigthink.com/membership/?ut…
And, as always, sign up for The Outlast Journal—my weekly newsletter and column—here: outlastbook.com/#ol-journal
Many thanks to Stephen Johnson, @KristinJHouser, @marvinliyanage, Ana Kova, @seantmcvey, @chandlertuttle and all the many Big Think collaborators who are stewarding one of the world's most intellectually ambitious media companies!
Oct 22, 2026 · 10:08 PM UTC
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