Poem

A Toast

To your voice, a mysterious virtue,
to the 53 bones of one foot, the four dimensions of breathing,

to pine, redwood, sworn-fern, peppermint,
to hyacinth and bluebell lily …

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The Ongoing Transformation

Neil Chilson Helps Turn Knowledge Into Benefits for Humanity

Neil Chilson, head of AI policy at the Abundance Institute, discusses what it’s like to work at a policy think tank, the questions about artificial intelligence that motivate his work, and why he is optimistic about our technological future.

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In response to essays published in Issues, our readers weigh in on critical topics in policy related to science, technology, and society.

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Future Tense Fiction

Future Tense Fiction is a speculative fiction series that uses imagination to explore how science and technology will shape our future. It features short stories written by acclaimed authors across a wide range of styles. Each story is paired with original artwork by Rey Velasquez Sagcal and a response essay from an expert who connects the fictional narrative to real-world policy debates.

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "All That Burns Unseen" by Premee Mohamed

    Firefighting Chemicals Are Dangerous for the Environment. Can That Change?

    A journalist who covers wildfires responds to Premee Mohamed’s “All That Burns Unseen.”

    Response

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "All That Burns Unseen" by Premee Mohamed

    All That Burns Unseen

    When a government worker is charged with collecting data from the fire-ravaged community she grew up in, she gets help from an unexpected ally: a fire-fighting drone.

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "The Limits of Heat Resilience" by Pope L. Moseley

    The Limits of Heat Resilience

    How resilient to extreme heat can humans really be? Our bodies have a limit—and our response to climate change should reflect that.

    Response

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "The Shade Technician" by Harrison Cook

    The Shade Technician

    In a heat-sieged city whose residents have become functionally nocturnal, an essential worker labors during the day to fix private shade structures designed to provide shelter from the grueling sun for anyone who can pay.

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "Ride" by Linda Nagata

    Ride

    Jasmine, a hotel worker in a future climate-ravaged Hawaii, is desperate for a change to her monotonous routine. When a guest tells Jasmine about a secret hack to tinker with the taxi-share system the island’s workers rely on, she’s forced to ride with some unusual fellow commuters, who change her mind about what her true destination should be.

  • Rey Velasquez Sagcal's illustration for "Ride" by Linda Nagata

    What If an All-Knowing Algorithm Ran Traffic and Transit?

    A journalist who reports on cities and autonomous vehicles responds to Linda Nagata’s “Ride.”

    Response

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