Vision of Our Collective Future: Jack Myers in Conversation with Global Futurist David Houle (Video)

Houle, author of the acclaimed The Shift Age book series and recently named one of the top 30 futurists globally, shares his insights with Myers and the University of Arizona Media Ecology class. From the outset, Houle asserts a bold but clear-eyed vision for the future of education. “It’s no longer about how much you know at age 10,” Houle tells Myers, emphasizing instead the importance of preparing students to be engaged citizens and lifelong learners in an era where search engines and AI systems have become extensions of knowledge itself.

The conversation naturally turns to the accelerating rise of artificial intelligence -- what Houle provocatively suggests should be renamed technological intelligence (TI). Houle explains that the very word “artificial” creates subconscious resistance to AI’s growing role. “The definition of intelligence in any dictionary doesn’t say ‘human,’” he explains. “Whales, dolphins, even pets are intelligent.” Houle proposes that calling it technological intelligence would better reflect the reality of tools like ChatGPT and large language models that are rapidly becoming part of our daily lives. Myers challenges Houle by asking whether young digital natives might already perceive AI’s intelligence as more real and useful than older generations.

In a particularly stirring moment, Myers and Houle explore what Houle has defined as the Anthropocene Era -- the age of humanity. Houle makes the case that humanity must move from identifying with national and tribal boundaries to acting as a global species if we hope to survive as a civilization past the year 2100. Climate change, wealth inequality, and the ethical governance of emerging technologies are global issues, he argues, that demand urgent collective solutions. “We’ve never successfully thought of ourselves as a species,” Houle says. “That’s the first transformational step.”

As the interview draws to a close, Myers invites Houle to address Profiles in Leadership’s core audience: media, advertising, and marketing professionals. Houle calls on leaders to recognize the “jungle gym” nature of career advancement, urging them to consider not just their next job or promotion, but the sustainability of the entire system they’re climbing within. His advice resonates particularly in today’s rapidly shifting media landscape, where AI and emerging technologies will redefine business models and industry structures.

The episode stands as a powerful reminder of why Profiles in Leadership has become essential viewing for leaders seeking to future-proof their thinking. You can watch the full conversation between Jack Myers and David Houle now at MediaVillage.org and on the MediaVillage YouTube and podcast platforms.