Are we safe hovering in the unknown? Harvard researcher and former assistant director for Space Policy at the White House, Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, is the guest of this «It's not that simple» edition.

In this conversation, Ezinne explains how satellites and space technology are already protecting lives on Earth - from monitoring the climate to anticipating disasters.

But she also discusses the real risks we face: space junk, the increasing privatisation of space and the lack of clear global regulation.

With the end of the International Space Station planned for 2030 and new commercial players entering orbit, the Space Policy advisor raises the question: are we prepared for this new space race?

Exploring space is no longer science fiction - it's a matter of survival.

More on the topic:

Ezinne's portfolio (MIT)

Mars Science Laboratory: Curiosity Rover (NASA)

NASA's blog

AI: a dangerous threat or an indispensable tool for today and the future? «Artificial Intelligence is the most disruptive technology we've ever seen», claims Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge. However, he also believes that AI «is the continuation of a technological revolution» in how we share information via computers.

Speaking in Lisbon, the guest of this edition of «It's Not That Simple» highlighted a critical issue regarding AI usage: «It is not being used in the areas people are asking us to use it: health, social care, education or security.»

While optimistic about the relationship between humanity and AI, Lawrence acknowledges the difficulties in regulating such a rapidly evolving field. He warns against leaving regulation to «inflexible and under-resourced» regulators to «decide the future for us all.»

More on the topic:

Neil Lawrence: «The Atomic Human: What makes us unique in the age of AI» (Talks at Google)

Neil Lawrence: «The Atomic Human - Understanding ourselves in the age of AI» (Finnish Centre for Artificial Intelligence)

Neil Lawrence: ‘Is AI beyond our human understanding?’

BBC interview

Interview with the University of Cambridge

Episode of the ‘Futures’ podcast

Neil Lawrence's Linkedin

There is a clear Cold War between the US and China, but it differs from the one between the US and the Soviet Union and is «far more dangerous». The warning is given by Anil Gupta, the renowned expert on globalization, emerging markets and innovation, who guarantees that China is not, in economic terms, a «pygmy» like the Soviet power was compared to the American «giant».

Analysing what the specialist considers to be «the biggest geopolitical issue of our time», the expert argues that China is a «technological, industrial, economic and military power», pointing out that the relationship with the US is not really improving.

In addition to the clash between superpowers, Anil Gupta says that «the growth of emerging markets» has also fuelled geopolitical tensions.

While in 2000 there were 20 emerging economies, today their number has more than doubled. And the growth of these economies is expected to remain stable over the next few years, emphasizes the expert. This means that the emerging markets - China and India, but also Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria - are becoming not only important in economic terms but also in political terms.

Rated by Thinkers50 as «one of the world's most influential management thinkers», Anil Gupta recalls the risk associated with supply chains, which the pandemic has already highlighted. The case of medical equipment used in the US is paradigmatic. Over the last 20 years, most of the gloves used by US surgeons have come from China. ‘In the event of a conflict with China, ‘would the US want to be dependent on such a simple item?’.

A positive aspect of globalization is technology. In this interview, Gupta considers that ‘Artificial Intelligence is the most powerful technology that mankind has ever invented’.

But he reminds us of the risks associated with it in the long term. «In 50 years, will AI treat humans the way we treat ants today?».

More on the topic:

Official website

«London Speaker Bureau» interview

«Leading Authorities International» interview

«The CrossroadTimes» podcast interview

Will we be able to programme the human genome like we programme computers? And will we be able to stop ageing or create medicines and vaccines in record time? Geneticist and synthetic biology pioneer Andrew Hessel explains how this field could transform medicine, making it possible not only to diagnose but also to cure diseases in a more effective and personalised way.

Hessel draws parallels between programming a computer and programming a cell, highlighting how the manipulation of genetic code is opening doors to innovative treatments and advances in longevity.

Today, DNA sequencing already plays a crucial role in medicine, but synthetic biology promises to go even further, offering the ability to alter microbes to improve health and slow down natural processes such as ageing.

However, all these advances face ethical challenges. The manipulation of living organisms, especially in humans, raises questions about the limits and responsibilities of using this technology.

Hessel warns of the risks of abusing synthetic biology for financial, political or religious reasons, but believes that the democratisation of these tools can be a positive force for humanity.

More on the topic
Andrew Hessel LinkedIn account
X account (Twitter)
Synthetic Biology: Rewriting Life. Andrew Hessel at NextMed Health
The Futurists: The First Technology with Andrew Hessel
Ted Hesser podcast: Andrew Hessel Programming DNA - The Future of Synthetic Biology
Amy Webb & Andrew Hessel | The Genesis Machine | Talks at Google

The alliance that has ensured peace throughout most of Europe is now at the centre of all attention. «We are in a very dangerous era. The next 25 years will probably be the most challenging NATO has ever had», argues Peter Apps, global affairs columnist for Reuters and author of the book «Deterring Armageddon: a biography of NATO».

In this interview, the expert is convinced that a new world conflict will be triggered by the ambition of countries that want to extend their borders by force of arms.

«I think the world is probably organised enough so that we don't have a third world war by mistake. If we do, it will be because one or more countries have made a really big gamble on attempting to do what Putin has done in Ukraine», he emphasises.

With Europe grappling with the war on Ukrainian soil - and on the verge of affecting NATO member countries - the continent will have to rethink its defence investment. And with Donald Trump in the White House, Europeans will have to be more autonomous in their military decisions.

The future of the relationship between the US and Europe is still unclear. The expert points out that, on the one hand, it is not certain that the Europeans «will do enough to keep the Trump government on their side, to ensure continued US support». On the other hand, it is not known how tolerant the next US president will be if Europe tries to go its own way.

Highlighting the importance of NATO membership for Nordic countries and Turkey, Apps predicts that the current tense environment could persist for 15, 20, or even 30 years, ushering in a kind of new Cold War.

Peter Apps does, however, leave us with a message of hope for the future: «we are clearly in an era of conflict, but common sense will prevail».

More on the topic:
Peter Apps official website
X account (Twitter)
Substack for Peter Apps newsletter
Ted X London
Interview about NATO on Dan Snow's podcast
Interview with Sábado magazine
Interview on the History Hack podcast

Colin Bryar, former vice-president of Amazon and Jeff Bezos' right-hand man, shares the secrets that have transformed Amazon into the world's leading e-commerce company.

In this interview, he discusses the philosophy of putting the customer at the centre of all decisions, the importance of analysing the right data to understand and respond to consumer needs, and the steps that led to the company's continuous innovation. From changes in packaging - prompted by direct customer feedback - to the emergence of Amazon Web Services, which created the cloud computing industry. In addition, he explores how customer prioritisation and the intelligent use of data have shaped the company's success in the digital marketplace.

Bryar also explains how companies can apply these lessons to grow, innovate and solve real problems. In this episode of ‘It's not that simple’, discover the impact of digital transformation, the future of online commerce and the strategies that continue to position Amazon at the forefront of e-commerce and technology.

More on the topic:

Alcott Global interview

Colin Bryar's LinkedIn

Agile Education interview

Q&A from the Think Like Amazon podcast

Commonplace Expertise interview

It's the tightest race for the White House in 60 years. CNN data reporter Harry Enten believes that Pennsylvania will be the state most likely to decide the outcome of the November 5 elections, where Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off.

In this interview, Harry Enten goes through the details of the American elections, explaining how the country's electoral system works, which is very different from those in force in Europe.

«In the United States, there are 50 state elections - as well as those in the District of Columbia - and the winner in each of these states gets the electoral college votes allocated to that state», he explains. «If Donald Trump wins Florida with 50% of the vote, against 49% for Kamala Harris, all the electoral college votes from that state would go to Trump», he explains.

Analyzing the national polls, Enten points out that they don't serve to predict possible winners, but only to show how close an election can be. And this one, in particular, he describes as «crazy».

This race for the White House is particularly tight: “when you look at the decisive states, in all of them, the candidates are separated by less than 3 percentage points”. And that's unprecedented since there have been reliable polls in the US.

Between now and election day, the candidates will have to bet on strategies that will guarantee them the support of undecided voters, and the political scientist assures us that it is their positions on the country's economy, their rhetoric and the reinforcement of television ads that could make the difference for those who have not yet decided their vote.

More on the topic:

Episodes of CNN's «Margins of Error» podcast

Harry Enten's official X account

Interview with Mediaite's Press Club

Articles on the «Five Thirty-Eight» website

Profile and content on CNN's website

«The Forecast Fest» podcast (2020)

How does food influence mental well-being?

Nutritional psychiatrist and author of the bestseller «This Is Your Brain on Food» Uma Naidoo argues that food is not only crucial for a healthy body, but also essential for a healthy mind. And the Mediterranean diet, known for its physical health benefits, can also help combat mental disorders.

According to Naidoo – who leads the first and only Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry Service in a US hospital – many diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, are aggravated by a poor diet, and the same applies to mental health.

She points out that «people don't associate food with mental and emotional well-being», but bad moods, lack of energy or anxiety can also sometimes be explained by «the level of sugar they eat».

In this episode of «It's not that simple», the author explores how a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can significantly improve cognitive abilities. She highlights the intrinsic relationship between the brain and the gut, which share a common origin in embryonic cells, explaining how what we eat directly affects mental health. She also highlights how a high-sugar diet can feed harmful microbes in the gut, promoting inflammation processes that harm the body.

Uma Naidoo stresses the importance of adopting a diet that avoids ultra-processed foods and includes a wide variety of vegetables, always adapted to each case and each reality. She also reminds us that a healthy diet is far from being synonymous with tastelessness.

More on the topic
Harvard Nutrition Expert: «These Foods FUEL Anxiety | Dr. Uma Naidoo x Rich Roll Podcast»

«Ten Percent Happier» podcast interview

Food And Mood» Imperfectly Perfect podcast interview
Uma Naidoo's official website

Uma Naidoo's instagram

X's account