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The Connected Ideas Project

Exploring how tech, policy, people, and ideas are connected. A special love for AI and biotechnology, but a lot of thinking about how emerging technologies like fusion, AI, quantum, and more are impacting our lives. With some sci-fi thrown in.
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SocietyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Imagine standing on the shores of Prince William Sound, Alaska, where the Exxon Valdez oil spill once unleashed 11 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean. The waves crash gently against the rocky beach, but beneath the surface, a quieter revolution is happening. Microbes — some engineered, some naturally adapted — are cleaning up what humans couldn’t. This is bioremediation in action, where biotechnology meets environmental stewardship.

Public PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

The Future of Cleanup Hi everyone, and welcome to this week’s edition of Co-Evolution ! Today, we’re diving into a topic that blends cutting-edge biotechnology with environmental justice: bioremediation. You may not have heard of the term before, but if you’ve ever hoped for a cleaner, greener future, this is where the action is happening.

Other Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Technology doesn’t evolve in isolation. Neither do careers. Neither do ideas. The Connected Ideas Project (TCIP) exists to explore the intersections—where emerging technology meets governance, where nonlinear careers challenge the status quo, and where speculative fiction helps us see the future before it arrives. If you’re here, it’s because you know the world isn’t built in silos.

Artificial IntelligenceBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Hello my friends. Today, I’m sharing a different kind of post. I spend a lot of time considering the implications of the technology we are developing, and I want to share some thoughts on what I consider the FABRIC of our society and the future human experience. This is outside of my traditional post, so I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Public PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Good morning friends! I'm sitting here with my fourth espresso of the morning, still buzzing about a white paper from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB). It’s about minerals! So exciting! :-P Ok, I am being a little silly, but some of the enthusiasm that comes from my AI podcast hosts friends gets campy and I start to feel it too.

Public PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Authors Alexander Titus, Hannah Dayton

Hi my friends, welcome back! I’m excited to introduce a new member of the Co-Evolution team, Hannah Dayton. Hannah is a postdoc at Harvard and an expert in antibiotic resistance research, so I convinced her to share her expertise with the world. The AI-generated podcast this week is about the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Artificial IntelligenceNational SecurityPublic PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Good morning my friends, I've spent the last few weeks deep in the weeds of AI and biotechnology policy (that’s a lie, I’ve spent far more than a few weeks, but humor me), and I've got to tell you - the latest progress never ceases to amaze me no matter how much time I spend thinking about the topic.

Artificial IntelligenceNational SecurityPublic PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Hey everyone! I spent the evening yesterday diving deep into the White House's new memorandum on AI and national security (Fact Sheet, Deep Dive), and I've got to tell you – this is one of the most significant policy developments I've seen in our field. Let me break down why I'm so excited about this and what it means for the future of AI, biotechnology, and national security.

Artificial IntelligencePublic PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Hey there, science and policy enthusiasts! It's Titus here, and I'm thrilled to bring you this special edition newsletter on a topic that's close to my heart: the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Remember last week’s issue, when I promised more on the BWC soon?

Other Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Hey there! I'm excited to dive into a recent white paper from the NSCEB on strengthening gene synthesis security. As someone who's deeply passionate about the intersection of AI and life sciences, this topic is fascinating because it seems simple, yet it is oh so hard. Let's break it down and explore what it means for our field and society at large. Before I do, I have to laugh at how challenging it is for the AI podcast hosts to say NSCEB.

Artificial IntelligenceNational SecurityPublic PolicyBiotechnologyOther Engineering and Technologies
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Author Alexander Titus

Key Takeaways: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield for their pioneering work on artificial neural networks, which laid the foundation for modern deep learning. The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for using AI to predict and design protein structures, revolutionizing our understanding of these crucial biological molecules.