Synthetic Minds | AI, AGI, and the Wisdom of the Wild

Dr Mark van Rijmenam, CSP -

'Synthetic Minds' continues to reflect the synthetic forces reshaping our world. This week’s Synthetic Minds covers why bats and bees may be better futurists than most executives, and why your next boss might be AI.


I just finished writing my sixth book Now What? How to Ride the Tsunami of Change, which will be available soon and did you know that you can WhatsApp my digital twin 24/7 via +1 (830) 463-6967?

Weaving Worlds: Harmony in Diversity in Times of Disruption

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲’𝘀 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺?

If your strategy only reflects human logic, you’re missing 99% of reality. Bats, bees, microbes may be better futurists than most executives. From Aboriginal Dreamtime’s Rainbow Serpent to Taoism and Spiral Dynamics, a consistent message emerges: strength lives in diversity, not domination.

Each species perceives the world through its 𝘜𝘮𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘵, a sensory universe that defines its truth. Tech leaders should take note. Designing AI, quantum systems, or bioengineering without honoring the multiplicity of perspectives risks collapse, not just failure.

So the real question isn’t “Can we build it?” It’s “Can we build it in harmony?” And in this next chapter of humanity, are we prepared to co-create with the rest of life, or overwrite it?

Synthetic Snippets from the World's Best Futurist

Quick, curated insights to feed your quest for a better understanding of our evolving synthetic future. The below is just a small selection of my daily updates that I share via The Digital Speaker app. Download and subscribe today to receive real-time updates. Use the coupon code SynMinds24 to receive your first month for free.

1. HOLLYWOOD DIDN’T EMBRACE AI—IT GOT AMBUSHED

Three years ago, AI was Hollywood’s boogeyman. Today, it’s the industry’s survival plan. At AI on the Lot 2025, Amazon Studios declared what others dodged: AI isn’t a threat, it’s the future. With 200+ AI studios rising and copyright-safe models streamlining production, the real drama now? Reinvention vs. irrelevance. Will your studio lead with purpose, or hide behind a new label as the credits roll? (The Wrap)

2. CAPITALISM MIGHT COOL THE PLANET AFTER ALL

If AI doesn’t drain the grid, capitalism might save it, one cost-cutting CFO at a time. As energy bills soar, smarter training, edge computing, and thermoelectric cooling reshape AI’s future. From Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs to Phononic’s chill chips, efficiency is now survival. In this new era, intelligence isn’t just measured in tokens but in terawatts and temperature. The real limit? Heat. (MIT Technology Review)

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3. WHEN TRUTH BECOMES TREASON

If your leaders fear books more than bullets, they’re not protecting liberty, they’re editing the future. From defunding science to rewriting school curricula, a war on knowledge is unfolding. This isn’t austerity; it’s control by deletion. When truth becomes optional, democracy falters. In a world erasing its memory, the most radical act is remembering, clearly, defiantly, and together. (The Atlantic)

4. AI JUST FIRED YOUR VC—MEET THE ROBO-INVESTORS

VCs, your gut is no longer a competitive edge. QuantumLight just raised $250M to prove algorithms beat instinct. Backed by Revolut’s Nik Storonsky, the AI-led firm scans 10B data points to outpace human bias, every one of its 17 deals so far was machine-picked. As intuition gives way to playbooks and precision, the real question is: can human investors keep up, or are they already obsolete? (Sifted)

5. AI’S ALIVE? BRACE YOURSELF—IT’S COMING!

Forget sci-fi, your next coworker might outthink your PhD boss. AGI could arrive by 2027, with machines learning, adapting, and acting independently. Experts warn of self-replicating robots and unchecked worship of synthetic minds. As intelligence surpasses us, the real challenge isn’t building AGI, it’s managing it. Will we lead with wisdom, or bow to our own creation? (The New Atlantis)

Bring the World's Best Futurist to Your Next Event – Let’s Talk!

We’re entering a world where intelligence is synthetic, reality is augmented, and the rules are being rewritten in front of our eyes. In Synthetic Minds, I dive deep into these shifts, and I can bring these thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies to your next event. Recognized as the world's top futurist by Global Gurus and a Leading AI Voice by Salesforce, I help audiences think bigger, adapt faster, and embrace the future with confidence. Let’s talk. Just hit reply to book me for your next event!

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— Mark