Sep 8, 2026 · 15 min
A sci-fi author asks what humans become after AI wins
EP 67: "Humanity Was Dead. 36 Survivors Remained." — A Sci-Fi Author on AI, War & Our Future | Douglas Swatski
The conversation connects a post-humanity war story to real questions about alignment, automation, labor, and human agency.
- 1AI may transform or replace familiar forms of human labor, from software work to warehouse operations.
- 2Engaging with AI at a practical level can help people adapt instead of treating technological change as something to fear.
- 3Human choices remain pivotal in shaping whether an AI-driven future preserves a meaningful role for humanity.
Don't miss
Douglas J. Swatski frames humanity as the fulcrum in an AI-shaped future, making human choices central rather than incidental.
The brief
Science-fiction author Douglas J. Swatski discusses a novel where two alien AI civilizations wage war, leaving a small group of humans to shape what comes next.
The story narrows an existential crisis to Jack and Sophie, whose survival and relationship give emotional weight to questions about connection after humanity’s collapse.
Swatski treats AI as both an extension of human innovation and a possible force beyond ordinary tools, especially as automation reaches software and physical labor.
The practical advice is less dramatic but more immediate: learn the AI relevant to daily life, use available information, and replace fear with engagement.
The episode’s central claim is that humanity remains a fulcrum, with its choices—not technological inevitability alone—helping determine the future.
Featuring
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