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What Happens Next? Conversations from MARS
The most innovative minds in science and technology reveal a vision for the future of life on Earth - and beyond.
Every year, 200 experts across machine learning, automation, robotics, and space arrive in Palm Springs for MARS - the yearly, invitation-only event hosted by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos - to share new ideas about how these four fields will shape our future.
In What Happens Next: Conversations from MARS, TV host and maker of things Adam Savage (MythBusters) takes listeners deep inside the MARS conference. In interviews with more than a dozen leading scientists and thinkers - including former astronaut Mike Massimino, iRobot co-founder Rodney Brooks, Dava Newman (former deputy administrator of NASA), Oren Etzioni (CEO, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence), futurist Kate Compton, and Caleb Harper (director of the Open Agriculture initiative at MIT) - Savage explores the mind-blowing and often misunderstood ways in which science and innovation are transforming the way we live, work, and play.
Full of wonder, optimism, and plain old awesomeness, What Happens Next will be a revelation for anyone who’s ever wondered about what our future will look like and how we’ll get there.
2 hours 50 minutes
Every year, 200 experts across machine learning, automation, robotics, and space arrive in Palm Springs for MARS - the yearly, invitation-only event hosted by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos - to share new ideas about how these four fields will shape our future.
In What Happens Next: Conversations from MARS, TV host and maker of things Adam Savage (MythBusters) takes listeners deep inside the MARS conference. In interviews with more than a dozen leading scientists and thinkers - including former astronaut Mike Massimino, iRobot co-founder Rodney Brooks, Dava Newman (former deputy administrator of NASA), Oren Etzioni (CEO, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence), futurist Kate Compton, and Caleb Harper (director of the Open Agriculture initiative at MIT) - Savage explores the mind-blowing and often misunderstood ways in which science and innovation are transforming the way we live, work, and play.
Full of wonder, optimism, and plain old awesomeness, What Happens Next will be a revelation for anyone who’s ever wondered about what our future will look like and how we’ll get there.
2 hours 50 minutes
170 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 27, 2018
9 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Adam Savage
11 books384 followersAdam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 26, 2020
The author geeked out at a conference that explores a wishlist of gadgets that may be useful in our futures. He interviewed people who are working on, and have already developed, some of these new technologies. Interesting and wildly optimistic presentation, but necessarily quite cursory.
January 19, 2019
"...full of wonder, optimism, and plain old awesomeness"
MARS is a yearly conference of 200 experts in Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space.
This 2hr and 40min gem of a listen gives you a peek inside the conference, with snippets of conversation with some of the incredibly bright, inquisitive, and passionate people who attend the conference.
I loved listening to this! It was totally inspiring and uplifting - brilliant minds, passionate people, the coolest ideas, all focused on solving BIG problems for a better future.
This listen would be enjoyed by both geeks and non-geeks alike! It's presented in a way that was easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts (mostly!🤣).
The narrator/interviewer Adam Savage's enthusiasm is infectious! I dare you to not get excited along with Adam as he interviews these inspiring individuals and explores the realms of what's possible for the future!
(Adam is an American special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and television personality, known as the former co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters.)
MARS is a yearly conference of 200 experts in Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space.
This 2hr and 40min gem of a listen gives you a peek inside the conference, with snippets of conversation with some of the incredibly bright, inquisitive, and passionate people who attend the conference.
I loved listening to this! It was totally inspiring and uplifting - brilliant minds, passionate people, the coolest ideas, all focused on solving BIG problems for a better future.
This listen would be enjoyed by both geeks and non-geeks alike! It's presented in a way that was easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts (mostly!🤣).
The narrator/interviewer Adam Savage's enthusiasm is infectious! I dare you to not get excited along with Adam as he interviews these inspiring individuals and explores the realms of what's possible for the future!
(Adam is an American special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and television personality, known as the former co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters.)
April 19, 2019
A fascinating look at the future of technology. Adam Savage does an outstanding job as creator and host, interviewing some of the smartest people doing some mind-blowing work. Savage is just so on fire with learning and discovery that you can't help but get excited along with him.
January 4, 2019
Wonderful optimistic view is what it's to come in STEM.
November 17, 2019
Absolutely fascinating. I feel smarter just having this book in my library.
December 5, 2019
This was so intriguing and inspiring. A good dose of hope amidst all the wrongs in the world. A reminder that there are so many intellectual minds & good hearts dedicating their lives to figuring out solutions to the problems we face.
January 19, 2020
It's OK, you might know a lot of stuff already, and it feels very podcasty, but still not a bad book if you have couple hours to kill.
February 5, 2024
#WhatHappensNextConversationsFromMars by #AdamSavage Book #6 of the year 2024
I expected a SciFi! 😁 It's a "conversation" with various people working on AI, ML, space, robotics etc attending the yearly conference MARS, organised by Jeff Bezos of Amazon. This is from the year 2018 and hence quite jaded where technology is concerned. The enthusiasm in the narrator's voice kept the book going. Ok to read.
I expected a SciFi! 😁 It's a "conversation" with various people working on AI, ML, space, robotics etc attending the yearly conference MARS, organised by Jeff Bezos of Amazon. This is from the year 2018 and hence quite jaded where technology is concerned. The enthusiasm in the narrator's voice kept the book going. Ok to read.
January 14, 2019
Read a lot like a podcast and less like an actual audiobook. But I suppose those lines are blurring nowadays with trends from Audible.
Very light touchpoint on multiple futurism topics: AI, space travel, recycling and the future of material. Interesting stuff but not nearly enough for anyone who has discussed these items at any length. Could work well with friends and family who have never heard the term AI before.
Very light touchpoint on multiple futurism topics: AI, space travel, recycling and the future of material. Interesting stuff but not nearly enough for anyone who has discussed these items at any length. Could work well with friends and family who have never heard the term AI before.
June 13, 2020
Better than I expected as most future focused discussions I’ve seen elsewhere are pretty mundane. This one is not bad with some depth on some topics and some breadth on its coverage including some I haven’t thought about.
February 9, 2021
This was an interesting short presentation. Adam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters.
MARS is "a yearly event hosted by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos. MARS brings together innovative minds in Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space to share new ideas across these rapidly advancing domains."
Adam Savage:
What Happens Next? Conversations from MARS is presented in an audio format. There are 10 episodes in total, ranging from ~11mins - ~22mins in length. They are:
1) Going to MARS
2) Encode your best life
3) Technology is a superpower
4) The problem with AI might be us
5) Rise of the robots
6) Hacking healthcare
7) Making a maker
8) World in a box
9) Finding ourselves in the final frontier
10) Air your dirty laundry
Episode 3 talks about a new spacesuit technology, called a "mechanical counterpressure suit." Savage mentions that it exerts 1/3 of the pressure of Earth's atmosphere at sea level, which is the amount of pressure needed in the vacuum of space to keep our bodies fluids liquid, and stay alive. This design will allow for greater mobility and maneuverability in space, compared to traditional "balloon-type" designs.
MIT Aeronautics researcher Dava Newman's "Biosuit":
Episode 5 talks about the uncanny valley; a "hypothesized relationship between the degree of an object's resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to such an object. The concept suggests that humanoid objects which imperfectly resemble actual human beings provoke uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers. "Valley" denotes a dip in the human observer's affinity for the replica, a relation that otherwise increases with the replica's human likeness."
Find this creepy? It's a good example of the "Uncanny Valley":
An empirically estimated uncanny valley for static robot face images :
For a short, podcast-type presentation, Savage did a decent job with this material.
I enjoyed these episodes and would recommend this one to anyone interested.
4 stars.
MARS is "a yearly event hosted by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos. MARS brings together innovative minds in Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space to share new ideas across these rapidly advancing domains."
Adam Savage:
What Happens Next? Conversations from MARS is presented in an audio format. There are 10 episodes in total, ranging from ~11mins - ~22mins in length. They are:
1) Going to MARS
2) Encode your best life
3) Technology is a superpower
4) The problem with AI might be us
5) Rise of the robots
6) Hacking healthcare
7) Making a maker
8) World in a box
9) Finding ourselves in the final frontier
10) Air your dirty laundry
Episode 3 talks about a new spacesuit technology, called a "mechanical counterpressure suit." Savage mentions that it exerts 1/3 of the pressure of Earth's atmosphere at sea level, which is the amount of pressure needed in the vacuum of space to keep our bodies fluids liquid, and stay alive. This design will allow for greater mobility and maneuverability in space, compared to traditional "balloon-type" designs.
MIT Aeronautics researcher Dava Newman's "Biosuit":
Episode 5 talks about the uncanny valley; a "hypothesized relationship between the degree of an object's resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to such an object. The concept suggests that humanoid objects which imperfectly resemble actual human beings provoke uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers. "Valley" denotes a dip in the human observer's affinity for the replica, a relation that otherwise increases with the replica's human likeness."
Find this creepy? It's a good example of the "Uncanny Valley":
An empirically estimated uncanny valley for static robot face images :
For a short, podcast-type presentation, Savage did a decent job with this material.
I enjoyed these episodes and would recommend this one to anyone interested.
4 stars.
March 26, 2019
Este relato habla de MARS, el evento anual de Jeff Bezos para hablar de tecnología enfocada en cuatro áreas concretas: aprendizaje de máquinas, automatización, robots y exploración espacial. Hablar de estos temas es hablar inevitablemente de peligros reales e inmediatos como la privacidad y la pérdida de empleos por la automatización y también de peligros improbables como la tan temida autoconsciencia de las máquinas.
Pero también es hablar de inspiración, de creatividad y de ingenio. De trabajo en equipo y multidisciplinario, de intercambio de conocimientos y de un fin común: solucionar los grandes problemas de la humanidad. En ese sentido, el futuro luce retador pero a la vez excitante. De la mano de Adam Savage, los capítulos nos llevan a entrevistas con gente interesante y prototipos de tecnología que ya son una realidad. Algoritmos que tratan de mejorarnos como seres humanos, tecnología en forma de ropa e interfaces para perfeccionar nuestro cuerpo y mente como superhéroes, robots que nos acompañan en nuestras vidas, aplicaciones sorprendentes con impresoras 3D, huertos automatizados y personalizados, viajes espaciales a bajo costo. Un futuro incierto, pero uno donde yo, al igual que Adam Savage, si quisiera vivir.
He tratado de incluir en resumen con más detalle en mi blog personal, por si alguno le interesa.
Pero también es hablar de inspiración, de creatividad y de ingenio. De trabajo en equipo y multidisciplinario, de intercambio de conocimientos y de un fin común: solucionar los grandes problemas de la humanidad. En ese sentido, el futuro luce retador pero a la vez excitante. De la mano de Adam Savage, los capítulos nos llevan a entrevistas con gente interesante y prototipos de tecnología que ya son una realidad. Algoritmos que tratan de mejorarnos como seres humanos, tecnología en forma de ropa e interfaces para perfeccionar nuestro cuerpo y mente como superhéroes, robots que nos acompañan en nuestras vidas, aplicaciones sorprendentes con impresoras 3D, huertos automatizados y personalizados, viajes espaciales a bajo costo. Un futuro incierto, pero uno donde yo, al igual que Adam Savage, si quisiera vivir.
He tratado de incluir en resumen con más detalle en mi blog personal, por si alguno le interesa.
August 1, 2019
The first time I tried to listen to this, I turned it off less than an hour in, as I found the relentless optimism depressing. Ironically, the part immediately after that addressed some of the cautions that were on my mind, though at a somewhat minimal level. This piece is very much a cheerleader for the technology of the future. Some of it is abstract, why-d0-we-need-that, but most of it has clear and obvious applications that could improve the world for people (and some of it is already in use for that).
It's the sort of piece where parts of it will age well, and feel relevant ten years from now, and other parts will be out of date in a year or less. Still, it's nice to listen to something news-like with a hopeful message for a change.
Adam Savage is an excellent narrator, unsurprisingly.
Audible Originals Scorecard:
Good: 3
Mediocre: 1
Bad: 2
(Side note: both of the bad ones were in the thriller genre; the good and mediocre ones were all non-fiction)
It's the sort of piece where parts of it will age well, and feel relevant ten years from now, and other parts will be out of date in a year or less. Still, it's nice to listen to something news-like with a hopeful message for a change.
Adam Savage is an excellent narrator, unsurprisingly.
Audible Originals Scorecard:
Good: 3
Mediocre: 1
Bad: 2
(Side note: both of the bad ones were in the thriller genre; the good and mediocre ones were all non-fiction)
March 11, 2020
Review of What Happens Next by Adam Savage:
Adam Savage is one of the guys behind Myth Busters. The audiobook (If it can be called one, as it is very short) is interesting, however, it felt more like a podcast than a proper audiobook, and I feel it would have been even better made into a YouTube series, as there were many instances in the audiobook where they went into painstaking detail in describing things that are in front of them at a major futuristic event called MARS, which the book revolves around. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are keen on learning about some of the technologies that we will have in the future (distant and not so distant future). The audiobook gives examples of how technological advancements could and should be used to improve our lives and to help humanity navigate the challenges of the present and the future.
Rating: 5/10
Adam Savage is one of the guys behind Myth Busters. The audiobook (If it can be called one, as it is very short) is interesting, however, it felt more like a podcast than a proper audiobook, and I feel it would have been even better made into a YouTube series, as there were many instances in the audiobook where they went into painstaking detail in describing things that are in front of them at a major futuristic event called MARS, which the book revolves around. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are keen on learning about some of the technologies that we will have in the future (distant and not so distant future). The audiobook gives examples of how technological advancements could and should be used to improve our lives and to help humanity navigate the challenges of the present and the future.
Rating: 5/10
March 25, 2022
My first audible listen. Must listen for the ones interested in tech domains and outer space. Very enthusiastically and articulately explained. Even though this conference states highlights of four years before today, it is great to know how far we have come, and yet there is so much more to find out. Rightly pointed out the gap between what goes on in labs and what is explained to the common media. The lesser the gap, the more we are aware, the more biases and scares would reduce with respect to automation and robotics, thus resulting in the masses acceptance towards ever evolving technology advancements.
It's always exciting to know about how little we know and there is so much more to know - limitless.
It's always exciting to know about how little we know and there is so much more to know - limitless.
August 29, 2025
M A.R.S.
Machine-Learning
Automation
Robotics
Space-Exploration
If you want to learn more about new technologies, get a preview of what's on the horizon, set your sights on where you should possibly (probably) invest your money, or just get a sneak peek into an exclusive science conference where only a select few of the elite movers & shakers of the world are invited - get this book.
Adam Savage's infectious wonder permeates his stories during an ecstatic romp through the three-day conference (Savage was invited to show/display some of his work/suits) joyfully discussing innovation with the forward-thinking inventors, scientists, researchers, and makers leading the wave of new technologies.
Machine-Learning
Automation
Robotics
Space-Exploration
If you want to learn more about new technologies, get a preview of what's on the horizon, set your sights on where you should possibly (probably) invest your money, or just get a sneak peek into an exclusive science conference where only a select few of the elite movers & shakers of the world are invited - get this book.
Adam Savage's infectious wonder permeates his stories during an ecstatic romp through the three-day conference (Savage was invited to show/display some of his work/suits) joyfully discussing innovation with the forward-thinking inventors, scientists, researchers, and makers leading the wave of new technologies.
December 31, 2018
This is actually a really fun book, in a very geeky kinda way... and Wow, it's done by Adam Savage the co-host of MythBusters! The show that ran for years on Discovery channel, and I never missed an episode! I've been keeping tabs on Adam... his love for making things, his YouTube videos where he might interview an author, such as Andy Weir, or do a terribly geeky build, or having fun at a SciFi convention...
This book just highlighted Adam Savage's excitement for all things cutting-edge science, from advanced A.I. and robotics to the health sciences, thinking outside the box, Maker Spaces, and the book ends by talking about space and space travel.
This book is very listener friendly. It's set up more like a podcast or Ted Talks, so I (a non-scientific type) could understand and enjoy this book
This book just highlighted Adam Savage's excitement for all things cutting-edge science, from advanced A.I. and robotics to the health sciences, thinking outside the box, Maker Spaces, and the book ends by talking about space and space travel.
This book is very listener friendly. It's set up more like a podcast or Ted Talks, so I (a non-scientific type) could understand and enjoy this book
February 15, 2023
Although I normally make allowances for conference interviews (the audio can be crappy) Adam Savage actually made the experience better. That is why I gave this audiobook 5 stars. He really pulled it off, keeping my attention focused and pointing out the major accomplishments (and potential accomplishments) for technology.
This was a great presentation of a conference of various disciplines in science and engineering regarding space exploration, but including applications that could very well make our lives better, especially for the handicapped and the elderly.
I'll probably listen to this audiobook again.
This was a great presentation of a conference of various disciplines in science and engineering regarding space exploration, but including applications that could very well make our lives better, especially for the handicapped and the elderly.
I'll probably listen to this audiobook again.
March 24, 2022
I was thinking about the upcoming re:MARS conference which got me thinking about this audiobook by Adam Savage from 2018. Which inspired me to listen to it again.
https://twitter.com/Yoakum/status/150...
I strongly recommend it. It is still inspiring and fun to hear. I only wish Adam would do another. Or maybe do one using the same format but for re:MARS. Give us a view of the differences between the private MARS conference for the rich and famous and the public (at a cost) conference for the rest of the world.
https://twitter.com/Yoakum/status/150...
I strongly recommend it. It is still inspiring and fun to hear. I only wish Adam would do another. Or maybe do one using the same format but for re:MARS. Give us a view of the differences between the private MARS conference for the rich and famous and the public (at a cost) conference for the rest of the world.
January 17, 2019
Adam Savage is always great, and he doesn't let us down in this one either.
He skates over a few science topics that may push humanity further, such as AI, machine learning, space travel, inventing stuff, with several interviews to go. Nothing deep, but quite entertaining, and it makes you think a little bit here and there, with the general theme being creativity.
Recommended if you need a short read.
He skates over a few science topics that may push humanity further, such as AI, machine learning, space travel, inventing stuff, with several interviews to go. Nothing deep, but quite entertaining, and it makes you think a little bit here and there, with the general theme being creativity.
Recommended if you need a short read.
March 23, 2019
A short read, but well put together. I listened to the audio version, which is a delight as it is narrated by Savage. His enthusiasm and genuine love of this domain makes for an awesome read(listen).
Over the nearly three hour audiobook, I learned of all sorts of exciting developments including insightful views on the current state of AI.
When all is said and done, I ended the book with a desire to know more and a sense of optimism for the future potential of science and STEM.
Over the nearly three hour audiobook, I learned of all sorts of exciting developments including insightful views on the current state of AI.
When all is said and done, I ended the book with a desire to know more and a sense of optimism for the future potential of science and STEM.
July 21, 2019
Adam Savage is so cool! Does being invited to the ultra-exclusive yearly conference hosted by Jeff Bezos make him any cooler? Yes, it does! Does him geeking out and telling us about all of the cool people that he met and the even cooler things that they are doing make him one of the coolest people on Earth? Abso-fucking-lutely! The fact that he can name drop Chris Hadfield in a conversation and make it not sound pretentious is also cool.
August 2, 2021
This was a fantastic listen and Adam Savage was the perfect narrator for it! An Audible Original filled with so much exciting and wonderful information from the MARS conference that demonstrates how far our technology has come and how close we are to a brighter future. The amazing things that robots can already do, the wonders a 3D printer can already achieve, and artificial climate control to help plan a better environment for tomorrow. I will no doubt be listening to this one again!
Read
October 15, 2024Adam Savage is the perfect uncritical cheerleader for an event like this. Every sales pitch is fantastic and bound to happen soon. Invest now.
An invite only conference from Bezos (of Amazon), who also owns Audible (creator of this track), as well as Goodreads itself. Investigating the ownership structures in these companies and sales pitches would likely reveal exactly what you'd expect but that's not on the menu, because this exists to be consumed with 'optimism'.
An invite only conference from Bezos (of Amazon), who also owns Audible (creator of this track), as well as Goodreads itself. Investigating the ownership structures in these companies and sales pitches would likely reveal exactly what you'd expect but that's not on the menu, because this exists to be consumed with 'optimism'.
January 3, 2019
This wasn’t at all what I’d expected as I’d never heard of the conference MARS (I thought the audiobook was about the planet). Adam Savage, the Mythbusters host, interviews erudite presenters about artificial intelligence, robotics, and creative solutions to world problems. One of the better Audible Originals.
May 26, 2019
Most of these innovators act like they have no idea of the actual problems most people face. How about sending some of that innovation to suffering people? The only decent person in this book was the woman making 3D printed medical and rescue equipment for communities impacted by disaster and poverty. The rest sound like ignorant, elitist, ablist blowhards.
March 6, 2020
Interesting quote from the book - What Happens Next - Conversations from MARS
When you ask an Engineer to think out of the box they first start creating the box.
Don't waste time telling crazy people that they are crazy, they will never agree with you
Any innovator worth is salt makes tons of mistakes, and we should celebrate this.
don't be afraid of sharing your dirty laundry
When you ask an Engineer to think out of the box they first start creating the box.
Don't waste time telling crazy people that they are crazy, they will never agree with you
Any innovator worth is salt makes tons of mistakes, and we should celebrate this.
don't be afraid of sharing your dirty laundry
April 21, 2020
This was such an optimistic book that looked at how science and technology could give us important answers to contemporary problems. Always a pleasure to encounter one of the Mythbusters' team members in other roles, and Adam is a wonderful facilitator with a curious disposition. Recommended for those who want to sci-tech from a meta-perspective.
May 10, 2020
It only took me 2 hours in less than 3 days to complete this wonderful book.
This book is currently offered free on Audible for Premium user and is narrated by a "king of nerds" Adam Savage, who is famously known for his "Mythbuster" Series.
I was fascinated by the charming voice of one of the most enthusiast and admirer of future technology and science.
This book is currently offered free on Audible for Premium user and is narrated by a "king of nerds" Adam Savage, who is famously known for his "Mythbuster" Series.
I was fascinated by the charming voice of one of the most enthusiast and admirer of future technology and science.
October 30, 2020
An awesome review of an annual review of a Mars symposium presenting and discussing different technological advancements currently used and future projects . Heard it as an audiobook, and loved it's exciting presentation, similar to a long podcast interviewing scientists, researchers, and dreamers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews