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Explore a unique documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them.
A Brief History of the Future is a unique six-part documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them. Hosted by renowned futurist Ari Wallach, the show invites viewers on a journey around the world that is filled with discovery, hope, and possibility about where we find ourselves today and what could come next.
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Supported by the Hoveida Family Foundation and The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation.
Support provided by:
Preview
Preview: Season 1 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
A Brief History of the Future is a unique six-part documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them. Hosted by renowned futurist Ari Wallach, the show invites viewers on a journey around the world that is filled with discovery, hope, and possibility about where we find ourselves today and what could come next.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch A Brief History of the Future
A Brief History of the Future is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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What It Means to Be Human
A Brief History of the Future explores the human ability to increase empathy and compassion, what values we are instilling into artificial intelligence technologies, and the need to create both a better world and a better humanity for life to flourish on this planet.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- When you hear the term, the future, what does that conjure up?
- What we do and the things we create over the next few decades will shape all minds going forward for the rest of time.
- I set out in search of people who are building better futures.
- Civilization is precious.
Life is precious.
- Hundreds of years from now, they're going to look back on our generation as the most pivotal in human history.
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Preview: S1 | 30s | Explore a unique documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them. (30s)
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Preview: S1 | 2m 27s | Explore a unique documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them. (2m 27s)
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Clip: Ep6 | 2m 47s | The importance of visualizing success as we work towards building better futures. (2m 47s)
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Preview: Ep6 | 30s | The world-changing power of asking, “What if?” (30s)
Ari Explores Various New Forms of Clean Energy
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Clip: Ep6 | 9m 44s | Ari visits Iceland, a country powered entirely by renewables. (9m 44s)
The Vital Importance of Better Infrastructure
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Clip: Ep5 | 3m 4s | Building better cities and transportation can influence human connection and cooperation. (3m 4s)
The Power of Deliberative Democracy
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Clip: Ep5 | 8m 52s | Ari explores forms of deliberative democracy around the world that empower citizens. (8m 52s)
The Future of Sustainable Housing
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Clip: Ep5 | 9m 35s | Ari explores better, more sustainable ways of living together going forward. (9m 35s)
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Clip: Ep5 | 1m 26s | 3D printed homes pose a potential solution to addressing the growing housing crisis. (1m 26s)
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Preview: Ep5 | 30s | How can we create futures that serve the needs of all people? (30s)
How New Forms of Human Augmentation Could Affect Our Brains
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Clip: Ep4 | 9m 9s | Ari tries a “third thumb” and explores how new tech is reshaping our idea of being human. (9m 9s)
How AI is Transforming How We Create and Engage with Art
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Clip: Ep4 | 8m 1s | Ari explores the powerful potential of AI to transform how we create art going forward. (8m 1s)
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Preview: Ep4 | 30s | What does it mean to be human in the 21st century? (30s)
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Preview: Ep3 | 30s | How do the stories we tell shape the boundaries of our beliefs about what is possible? (30s)
Diverse and Impactful Storytelling to Reimagine Our Futures
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Clip: Ep3 | 9m 59s | Ari visits a VFX studio to witness how technology is expanding storytelling limits. (9m 59s)
An Argument for a More Inclusive, Empowering Climate Story
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Clip: Ep3 | 9m 13s | Ellen MacArthur advocates for a more sustainable, circular economy model. (9m 13s)
Using Innovative Forms of Design to Transform Tomorrow
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Clip: Ep2 | 9m 18s | Ari explores the potential of using mycelium-based materials for sustainable products. (9m 18s)
How Moments of Complexity Offer Opportunities for Change
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Clip: Ep2 | 6m 11s | Ari explores how moments of tremendous change offer the opportunity for tremendous growth. (6m 11s)
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Preview: Ep2 | 30s | How do we make sense of today’s exponential rate of change and disruption? (30s)
Groundbreaking Clean Energy Technologies
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Clip: Ep1 | 8m 29s | Ari visits exciting, large-scale solar and nuclear energy solutions operating today. (8m 29s)
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Preview: Ep1 | 30s | What do we imagine when we think about the future? (30s)
Employing Long-Term Thinking to Empower Better Solutions
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Clip: Ep1 | 10m | Bren Smith shares his journey to promote sustainable practices in the fishing community. (10m)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
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Celebrate Latino cultural icons Cheech Marin, Rauw Alejandro, Rosie Perez, Gloria Trevi, and more!
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Supported by the Hoveida Family Foundation and The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation.