#763 - John Twelve Hawks - A Free Human in an AI World. CERTAINTY
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John Twelve Hawks, the reclusive author of the New York Times bestseller *The Traveler*, returns to the spotlight with his latest novel, *Certainty*, a prescient exploration of artificial intelligence, surveillance, and the erosion of human authenticity in a hyper-connected world. What sets this conversation apart is Hawks' radical commitment to living anonymously for over two decades—not as a publicity stunt, but as a direct act of resistance against the surveillance state he warned about in his fiction. He reveals that his decision to vanish from public life was a moral imperative: if he was writing about the death of privacy, he couldn’t live as a public figure. Now, with AI reshaping reality at an unprecedented pace, Hawks argues that the real danger isn’t the technology itself, but the unconscious surrender of human agency to systems that shape our thoughts, emotions, and even grief—like hiring holograms of deceased loved ones to maintain emotional connections. He warns that AI isn’t just a tool for convenience; it’s a new kind of authority, more pervasive and insidious than any government, because it operates behind the scenes, manipulating our choices without us realizing it. Yet he remains hopeful, emphasizing that awareness is the first step to freedom.
Live an anonymous life as a form of resistance to surveillance—Hawks made this a moral choice, not a marketing ploy.
AI’s real danger isn’t malice, but its ability to subtly shape your thoughts, emotions, and choices without you realizing it.
The most powerful form of control isn’t force—it’s the illusion of freedom, where you believe you’re choosing, but the system is guiding you.
You can’t trust a system that controls access to information—like when AI blocks discussions on certain topics without explanation.
The future of human connection may involve holograms of the dead—this isn’t science fiction, it’s already happening.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Return of a Ghost Writer
The hosts kick off the episode with a nostalgic reflection on the podcast’s roots, the absurdity of modern air travel, and the upcoming Serpent Mound festival. They tease the arrival of John Twelve Hawks, whose mysterious persona and 20-year absence from public life have become legendary.
The Birth of a Legend: A Library in Vancouver
A listener recounts the moment they discovered *The Traveler* in a Vancouver library, a serendipitous encounter that launched a lifelong fascination with Hawks’ work. The hosts reflect on the pre-digital era of audiobooks and the ritual of physical media.
The Flight of the Free Human
The hosts vent about the absurdities of modern air travel—hidden fees, inefficient routes, and the rise of cramped, pod-like seating. They imagine a future where passengers are sedated and flown in coffin-like pods, a darkly humorous metaphor for the loss of autonomy.
Serpent Mound and the Art of the Real
The hosts promote the upcoming Serpent Mound festival, a four-day immersive event blending breathwork, star gazing, and gourmet cooking. They emphasize the value of real-world connection in a digital age, contrasting it with the curated online personas many maintain.
The Death of a Friend and the Rise of a Symbol
The hosts mourn the passing of Gordon White, a beloved figure in their community. A listener shares a synchronicity: after years of meditating, he discovered his long-time tattoo matched the symbol of *moksha*, a spiritual liberation he only recently understood.
“are making an all -powerful psychopath. whose goal is not necessarily going to be our comfort, whose goal is not to be switched off. All right? That's the system's concept of death.”
“I got off two stops later. I walked out of the platform, sat down on the bench and just laughed at my own stupidity and vanity as far as that goes. It was like, okay, I get her, not me. She will never know.”
“It isn't the fact you take the blue pill or the red pill, Darren. It's the fact whatever you take, you're not aware of it. Okay? It's all about awareness.”
Hosts
Guest
john twelve hawks
person
certainty
book
the traveler
book
serpent mound
other
easter island
place
scott brick
person
substack
other
gordon white
person
spark
book
georgetown university
organization
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