25 Years Of The 21st Century [Sideways]

show more detail show less detail

In this series, we're remembering some of the big events of this century and asking how they're shaping us.

A panel of experts joins Matthew Syed to evaluate the first 25 years of the 21st century.

Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years.

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

The Age Of Digital Warfare

20250106

20250115 (R4)

In this series, we're remembering some of the major events of this century and asking how they're shaping us. This programme is all about war and conflict: from the events of September 11th 2001, to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. We're also looking at artificial intelligence on the battlefield. Where might that take us?

Matthew is joined by historian and writer Margaret MacMillan, former Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Nick Carter and author, Professor Anthony King.

Production team

Editor: Sara Wadeson

Producers: Marianna Brain, Emma Close, Michaela Graichen, Arlene Gregorius

Sound: Tom Brignell

Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison

Archive

Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007

[LISTEN NOW]

The Age Of Mistrust

20250107

20250122 (R4)

This programme is all about trust. Have we lost faith in institutions, politicians, even money? Some people say there is an onslaught of misinformation and a battle for truth. So who do we trust now?

Matthew is joined by Margaret MacMillan a historian and author, Rachel Botsman the author of three books on trust and Helen Margetts, a Professor of Society and the Internet at the University of Oxford.

Production team

Editor: Sara Wadeson

Producers: Marianna Brain, Emma Close, Michaela Graichen

Sound: Tom Brignell

Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison

Archive

Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007

The Age of Mistrust. A panel of experts joins Matthew Syed.

Have we lost faith in institutions, politicians - and even money?

Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode two he asks have we lost faith in institutions, politicians - and even money?

[LISTEN NOW]

The Age Of Outsourcing

20250108

20250129 (R4)

Is this the age of outsourcing?

This is not a show about call centres in India. Rather, it's a look at a much deeper shift in who we are, how we think, and where value is created. In some ways, it's the most dizzying and philosophical shift of all.

In this episode, we attempt to understand outsourcing at the macro level - how corporations have outsourced so much that they've become hollow. And we look at the micro level - how we've outsourced our minds and memories to technology.

Contributors

Margaret MacMillan, Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford and author of several acclaimed books.

James Williams is an author and technology advisor. He worked for Google for more than 10 years where he received the Founders Award for his work on search advertising. He's the author of Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy.

John Key is author of The Corporation in the 21st Century. He's a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a columnist for the Financial Times.

Production team

Editor: Sara Wadeson

Producers: Emma Close, Marianna Brain, Michaela Graichen

Sound: Tom Brignell

Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison

Archive

Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007

Have we outsourced our memories to our phones?

Matthew Syed and guests discuss some of the big changes this century. In this episode, he asks have we outsourced our memories to our phones?

[LISTEN NOW]

The Age Of Changing Families

20250109

20250205 (R4)

As we swipe to find love and consult chatbot therapists, Matthew Syed asks how technology has altered the way we approach dating, friendship and community.

It's not all technology, though. Key changes in social trends, medical innovations, demography and economic factors have also played a part in how people live. How have relationships changed in the past 25 years?

Contributors

Margaret MacMillan, Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford and author of several acclaimed books.

Meghan Nolan, an Irish novelist and journalist based in New York.

Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and a fellow at University College.

Production team

Editor: Sara Wadeson

Producers: Emma Close, Marianna Brain, Michaela Graichen

Sound: Tom Brignell

Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison

Archive

Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007

What is technology doing to something as human as forming relationships?

Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode four, he asks how technology has altered the way we approach dating and friendship.

[LISTEN NOW]

05 LAST

The Age Of Artificial Intelligence

20250110

20250212 (R4)

Geoffrey Hinton's work laid the foundation for today's artificial intelligence systems. His research on neural networks has paved the way for current AI systems like ChatGPT.

In artificial intelligence, neural networks are systems that are similar to the human brain in the way they learn and process information. They enable artificial intelligence to learn from experience, as human beings would.

But Geoffrey Hinton has warned that machines could one day outsmart humans. He has even warned that autonomous weapons could be active on the battlefields of the future. In this final episode of 25 Years of the 21st Century, Matthew Syed interviews Professor Hinton.

Historian and author Margaret MacMillan and Baroness Joanna Shields also join Matthew in discussion. Baroness Shields has been working in the field of technology for forty years, holding senior roles at both Google and Facebook. She was the UK's first Minister for Internet Safety and Security. She's also a Conservative life peer in the House of Lords. Does she agree with Geoffrey Hinton's concerns for the future?

For 25 Years of the 21st Century, is this the age of artificial intelligence?

Production team

Editor: Sara Wadeson

Producers: Michaela Graichen, Marianna Brain, Emma Close

Sound: Tom Brignell

Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison

Archive

Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007

Matthew interviews the 'Godfather of AI', Geoffrey Hinton

Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode five, he interviews the 'Godfather of AI', Professor Geoffrey Hinton.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Age Of Digital Warfare	20250106	20250115 (R4)	In this series, we're remembering some of the major events of this century and asking how they're shaping us. This programme is all about war and conflict: from the events of September 11th 2001, to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. We're also looking at artificial intelligence on the battlefield. Where might that take us? Matthew is joined by historian and writer Margaret MacMillan, former Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Nick Carter and author, Professor Anthony King. Production team Editor: Sara Wadeson Producers: Marianna Brain, Emma Close, Michaela Graichen, Arlene Gregorius Sound: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison Archive Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007 [LISTEN NOW]
02	The Age Of Mistrust	20250107	20250122 (R4)	This programme is all about trust. Have we lost faith in institutions, politicians, even money? Some people say there is an onslaught of misinformation and a battle for truth. So who do we trust now? Matthew is joined by Margaret MacMillan a historian and author, Rachel Botsman the author of three books on trust and Helen Margetts, a Professor of Society and the Internet at the University of Oxford. Production team Editor: Sara Wadeson Producers: Marianna Brain, Emma Close, Michaela Graichen Sound: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison Archive Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007 The Age of Mistrust. A panel of experts joins Matthew Syed. Have we lost faith in institutions, politicians - and even money? Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode two he asks have we lost faith in institutions, politicians - and even money? [LISTEN NOW]
03	The Age Of Outsourcing	20250108	20250129 (R4)	Is this the age of outsourcing? This is not a show about call centres in India. Rather, it's a look at a much deeper shift in who we are, how we think, and where value is created. In some ways, it's the most dizzying and philosophical shift of all. In this episode, we attempt to understand outsourcing at the macro level - how corporations have outsourced so much that they've become hollow. And we look at the micro level - how we've outsourced our minds and memories to technology. Contributors Margaret MacMillan, Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford and author of several acclaimed books. James Williams is an author and technology advisor. He worked for Google for more than 10 years where he received the Founders Award for his work on search advertising. He's the author of Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy. John Key is author of The Corporation in the 21st Century. He's a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a columnist for the Financial Times. Production team Editor: Sara Wadeson Producers: Emma Close, Marianna Brain, Michaela Graichen Sound: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison Archive Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007 Have we outsourced our memories to our phones? Matthew Syed and guests discuss some of the big changes this century. In this episode, he asks have we outsourced our memories to our phones? [LISTEN NOW]
04	The Age Of Changing Families	20250109	20250205 (R4)	As we swipe to find love and consult chatbot therapists, Matthew Syed asks how technology has altered the way we approach dating, friendship and community. It's not all technology, though. Key changes in social trends, medical innovations, demography and economic factors have also played a part in how people live. How have relationships changed in the past 25 years? Contributors Margaret MacMillan, Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford and author of several acclaimed books. Meghan Nolan, an Irish novelist and journalist based in New York. Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and a fellow at University College. Production team Editor: Sara Wadeson Producers: Emma Close, Marianna Brain, Michaela Graichen Sound: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison Archive Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007 What is technology doing to something as human as forming relationships? Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode four, he asks how technology has altered the way we approach dating and friendship. [LISTEN NOW]
05 LAST	The Age Of Artificial Intelligence	20250110	20250212 (R4)	Geoffrey Hinton's work laid the foundation for today's artificial intelligence systems. His research on neural networks has paved the way for current AI systems like ChatGPT. In artificial intelligence, neural networks are systems that are similar to the human brain in the way they learn and process information. They enable artificial intelligence to learn from experience, as human beings would. But Geoffrey Hinton has warned that machines could one day outsmart humans. He has even warned that autonomous weapons could be active on the battlefields of the future. In this final episode of 25 Years of the 21st Century, Matthew Syed interviews Professor Hinton. Historian and author Margaret MacMillan and Baroness Joanna Shields also join Matthew in discussion. Baroness Shields has been working in the field of technology for forty years, holding senior roles at both Google and Facebook. She was the UK's first Minister for Internet Safety and Security. She's also a Conservative life peer in the House of Lords. Does she agree with Geoffrey Hinton's concerns for the future? For 25 Years of the 21st Century, is this the age of artificial intelligence? Production team Editor: Sara Wadeson Producers: Michaela Graichen, Marianna Brain, Emma Close Sound: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison Archive Steve Jobs launches the Apple iPhone, 2007 Matthew interviews the 'Godfather of AI', Geoffrey Hinton Matthew and his guests look back at some of the big events of the past 25 years. In episode five, he interviews the 'Godfather of AI', Professor Geoffrey Hinton. [LISTEN NOW]