Future IQ

What if the secret to using ChatGPT wasn’t about coding, but about psychology? In this episode of FutureIQ, we explore the strange truth: large language models don’t behave like traditional software, they behave like people. Sometimes they’re brilliant, sometimes they get lazy, sometimes they even “cheat.” And just like humans, they respond to pressure, persuasion, and coaching.You’ll see how tricks from psychology from Cialdini’s persuasion principles to classic “System 1 vs System 2” thinking can dramatically improve the way you work with AI. Researchers are even experimenting with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) prompts for chatbots, while companies like Anthropic are quietly building “AI psychiatry” teams to deal with pathological cases.Why does this matter? Because the way you talk to an AI shapes the way it thinks. A vague prompt like “Think step by step” works better than complex coding, because it nudges the model from instinct to reasoning. A firm nudge like “do better” can turn generic answers into expert insights. And pairing the right kind of human with the right kind of AI “personality” can change measurable outcomes like click-through rates or image quality.The story is bigger than chatbots, it’s about us. The same psychological patterns we apply to manage, persuade, or coach people now apply to our machines. Which raises a provocative question: are you still treating ChatGPT like a piece of software… or like a team of interns waiting for a demanding boss?

How to become an expert? Who wins between talent and hard work? How many hours does it take to be an expert to be successful in life? We have discussed a very interesting concept of "Effort Shock" in this episode, which explains how to excel in life with less effort. Just like Bollywood songs where the lead becomes a super lead in a miraculous song. Check out this video, that explains whether you can become an expert fast? Hope you enjoyed FutureIQ by Navin Kabra and Shrikant Joshi. Do hit us up on Twitter: @ngkabra http://twitter.com/ngkabra @shrikant https://twitter.com/shrikant Listen it on the podcast provider of your choice: https://tapthe.link/FutureIQRSS Watch other episodes of The FutureIQ podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAppTB0r5_TaYueZ0adD42Wiw5X-wTE4v #futureiq #effortshock

Why are there only two sexes in humans and animals? In this episode, we explore the fascinating evolutionary and mathematical reasons behind the existence of just two sexes, and why sexual reproduction is so much more complex than simple bacterial splitting. You’ll discover how variation and diversity drive survival, why eggs and sperm evolved to be so different, how mitochondria shaped this process, and why evolution picked exactly two sexes instead of three or more. We also look at examples from yeast and plants, the problem of self-pollination, and how men and women’s bodies diverged through evolutionary pressures including the surprising Fisherian runaway effect. If you’ve ever wondered “Why does sex even exist?” this episode has the answers.

Why are people angrier than ever, even though the world has never been better? From road rage in India to global protests, frustration is everywhere. But here’s the paradox: as societies improve, we actually become less tolerant of the flaws that remain. This is called the Perfection Paradox, the closer we get to progress, the more even tiny imperfections feel unbearable.In this episode of Future IQ, we explore why improved roads make us complain about potholes, why better safety makes us obsess over minor crimes, and why history shows revolutions often happen during times of progress, not decline. Backed by psychology experiments and real-world examples, this episode uncovers why we keep finding new things to be unhappy about and how to focus on the real issues without losing optimism.

In this video, we explain how to use a credit card smartly and wisely in India. You’ll learn the top tips to use a credit card responsibly, avoid common mistakes, and take full advantage of the benefits of credit card use. From managing bills on time, understanding interest rates, and using credit cards wisely, this guide will help you build a strong credit score and use your credit card effectively. Perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to know how to manage a credit card wisely in India.

Have you ever gone back to a video, a book, or even a conversation and realized you remembered almost nothing from it? It feels like your brain has failed you but what if forgetting isn’t failure at all? In this episode of FutureIQ, we explore why your mind doesn’t work like a hard drive, storing neat little files forever, but more like a compiler, constantly rewriting and updating the way you see the world.From Paul Graham’s reflections on books to the science of memory and the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, we uncover why the details slip away but the deeper patterns stay behind, quietly shaping how you think. This is why you suddenly start seeing “incentive design” or “preference cascades” everywhere your brain has been primed, even if you can’t recall the source. Psychologists call this the Baader Meinhof effect, but you’ll simply experience it as the world looking different after exposure.And here’s the twist: even if you forget the content of a FutureIQ episode, the Algorithm doesn’t. By watching, you teach YouTube what to feed you next, nudging your entire digital environment toward smarter ideas. Forgetting, paradoxically, may be the very reason the learning sticks—because it seeps into your intuition, into the part of you that acts without thinking.This episode is about why forgetting isn’t the enemy of knowledge, but the engine of wisdom.

Why do crowds so often lose their minds? History is full of moments when ordinary people, once gathered together, transformed into something uncontrollable, such as riots, lynch mobs, revolutions, stampedes, or even the tulip mania of 17th-century Holland. But today, the most dangerous crowds are no longer in the streets. They’re online.Digital mobs, cancel culture, trolling campaigns, and viral pile-ons can erupt faster, spread wider, and hit harder than any physical crowd ever could. Anonymity lowers empathy, algorithms amplify outrage, and group belonging fuels the fire. What begins with a few angry voices can quickly cascade into a storm where responsibility disappears and cruelty thrives.In this episode of Future IQ, we explore the strange psychology behind why people behave so differently in groups than they do alone. From Freud’s theories to modern neuroscience, from stock market bubbles to Instagram’s “kindness prompts,” the story reveals how easily crowds can tip into madness and how small design choices can make them wise again.This is not just about history or theory. It’s about the world we live in right now, every time we log in.

Is democracy really the rule of the majority, or is it actually controlled by a small and determined minority? In this episode of Future IQ, we explore a fascinating idea backed by research: it often takes just 3.5% of people to change the world. From food laws and lifestyle bans to powerful social movements and revolutions, history shows how minorities can quietly reshape society while the majority goes along without resistance.We’ll uncover why this happens, how preference falsification, spiral of silence, and the psychology of influence allow small groups to dominate, and why governments often bend to minority demands even when the majority disagrees. You’ll also learn why non-violent movements succeed far more than violent ones, and why “the most intolerant wins” has become a hidden rule of modern democracy.This episode connects politics, psychology, and real-world examples from schools banning certain foods to nations transformed by peaceful protests. If you’ve ever wondered how small groups set the rules for everyone, and what it means for the future of democracy, this discussion will challenge everything you thought you knew.

Everyone knows India became independent on 15th August 1947… or do we? In this episode of Future IQ, we dig into the chaos, quirks, and downright bizarre twists that made our freedom day far from straightforward. Why was 15th August picked in the first place? Why did Pakistan originally share the same date — and then suddenly change it? How did we celebrate Independence without even knowing where our borders were? And why do some people in West Bengal still raise the flag on 18th August? From secret political manoeuvres to last-minute map changes and a date chosen because of World War II drama, this is the wild, untold story of the week India and Pakistan were born. Trust us — after this, you’ll never look at 15th August the same way again.

In this episode of Future IQ, we dive into the fascinating yet dangerous economic trap known as the “Tragedy of the Commons”, a phenomenon that explains why shared resources almost always end up overused and degraded. From 19th-century British pastures where farmers overgrazed their livestock, to modern-day internet bandwidth battles and groundwater depletion in fast-growing cities, the pattern is eerily consistent across history and geography. We explore how human psychology, short-term incentives, and flawed governance systems combine to make people act against their own long-term interests and why even intelligent, well-meaning communities fall into this trap. Backed by real-world research and striking historical parallels, this episode reveals why the commons fail, why some societies manage to break the cycle, and what it really takes to protect shared wealth before it disappears forever.

Why is dog poop still all over our streets? Why can’t we clean the Ganga despite all the awareness campaigns? Why do smart people often do dumb things, and why do government offices stay inefficient no matter how many rules we pass? The answer lies in one word: incentives.In this episode of Future IQ, we dive deep into the unseen force that shapes almost every human action, from corporate boardrooms to dirty streets, from classrooms to government offices. You'll learn why good behavior doesn't always come naturally and why people often act against logic, reason, or even their own values. But more importantly, you’ll discover how smartly designed incentives can fix broken systems, improve lives, and even trick you into doing things you never thought you could stick to.Yes, incentives aren’t just for governments and corporations. You can actually use the same principles to hack your own behavior. Whether it’s building a gym habit, eating better, staying productive, or managing your money, your brain responds to incentives in predictable ways. And once you learn how to design them, you can steer yourself toward long-term success without relying on motivation or willpower.We’ll also explore how incentives can backfire, create corruption, and ruin good intentions if they’re misused or misaligned (hello, Goodhart’s Law!). From convict ships in the 1800s to behavioral nudges in public health, this episode is packed with surprising, real-world stories that’ll change the way you look at human behavior.

You’re being persuaded every day — by ads, by experts, by friends, by strangers in suits — and most of the time, you don’t even realize it. Nearly half of all human activity is persuasion. It’s happening in conversations, in headlines, in the way choices are framed. And unless you know how it works, you’re not deciding — you’re being directed. In this episode of Future IQ, we go deep into the science of persuasion — not just how it works, but why it works on you. Drawing from the psychological “Bible” of influence, we break down two of its most powerful principles: Authority and Scarcity. You’ll hear how a man in a suit can make a crowd jaywalk, how actors in lab coats influence your medical choices, and why a nearly empty cookie jar messes with your brain. From the shocking obedience revealed in the Milgram experiments to luxury cars getting VIP treatment at green lights, this episode exposes just how easily our minds surrender to signals of power and urgency. The scariest part? These tactics work even when we think they don’t. Especially when we think they don’t. This isn’t just a breakdown of manipulation techniques. It’s a cognitive self-defense class. If you don’t understand persuasion, you're not protected from it. This is Part Two of our deep dive on persuasion. If you haven’t already, check out Part One now live on the channel — then come back and level up your mental Armor.

You’re being persuaded right now and you don’t even know it. Every ad, every social post, every “limited time offer” is part of an invisible war for your attention, trust, and choices. In this powerful episode of Future IQ, we reveal the psychological weapons of persuasion that shape your decisions even the ones you think are completely your own.What if we told you that 25% of the entire global economy runs on just one thing: persuasion? And that number shoots up to 40% when we include everyday interactions, like negotiating with your boss, convincing your partner, or simply trying to get your kid to eat veggies. It’s more than the time we spend eating or sleeping. Yet... no one teaches us how it works.We break down the 6 legendary principles of persuasion from Robert Cialdini’s book Influence, backed by science and tested for over 40 years. Discover why free gifts aren’t really free, how scarcity hijacks your brain, and why we trust people who simply dress better. Real-world case studies — from Amway to Jonestown to Reddit sock-puppets, reveal how persuasion techniques are used for good and evil.Whether you're a marketer, a manager, or just someone trying to not get scammed by clever salespeople, this episode will open your eyes to how easily you can be influenced... and how you can protect yourself.

Ever wondered if those massive online sales like Amazon Prime Day, Flipkart Big Billion Days, Myntra’s End of Reason Sale or GOAT Sales are really helping you save money — or just cleverly pushing you to spend more? This episode of Future IQ uncovers how these “BIG SALES” use smart psychological tricks to make you buy things you didn’t even plan for, and often the more expensive versions too.From fake scarcity tactics like “only 1 left in stock” and social proof nudges showing “3 people just bought this,” to decoy pricing strategies and sneaky anchoring that makes discounts look irresistible, there’s a whole marketing game happening behind the scenes. We also reveal how retailers quietly inflate prices weeks before the sale, only to drop them later and advertise it as a huge discount.This episode dives into why tempting credit card offers work so well, and how your brain’s quick decision system (System 1) often overpowers your logical side (System 2) during these flashy sales. With practical tips on using tools like Keepa and PriceHistory.in to track real prices, and why shopping with a no-nonsense friend can actually save you thousands, this episode will change the way you shop forever.So before you get swept away by the next big sale banner, watch this and learn how to shop smarter, save better, and never fall for these clever traps again.

Ever wondered why your Uber fare doubles when it rains, or why Wendy’s decided to try AI-powered surge pricing for burgers? Is dynamic pricing just another way for companies to squeeze more money from you — or does it actually help fix hidden problems in the market?In this episode of Future IQ, we dive into the surprising truth behind fixed prices vs dynamic pricing. From the Supreme Court of India questioning hospital rates, to Goa effectively banning Uber and Ola, to movie tickets that once sold “in black” — you’ll see how price controls can sometimes make things worse, not better.But surge pricing isn’t always the hero either. When bottled water prices shoot up during a natural disaster, or electricity bills soar in a heatwave, it feels more like exploitation than smart economics. So when is dynamic pricing good, and when does it cross the line into pure greed? And why do we, as humans, hate unpredictable prices so much — even when they solve shortages?Watch till the end to find out why even the Supreme Court seemed confused, and why you might actually benefit from paying more during peak times. Also, don’t miss our earlier episodes on Supply & Demand and how substitutes & complements play tricks on your wallet.

Warren Buffett didn’t build his fortune by knowing everything he built it by knowing what not to touch. In this episode of Future IQ, we dive into one of the most underrated mental models: the Circle of Competence.What exactly is your circle of competence? Why does knowing your limits make you more effective, not less? And how can this simple idea help you avoid bad decisions, wasted time, and unnecessary stress not just in your career, but in your personal life too?We explore powerful real-life examples from Ted Williams’ precision on the baseball field to Buffett’s famously disciplined investing and unpack how understanding your strengths can lead to better outcomes in work, relationships, and decision-making.You’ll also learn how your Circle of Competence connects to your Circle of Influence the area where you may not be an expert, but still have the power to create change. And how knowing where your influence ends can help you stop overthinking, overcommitting, or taking on battles that aren't yours to fight.If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, second-guessed your choices, or struggled with where to focus your energy, this episode offers a clear mental framework to think sharper and live smarter.

We often believe that legends like Picasso, Beethoven, or even great entrepreneurs became great because they focused on quality. But the truth is the opposite; what made them great was quantity. These legends produced hundreds, even thousands of mediocre or outright bad works. Picasso made over 50,000 pieces of art, most of which you've never heard of. Beethoven composed dozens of forgettable pieces before hitting the timeless ones. Why? Because the only way to get to the masterpiece is to make a mountain of mess first.In this episode of Future IQ, we break the myth that “quality over quantity” leads to greatness. Whether you're writing code, running a business, building habits, or just trying to improve a skill, the people who succeed aren't the ones who wait for perfect ideas; they're the ones who keep showing up. We show how producing more — even if it’s bad — is the only path to consistently producing anything great.You'll learn why quantity leads to progress, how legendary creators built success through relentless output, and how this lesson applies directly to your own life. If you've been stuck waiting for the "right time" or for your work to be "good enough," this episode will give you the permission and push to just hit publish, ship, or start.

Real intuition can’t be taught—but it can be trained. In this episode of Future IQ, we explore the idea of “Fingertips Feeling”—that sharp, almost invisible intuition that top performers rely on in fast-moving, high-stakes situations. And yes, it applies to how you use ChatGPT too.Through real-world case studies—including the fascinating Dutch Car Buyers experiment and examples from war strategy, business, and software—we show how deep, intuitive decision-making works better than logic alone in complex situations. But here's the catch: this kind of intuition only develops through regular, hands-on experience.If you're only using ChatGPT occasionally, you're missing the point. This episode breaks down why daily use helps you feel what it's good at, where it fails, and when to trust it. From AI hallucinations to productivity gains, we cover it all.Because in the age of AI, smart thinking isn’t enough—you need smart instincts.

You think your career is stuck because of a lack of skills — but the real reason might be your WhatsApp groups. Or your news feed. Or your content choices. In this episode of Future IQ, we expose how the algorithm is rewiring your brain, killing your curiosity, and turning smart people into angry, distracted versions of themselves.From the toxic power of outrage-driven platforms to the silent danger of echo chambers, we break down why what you consume is more important than what you know — and introduce a concept even more vital than IQ: Filter Intelligence. The good news? We also show you how to escape the loop. How to curate your inputs, fix your feed, and rebuild your attention in an age designed to destroy it.This is not just about digital detox. It’s about rewiring how you think — before the world does it for you.

Think you're too busy to read? So is Bill Gates, yet he manages to finish 50 books a year. So what’s really stopping you? In this episode of Future IQ, we unpack the surprising truth you’re not bad at reading — you’ve just been taught to do it wrong.We challenge everything you think you know about books. Why forcing yourself to finish a boring book is a waste of time. Why juggling multiple books isn’t chaotic — it’s smart. Why audiobooks and AI reading companions might be the key to finally building a reading habit that sticks.This episode is for everyone — the bookworms, the self-help hoarders, the Kindle collectors, and especially the “I used to love reading but now I just scroll” crowd. Reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. It can be fun, effortless, and even addictive if you approach it the right way.Tune in and rediscover what books can do for your brain, your creativity, and your ability to think clearly in a world overflowing with noise. You might just fall in love with reading all over again.