Greg Viggiano, PhD

Over the course of his career, Greg has had a fascination with observing the benefits and social impacts of using new technologies. Convergence between multiple technologies are especially interesting to him because of the increased potential for unintended effects. These unintended surprises sometimes lead to novel trends and super-trajectories. Much like a digital Swiss Army knife, the smartphone is a perfect example of multidimensional convergence across many different uses and applications.

AI and quantum computing offers another interesting research opportunity to examine two technologies that are on a convergent path. Currently, Greg is an adjunct professor at George Mason University, Department of Physics and teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on new technologies and social impacts. His research interests focus on new technology applications and macro social effects. Using a form of complexity theory as a reference framework, his work examines how new technologies are adopted and diffused within global communities—not unlike epidemiological studies of pandemic viral infections. As new technologies become more ubiquitous and evolve [mutate] over time, it is useful to consider how to avoid potential dependencies and vulnerabilities. Using a 10-year time horizon, AI and quantum computing are two such technologies that are coming into alignment.

Science fiction narratives can provide instructive guidance about new technology trends and effects. In addition to his academic career, Greg is also the pro bono Executive Director for the Museum of Science Fiction in Washington, DC. In this context, he studies some of the more prophetic ideas concerning applied uses of fictional technologies. These studies allow greater awareness of what may be waiting over the horizon and glimpses of how civilization might cope with such new arrivals.

To help explore this new horizon and its potential impacts, the Museum of Science Fiction is opening a VR museum in 2023. This virtual reality experience presents several galleries and exhibitions and will begin with “Creating Consciousness: Computers and Robots in Science Fiction.” This exhibition examines a machine's capacity to understand humanity and includes a VR tour inside of a quantum computer.

When not teaching and doing social science research on AI and quantum computing, his favorite analog hobbies include European travel photography with his Nikon F and restoring vintage turntables for his ever expanding vinyl record collection. Greg received his PhD from Florida State University in Mass Communication and lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Mandy.