Hi!
We find ourselves in one of the most fascinating eras in human history. I guess the future is on the horizon and second by second we are living in tandem with it as it is unfolding so rapidly that it always is already part of the present.
I'm reading this book and I'm about to finish it. So, I thought about sharing my views with you, with some references to Gerd Leonhard, the author of this book also.
Today, I invite you to have a closer look at Technology governance so you and me (and everyone we know:) can graps the essence of what it means to be human.
I think we need to invest in the advancement of humanity as energetically as we invest in technological development. While it's highly probable that almost everything can be digitized, automated, and robotized and that will happen in one way or another, it's crucial for us not to attempt the digitization and automation of what defines us as human beings.
Some experts predict that in the next two decades, the world will undergo more transformation than it has in the past three centuries. This estimation holds weight as technological changes are currently taking place exponentially, combinatorially, and recursively, completely altering the logic and assumptions that shape the future. Consequently, the future will not merely be an extension of the present, but I think that it will be markedly different.
This assertion gains credence when considering that we are amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0), a phenomenon that is challenging to define without referencing terms like cyber-physical systems or 'cloud computing.' Specifically, it entails a revolution in networks, platforms, people, and digital technology, with the rapid pace of change resulting in significant disruptions to existing organizational models and more.
Simultaneously, this dynamic necessitates concentrated adaptation efforts (or is it leading and maniupulation?). Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, has expressed concerns that organizations might struggle with the adaptation process. Governments, from their vantage point, may also find it challenging to engage with or regulate new technologies to fully harness their benefits. The shift in power introduces new and substantial security concerns, potentially exacerbating societal inequalities and leading to unwanted societal fragmentation.
On another note, Elon Musk envisions a future where artificial intelligence could give rise to an immortal dictator, holding humanity at its mercy. This ominous warning was delivered in a documentary titled 'Do You Trust This Computer?' I think it was called, released on the 50th anniversary of the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey,' where a computer turns against its creators.
This film, half a century ago, was a glimpse into a potential future. Its most memorable moment was when Hal, the ship's artificial intelligence, went rogue. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the director Stanley Kubrick and screenwriter Arthur C. Clarke foresaw various technologies that have now become a reality.
Addressing digital ethics as an investment in moral considerations for every investment in software, Gerd Leonhard, a futurist and entrepreneur in the field of digital music since the 1990s, explores the opportunities, challenges, and risks that dictate the evolution or potential disappearance of humanity in the Digital Era.
Leonhard often employs the hashtag #hellven (#heavenhell), suggesting that technology can be both heaven and hell, depending on its usage. Digitization and automation may represent heaven for large companies but could be hell for their employees and customers.
Big Data, artificial intelligence, and automation diminish the significance of costs, enhance process efficiency, but concurrently, elevate security risks and compromise privacy. Banning advanced technology is not a viable solution, given its exponential evolution. Instead, the key lies in balancing it through control, specific regulations, and ethical considerations.
In our current state, we are often captivated by the marvels of efficiency and hyperconnectivity, sometimes neglecting the unintended or negative consequences of technological progress. It's crucial to remember that humans are invaluable. Before succumbing entirely to technological allure, deep reflection is necessary. It's essential not to conflate algorithmic superiority with superior intelligence.
Computers, software programs, algorithms, and robots lack the capacity for compassion or empathy and cannot replace interpersonal relationships.
The question arises: Do we truly need mathematical models or artificial intelligence to manage emotional states? The complexity of human emotions must remain a human attribute, not only because humans experience nuanced emotions, but also because their happiness depends on direct engagement in all things human.
Our responsibility is to distinguish between efficiency and freedom, security and privacy, intelligence and happiness. In a world where machines perceive reality as binary and everything is explainable, human reality is the antithesis of binary. It is an art form. While technology can provide pleasure, some achievements, and perhaps limited engagement, it cannot offer direct human contact, a purpose, a sense of existence, or life experiences. Sooooo, there must be room for humans, and belief in our power should surpass belief in the power of machines.
In an excessively robotized world, control no longer rests entirely with the human factor. If we model ourselves after machine 'perfection,' we risk reaching a point where emotions, spontaneity, intuition, imagination, or beliefs exist only in memory. The combined effect of body and mind, biology and spirituality – inherently irrational and immeasurable – surpasses the scope of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Consider the role of curiosity, mystery, and error in the innovation process. The danger is not that machines become human, but that humans become machines, seduced by the virtual world in a way that erases profoundly human traits: creativity, compassion, originality, responsibility, empathy – what Leonhard calls 'androrhythms.'
Plus, Leonhard discusses 'digital obesity' in his work, referring to excessive dependence on information and the peril of being overwhelmed by the vast wave of data. Thus, caution is warranted in the amount of information consumed, as external abundance leads to internal poverty. A balance must be struck between ignorance and omniscience, and the right to be offline should be preserved as a fundamental human right in the Digital Era.
In this context, the use of artificial intelligence is not an end in itself but a response to deeper changes such as demographic shifts, social dynamics, environmental impact, and the current state of the business environment. Currently, in 99% of cases, the discussion revolves around machine learning, which isn't fundamentally different from what was discussed 15-20 years ago, as programming languages have remained constant, and the basics haven't changed.
It's clear that technological progress has enabled successful implementations due to increased computing power, enhanced storage capacity, and the availability of vast datasets through digitization. Machine learning, an algorithm capable of sorting, classifying, and making predictions, aligns with the concept of 'digital obesity' highlighted by Leonhard.
In a world where the future is already here, adopting a 'wait and see' approach is no longer an option. The present itself must be approached from a futuristic perspective. According to Leonhard, this involves the following five steps:
Hypotheses: Careful examination of current activities, establishing working hypotheses that shape predictions and suitable strategies for the future.
Discovery: Exploration of the near future (e.g., the next five years) to discover what is likely to happen or what is preferable in the field of interest.
Impact and Opportunities: Defining the probable consequences of implementing discovered options and assessing the possible impact on the respective activities as they unfold in the predicted future.
Vision and Strategy: Establishing ways to achieve the anticipated goals within a specific timeframe, in full alignment with human profiles, organizational culture, and society as a whole.
Action: Developing the mindset, skills, and resources needed to create the desired future.
While the effectiveness of this proposed scheme remains uncertain, the fundamental conclusion is that technology alone cannot save humanity.
For more fun, here is a WEF doc we should really think about:
https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Leading_through_the_Fourth_Industrial_Revolution.pdf
Thanks for reading!
With respect,
Zpek
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