Will Technology Be Humanity’s Salvation, Downfall, Or Neither?

[Anonymous]

[AmandaYVR]

There are many different types of technologies, and therefore ways to approach this question, but I'll just go with this...
I believe it will definitely be the downfall if we let machines (machine learning) take over all aspects of life. We cannot let this happen. First it begins with the humans behind the machines, busily coding and programming them, to benefit off of us, manipulate us, make us buy and spend and act in specific ways that will benefit the maker. The rules of the attention economy: “sensationalise, bait and entertain in order to survive”.
(Incidentally, The tech world is run by young white males. 90% of A. I. designers are white men of a certain age. This omits diversity of thought. If A. I. is going to change everything, and only a certain amount of people are changing the future, we’re going to get the future that they specifically want.) Privacy is being strip-mined and hoarded. If you don't know what is being sold, it's probably you. You are the commodity.

[AmandaYVR]

Today the average person already consumes about 11 hours per day interacting with media, but by 2039 that number will rise to encompass literally every waking hour, simply because media will be ever-present. Avg number of times people check their smart phone per day 85 times (and some Millennials up to 200. We are a culture in overload mostly virtual, esp content intake. The average person takes in 34G of information daily, mostly in fragments (words, and images at a rate of 1-2 seconds/image, max, but often less). Focus is disrupted. This is having a poor negative effect on our eyesight (strain), and esp attention and focus. We are in an almost-constant state of high alert, waiting for the next notification on our phones. Also, according to the Wall Street Journal, the fine print in signing Terms and Conditions costs users $250 billion. Our brains make about 35,000 choices every day (=13 million/yr). Many are inconsequential, but some will affect the rest of your life. Google is the globe's one true confidant, slowly replacing parenting advice, family recipes, language translators… the list goes on. The more we rely on the search engine, the more our Google searches serve as a barometer for what's going on our culture. We need to treat Google and Facebook like companies, not benign utilities.
The technology is probably not inherently evil at all, it provides great benefits to us at times (monitors us, keep us safe, provides power from the main grid, yada yada), but we can look the other way, or look deeply into that beautiful glowing light, and it can transfix and hypnotize us, if we let it. “Staring at tiny screens has become the habitual orientation of consciousness. We are disappearing down the rabbit hole of total immersion in the networked world.” (- Rebecca Solnit) Remember, the end does not always begin with a bang, but with a wink.

[AmandaYVR]

This is a good article:
"Technology is not neutral: it favours some outcomes over others. Different social forces invest in this potential and use it to their advantage. Technology is therefore also a focus of social struggle, rather than a predetermined ‘given’ that creates just one possible future. When social groups appropriate a particular technology for their own purposes, then social, political and economic systems can change. What is light (knowledge, design) becomes global; what is heavy (manufacturing) is local and shared. An example is the role that the invention of the printing press played in transforming European society. The fast-growing availability of digitisation enables many-to-many communication; think of electronic fora and mailing lists to wikis and Facebook, embattled though it might appear right now. Hence, an increasing number of humans communicate in ways that were not technically possible before. This in turn makes massive self-organisation up to a global scale possible. Just as digitisation – and specifically social media – can work both for emancipation and supervision, for revolution and its suppression, it also allows for the creation of a new mode of production and new types of social relations outside the market-state nexus.

aeon.co/.../why-the-utopian-vision-of-william-morris-is-now-within-reach

Sorry this is so long. I am really interested in this topic. 😁

[Asker]

Ooooooo loved this ♥️❣️♥️

[AmandaYVR]

Thanks, Secret. You're asking such great questions. I've been waiting for a good phrasing on a technology one. This is my first answer. I think I'm done now 🤐 (that's my zippered mouth).

[Asker]

You killed it. ♥️❣️♥️

[CherryRoseChampange]

It could be either really, it depends on who's the one using it. Technology is just a tool, one we do actually need for survival. Earth won't be able to hold humanity for forever. Interstellar travel is gonna be needed eventually and technology is needed for that.

How soon that will depend on us. I prefer it be the world that runs out of time naturally than humans speeding up the process when they aren't ready to move out yet. We have time to use tech to help the world for now, I think we should focus on that stuff.

[Asker]

❣️♥️❣️

[Texaskid1]

It can go both ways.

If our super computers become self aware and they see us a a threat we are doomed. Keep in mind that our entire modern civilization depends on computers. Communications , transportation , military , agriculture , medicine , everything. This might be a far fetched scenario but it is not impossible. We need to keep our eyes open.

I think that what is more likely is that technology will become integrated into our bodies. They have been researching with implanting microchips into brains for years - people being able to move a curser with though alone. I think the net step is to have some type of neuro integration of wireless into our brains. After that having entire virtual societies - you put on some high tech googles and ear phones and presto you are at work !!! I think it will happen within 20 years or so.

[Asker]

❣️♥️❣️

[BadApple1]

How about both! Just like atomic energy CAN be used for good it can also be used for evil. As for information, keeping people in the dark was a bad thing but now with social media everyone knows too much... It’s a bad thing. The more I am thinking about it and writing this down I realize that it’s more of a downfall then salvation but it’s not technology’s fault nor those who make the tech... people are basically good but tech like social media brings out the worst in us.

[Asker]

😊😊😊

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Technology is already America's downfall. I keep telling people
someday we will be faced with no Internet for days in large outage
in many states of America could even possibly effect other countries
this reason is cause technology has advanced too fast in a too little
of a short time.

[Asker]

Well Said 🌸💜🌸

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Comcast claims to be able to give one 150 Mpb download speed of Internet
well all it is money making scheme and a lie. No they can't do it i am proven
fact that it's not true.

[Quidthonian]

Technology is making our life easier. As a side-effect, the human population has no natural preditors, so our numbers are spiriling out of control. Ultimatlely, it will be our downfall: We will be so dependent on it, that we will lose our instincts. One day, something will go wrong and destroy our web of technology.

[Asker]

Thanks for the post. ♥️❣️♥️

[menina]

I think it might be our downfall. There are many countries where people are addicted to technology and can't live without it.
They're replacing human beings for technological devices. That's dangerous...

[Asker]

Good point ♥️❣️♥️

[menina]

Thank you! ❤

[Anonymous]

Neither
Technology is only a tool-it is not good or bad but depends to what use it is put. The armaments industry as well as the health industry are based on technology, but one kills while other saves.
It is up to society to take a bigger picture view and not lose itself in the details. Therefore, only humanity can be humanity's salvation or downfall.

[Asker]

🌸💜🌸

[Agape93]

Downfall. Yeah it’s convenient now. But later, when it comes to a standstill or collapses, we will be softer. Collectively weaker.

[Asker]

OMFG you are sooooooo right!!!
🌸💜🌸

[TheMadAsshatter85]

I'd say that entirely depends on how you view and define a society and how it is characterized/judged.

Long run? in my opinion, we're f*cked.

[Asker]

I couldn't agree more. ♥️❣️♥️

[copperscene]

Both. Technology is wonderful and empowering, but it also gives people with more access to it power over those who don't. And it enables entities to trash the planet with it

[Asker]

😊😊😊

[Belgie]

Climate change will be our downfall.
I doubt technology can save us, but it's the only thing that could.

[Asker]

Well said. Thanks for the post 🌸💜🌸

[Ally247]

It'll be the downfall for some, the salvation for others.

[Asker]

Love this. Great answer 🌟🤩🌟

[BCA6010]

Technology is what it is because humanity makes it so. Mankind's rises and falls are self-inflicted.

[Asker]

❣️❣️❣️

[JusGueSS]

Definitely downfall. I mean look what we have done with what we have now. People can't hold a convo in person anymore. War will end humanity and technology will play a high part of it.

[Asker]

🌸💜🌸

[Justtoobusy]

Neither. Humans find a way to be humans (good or bad) so technology is just a new avenue for both

[Asker]

❣️♥️❣️

[clampfan101]

Humans blaming their downfall on technology would be little different than a killer blaming their gun. Technology is a tool.

[Asker]

🤨🤔🤔

[Deathraider]

Technology by definition is the technical means for the production of goods and services. So its been around for a long long time, and it’s great.

[Asker]

Ooooooo I love this post ❣️❣️❣️

[TimmahFTW]

Downfall, it's no good for any of us cause all of everyone's info is on there along with lies about all of us, it's a virus, a disease that needs to be wiped out.

[Asker]

Thanks for replying ♥️❣️♥️

[TimmahFTW]

Your welcome

[Tim-loves-it]

Downfall. Infact annihilation.

[Asker]

😆😆😆

[Tim-loves-it]

Robots + artificial intelligence = extinction of human life.

[yourwildestdream]

when robots can perform to our sexual demands were doomed

[Asker]

💤💤💤

[hdjerry]

Neither, I think tech fully depends on we human. It can't outsmart us.

[Asker]

Thanks for replying ♥️❣️♥️

[hdjerry]

🤗cool

[Octo8]

Both salvation and downfall.
First it will be THE downfall and then comes the salvation part.

[Asker]

❣️♥️❣️

[311WasAnInsideJam]

We'll find out when we reach sentient robots.

[Asker]

😱😱😱