The innovations of the 21st century have vastly expanded our access to information and services with amazing creations, but overall they have not yet significantly amplified most people’s potential. More people have more products, but only a few people are more productive. Tech leaders are building tools, products, and platforms that empower themselves while infantilizing, controlling, and replacing most everyone else—people they cannot imagine as much more than dumping grounds for universal basic incomes.
“Leaders” like this simply don’t believe in people.
Instead, all too often, they exploit them.
Many of the biggest and best-known tech companies make their money—millions, billions, and now trillions of dollars—by distracting, directing, damaging, and generally dehumanizing people. Social-media and entertainment giants act like drug dealers, keeping their users on a drip “feed” of content. Gig economy juggernauts treat workers as pawns, intending to sacrifice them eventually in favor of software and artificial intelligence. From start-ups to well-established household names, most tech is like a parasite, sucking the life out of its hosts. Silicon Valley’s short-term approach is leading us all toward a long-term disaster.
americanmind.org