here was a time where technology primarily focused on advancing humanity, be it for utilitarian, intellectual, or aesthetic purposes. From Leonardo da Vinci’s humanism—focused on principles of dignity, education, and the search for humanity's natural place within the universe—to the beginning of the world wide web as an egalitarian tool to connect and share information, we worked to better our time on this planet we call home. Our acumen and passion were relentlessly and uncompromisingly directed at solving real problems afflicting us individually and collectively. Our human ingenuity was at the service of the people and the planet that hosts us.
But then we lost our way. At some point we opened the door to technologists whose actions increasingly and fastidiously resemble those of greedy, irresponsible, superficial adolescents. Some claim that these individuals, frequently referred to as tech bros, ruined our work culture. Others stated that they ruined cities, or even dating. At a closer look, one could easily claim that they simply ruined it all. After all, in Hollywood they are now the latest supervillains.
The Problems of the Tech Industry…
These usually white male technologists share similar traits: they are financially wealthy yet they have a poor moral compass and a profit-over-everything ethos. Their design style frequently prioritizes machines above people and their development approach puts money above human experience. The soulless outcome of their labor increasingly surrounds—and enslaves—us.
The sad part is that these adolescents have enabling parents: us.
In a previous publication I offered the perspective that “the high-tech sector has placed greed at the forefront of its decision making.” When greed is a key motivator, how products are designed and their impact on society matter less. On the other hand, innovators that take social impact into consideration start by understanding their audience and context as well as what problems are being experienced and how to respectfully address them—and only after they focus on design and development phases. When greed is the primary motivator, those crucial first steps are often skipped in favor of expedited deliverables.
We are dealing with a two-headed beast. On one hand, the tech industry is overly focused on answering questions quickly, so that it has forgotten how best to approach the question-answer endeavor. On the other hand, are tech industry enablers alongside their purchasing and behavioral trends. We have been measuring our successes as technologists and humans using parameters that have little to do with advancing the wellbeing of humanity or our planet.
…Are Also Our Problems
It would be easier to launch the stone in one direction and say that tech bros ruined it all—yet the awful truth is that we ourselves share the blame. It is time we wake up and be better. To address this complex matter the solution cannot be simple or simplified. Instead, consider a multi-layered approach such as the following.
First, rethink what regulation means and its role in fostering accountability without stifling innovation. We should look at scaffolding instead of prescribing.
Second, rethink technology and innovation success metrics across diverse parameters. We have been so myopically focused on accumulating money that we did not notice what was sacrificed in the process: connection, wonderment, innovation, critical thinking, depth, and the true meaning of life.
Third, rethink education and its accessibility. Not only education is and should be a human right—it should scaffold the next generation to ensure they all get the tools and techniques they need and deserve to be critical thinkers, innovators, storytellers, and global citizens.
Fourth, shift design and development processes toward human centric values, commitments and metrics. We must stop designing and manufacturing devices that not only suck value out of our everyday life but also have zero value after their short lifespan.
It bears repeating—the time has come for us to wake up and be better. It is time we remind each other of why we are here as well as what our individual yet entwined roles and responsibilities are. It is time we stop the narcissism and start thinking beyond personal interests and beyond the sole interests of our own species. We all dreamt of a world where everyone and everything could thrive, yet have forgotten that that very dream is up to us. Our collective carelessness kept distracting us from the real prize so now it is time we get back to work, designing technologies that focus on advancing humanity, the thriving of our planet and ourselves.
a global affairs media network
Shared Dream, Shared Responsibility
Image via Adobe Stock.
September 23, 2023
Technological innovation has long been touted as the way humanity will bring in better tomorrows, but a short-termist culture of greed undercut this promise. We've blamed this culture on so-called "tech bros," but we all share the blame and must be part of the solution, writes Astral's Daria Loi.
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here was a time where technology primarily focused on advancing humanity, be it for utilitarian, intellectual, or aesthetic purposes. From Leonardo da Vinci’s humanism—focused on principles of dignity, education, and the search for humanity's natural place within the universe—to the beginning of the world wide web as an egalitarian tool to connect and share information, we worked to better our time on this planet we call home. Our acumen and passion were relentlessly and uncompromisingly directed at solving real problems afflicting us individually and collectively. Our human ingenuity was at the service of the people and the planet that hosts us.
But then we lost our way. At some point we opened the door to technologists whose actions increasingly and fastidiously resemble those of greedy, irresponsible, superficial adolescents. Some claim that these individuals, frequently referred to as tech bros, ruined our work culture. Others stated that they ruined cities, or even dating. At a closer look, one could easily claim that they simply ruined it all. After all, in Hollywood they are now the latest supervillains.
The Problems of the Tech Industry…
These usually white male technologists share similar traits: they are financially wealthy yet they have a poor moral compass and a profit-over-everything ethos. Their design style frequently prioritizes machines above people and their development approach puts money above human experience. The soulless outcome of their labor increasingly surrounds—and enslaves—us.
The sad part is that these adolescents have enabling parents: us.
In a previous publication I offered the perspective that “the high-tech sector has placed greed at the forefront of its decision making.” When greed is a key motivator, how products are designed and their impact on society matter less. On the other hand, innovators that take social impact into consideration start by understanding their audience and context as well as what problems are being experienced and how to respectfully address them—and only after they focus on design and development phases. When greed is the primary motivator, those crucial first steps are often skipped in favor of expedited deliverables.
We are dealing with a two-headed beast. On one hand, the tech industry is overly focused on answering questions quickly, so that it has forgotten how best to approach the question-answer endeavor. On the other hand, are tech industry enablers alongside their purchasing and behavioral trends. We have been measuring our successes as technologists and humans using parameters that have little to do with advancing the wellbeing of humanity or our planet.
…Are Also Our Problems
It would be easier to launch the stone in one direction and say that tech bros ruined it all—yet the awful truth is that we ourselves share the blame. It is time we wake up and be better. To address this complex matter the solution cannot be simple or simplified. Instead, consider a multi-layered approach such as the following.
First, rethink what regulation means and its role in fostering accountability without stifling innovation. We should look at scaffolding instead of prescribing.
Second, rethink technology and innovation success metrics across diverse parameters. We have been so myopically focused on accumulating money that we did not notice what was sacrificed in the process: connection, wonderment, innovation, critical thinking, depth, and the true meaning of life.
Third, rethink education and its accessibility. Not only education is and should be a human right—it should scaffold the next generation to ensure they all get the tools and techniques they need and deserve to be critical thinkers, innovators, storytellers, and global citizens.
Fourth, shift design and development processes toward human centric values, commitments and metrics. We must stop designing and manufacturing devices that not only suck value out of our everyday life but also have zero value after their short lifespan.
It bears repeating—the time has come for us to wake up and be better. It is time we remind each other of why we are here as well as what our individual yet entwined roles and responsibilities are. It is time we stop the narcissism and start thinking beyond personal interests and beyond the sole interests of our own species. We all dreamt of a world where everyone and everything could thrive, yet have forgotten that that very dream is up to us. Our collective carelessness kept distracting us from the real prize so now it is time we get back to work, designing technologies that focus on advancing humanity, the thriving of our planet and ourselves.
