I conduct an undergrad and graduate class presentation about the acceleration of technological innovation and its impact on changing social and cultural “norms”.
I always talk about my 5 possible scenarios
for human kind within the next 30 – 50 years (there are probably more).
- Extinction Scenario – a distinct possibility, if we don’t get our
environmental act and societal conflicts under control. If we don’t,
then we might deserve this scenario - but what a waste.
- Luddite Scenario – We dismantle technology and return to simpler (my bias: harsher) times. Very unlikely. (Look up Luddites)
- Terminator Scenario – Named after the movie, we are extinguished by
the machines we create. I don’t believe in this scenario due to my view
of the below mentioned Singularity.
- Status Quo Scenario – nothing
changes from here on out. Yea, right. See previous 150,000 years of
human history for reference. Technology has always changed us. Always
will. Man the magic maker.
- Singularity Scenario – We blend into
the machine, and humans become the ghosts in the machine. In such a
scenario, a Terminator future is unlikely, as we would be committing
suicide.
I always start the rest of the conversation with the students with this observation: “The greatest challenge to humanity in the next 50 years is defining exactly what being human is. Especially as we continue to augment the human experience with extensions, reality augmentation and genetic engineering.”
We may never be able to answer this question. I don’t think we ever could. I don’t think we ever should.
"For first we use machines, then we wear machines, then we become machines."
Kim William Gordon
www.bitnus.com
www.kimwilliamgordon.com
