Original Article: Transforming the Future: How only changing our way of thinking can solve global challenges
As a professional in the field of information technology, I am acutely aware of the technological revolution that is underway. The rapid advancements in language-based AI, such as ChatGPT, and the increased investments from companies in AI technology, make it an exciting time in the industry.
However, it is vital that we reflect on the broader impact of these advancements.
The industrial revolution serves as a cautionary tale, where groundbreaking inventions led to lasting harm to the environment. The choices we make in our use of technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of humanity. It’s imperative that we approach these decisions thoughtfully and with a long-term perspective, to ensure that we do not repeat past mistakes and contribute to a global breakdown.
Now is the time for proactive and responsible decision-making in our technological future.
From day to day, technology can change our lives, and currently, AI is at the forefront of this change.
It wasn’t too long ago that blockchain was the revolutionary technology that made many people rich and solved numerous problems through its decentralized nature. While we may not have fully utilized its capabilities yet, a new segment of the industry has already emerged, developing faster than anything else right now in it.
However, as previously mentioned, this article will not be solely focused on the technology itself. Instead, I want to shed light on a trend that often appears when something truly “revolutionary” is invented.
History
When I search the internet for information on the biggest inventions of the past 300 years, I came across the following list:
- Steam Engine (1765) — Changed the way goods were transported and transformed the Industrial Revolution.
- Electricity (late 19th century) — Provided a new source of energy and revolutionized industry, communication and daily life.
- Automobile (1886) — Transformed personal transportation and had a major impact on society, the economy, and the environment.
- Television (1927) — Changed the way people received information and entertainment and had a profound impact on culture and politics.
- Computer (20th century) — Revolutionized the way information was processed, stored and shared and is at the heart of the digital revolution.
- Internet (1989) — Changed the way people communicate and access information, leading to the development of the World Wide Web and a global interconnected society.
All of them obviously have a positive impact on society, but when we evaluate them now, we have the knowledge to understand the full picture.
Over the last 300 years, human inventions and technological advancements have caused significant harm. From the industrial revolution to modern times, human activities have led to deforestation, air and water pollution, climate change, and a host of other environmental problems.
These actions have also resulted in negative social impacts such as increased economic inequality, public health issues, and the exploitation of vulnerable communities. It is clear that the benefits of innovation and technology must be balanced with responsible and sustainable practices to protect both the planet and its inhabitants.
Lets see few of the disadvantages of the previous inventions:
- Steam engine: Although it was a monumental achievement in human history, had negative impacts on the environment as it relied heavily on the burning of fossil fuels. This contribution to greenhouse gas emissions has made the steam engine the first manmade initiative for climate change. Additionally, the rise of steam-powered machinery contributed to a shift away from skilled labor and towards the use of low-paid, unskilled labor in factories. As a result, it led to a division in society where the rich became richer, and the poor became more vulnerable to them.
- Electricity: While a vital resource in modern times, has also had significant negative impacts. The production of electricity often involves the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear plants which are contributing the climate change.
- Automobile: The widespread adoption of the automobile has had a significant impact on the environment, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Television: Television has been a primary source of information, but it has also been used for manipulation purposes. As a result, politicians and businesses have used it to manipulate public opinion to serve their own interests.
- Internet: Internet has catalyzed the spread of information, but it has also been used for manipulation purposes, as with television. Big companies and governments collect information about people, leading to privacy and security concerns. Furthermore, the rise of social media has contributed to the spread of misinformation, which has led to a decline in trust between people.
If we look at the previous list, we can see two main groups of disadvantages: those that cause harm to the environment and those that affect society.
When the steam engine was first invented, there wasn’t as much awareness about the potential harm it could cause to the environment.
However, looking back today, we can see that despite our knowledge of the consequences, we continue to engage in activities that contribute to environmental degradation. The obvious question is…
Why are we still doing it?
To answer this question, we have to investigate the second group of disadvantages, which is based on a general human behavior.
The Motivation
If somebody in the universe would like to hear a tale about the human race, something like this might suffice:
Once upon a time, on a distant planet, there was a species known as the humans. They were a curious and ambitious race, always seeking to improve their lives and achieve greatness. However, they had a tendency to view the world around them as a resource to be exploited, rather than a living, breathing entity.
As they grew in number and power, the humans began to consume the planet’s natural resources at an alarming rate. They cut down forests, polluted the air and water, and hunted animals to near extinction. All in the name of progress.
For the humans, everything had a price. They believed that anything could be bought and sold, including life itself. They raised animals in captivity, only to slaughter them for food, clothing, and other materials. They even bred them for specific traits, like speed or strength, in order to make them more useful for their purposes.
But the humans didn’t stop there. They also commodified each other, using money as a means to materialize everything around them. They judged each other based on their wealth and possessions, rather than their character or contributions to society. They worked long hours in pursuit of material success, sacrificing their health, relationships, and even their own happiness in the process.
As they continued down this path, the humans began to realize the true cost of their actions. The planet was dying, and with it, their own future. The animals they had exploited were gone, and the air and water were too polluted to sustain life. The humans had reaped what they had sowed.
And so, they looked to the stars, hoping to find a new home. But as they journeyed through the universe, they could not escape the consequences of their past actions. They found only barren wastelands, devoid of life and resources.
In the end, the humans came to realize that their quest for material wealth and power had led them to ruin. They had sacrificed everything, including the very planet that had sustained them. And so they turned inward, seeking to undo the damage they had done and restore balance to their world. It was a long and difficult journey, but in the end, they found redemption and a new sense of purpose.
At the end of this story, I had assumed that humans could find a new purpose for their existence. However, the reality is that we are still far from realizing this goal.
The current mindset of society is primarily driven by the pursuit of power, which can sometimes make people blind to the world around them. Decisions are made based on the interests of those in power, and reckless choices at all levels (personal, business, political, etc.) have led to the current crises.
The Solution
If we want to make things right at this time with technological advancements, then we should change the scope of our decisions. We should not use mainstream technologies to generate a capitalist race based on business interests, but create a corporation for common causes.
I believe that from now on, every aspect of our motivation should focus on how we will survive on this planet, and how we can help the Earth allow us to live here by finding a balance between our life and the natural environment’s interests around us.
These moments offer an opportunity to reveal our true nature as humans, as the decisions we make now will shape our future.
Richard Bohm
Contributor