Technology is exponential but humans are not
- Author: Gerd Leonhard
- Word Count: 361
Read the news article
“Technology is exponential but humans are not and can do great things, but it does not WANT to do great things – it does not want anything” says Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (a quote I have often used in my talks). Technology is a tool not a purpose – see my ‘carpenter and the hammer example’ (video).
“BOTH BIOTECH AND AI ARE DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGIES, MEANING THEY CAN BE WIELDED FOR BOTH BENEFICIAL AND MALIGN PURPOSES. THAT MAKES THEM FAR MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, ESPECIALLY SINCE SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME RISKS — LIKE, SAY, A DANGEROUS VIRUS LEAKING OUT OF A LAB — COULD BE ACCIDENTAL, NOT PURPOSEFUL.”
VIA AXIOS FUTURE
Technology is exponential but humans are not
While it is very hard to define a universal set of ethics or norms and every country has different rules around data privacy and surveillance, it has become clear that we need to find ways of putting collective digital privacy rights in place.
The EU sis drafting an AI regulation in which rules would set limits around the use of artificial intelligence in a range of activities, in “an attempt to regulate an emerging technology before it becomes mainstream” according to The New York Times.
As I wrote in chapter 2 of my book “Technology vs Humanity” “Technology is exponential and has no ethics, and therefore its imminent entry into our most private lives and biological processes must be negotiated as a top civic and corporate priority”.
“Digital Ethics is really about this issue of keeping humanity alive and not putting the machines inside absolutely everything”
In this Tedx Talk back in 2014 (!), I point out the fact that “The power of technology had already surpassed the scope of our ethics”… That was back then but look at it now…Technology is exponential
I think technology is now on the verge of becoming unlimitedly powerful, especially after the Covid-19 crisis that served to accelerate their uses and applications of digital technologies in response.
We are entering very an era in which it’s no longer merely “data is the new oil” but ‘data is the new plutonium’.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter
Speaker Listing
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (2)
Embracing Digital Leadership: The Journey of Erik Qualman, aka “Equalman” Erik Qualman, widely recognized as “Equalman,” stands as a beacon of digital leadership and transformation. His work, which spans keynote speaking, bestselling authorship, and digital expertise, has profoundly influenced the realms of social media and digital transformation. Equalman’s journey is a testament to the power […]
- July 12, 2024
- (7)
Go ahead and search ‘happy employees lead to successful companies’ and you will be bombarded with consistent uplifting messages about employees and happiness (LinkedIn, Fast Company, Business Insider, Fortune). Just about every content piece promotes employee happiness benefiting organizations at large. That is why, contrary to consistent media, I couldn’t believe that Phil Rosenzweig in The Halo Effect completely disagreed. With the […]
- December 13, 2022
- (10)
Navigating Tomorrow: The Future of Hybrid Event Planning In the ever-evolving landscape of event planning, the emergence of hybrid events has marked a paradigm shift in how we gather, connect, and share experiences. As the world continues to grapple with the implications of a global pandemic, the hybrid model has proven to be more than […]
- February 27, 2024
- (4)
Celebrating Pride 2024 season is upon us once again, a time of celebration, reflection, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. As we embark on Celebrating Pride 2024, we are reminded of the progress we’ve made and the challenges that lie ahead. This year’s festivities promise to be especially memorable, with a lineup […]
- June 4, 2024
- (5)
Empowering Voices: Celebrating Women’s Month San Diego 2024 In the vibrant city of San Diego, Women’s Month serves as a poignant celebration of the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women across diverse fields. As the month unfolds, what better way to honor this spirit than by highlighting and celebrating the impactful Women’s Month keynote speakers […]
- March 4, 2024
- (95)
Speakers Inc chats with Chris Lemons | Meet the Speaker. In September of 2012, a freak failure of the dynamic positioning system of the vessel Chris Lemons was working under, resulted in the umbilical which provides him with breathing gas, light and heat being severed completely. He was left on the sea-bed, in complete darkness […]
- December 20, 2022
- (25)
Rocket Science Meets Real Life: Why Olympia LePoint Is the AI and Innovation Speaker You Didn’t Know You Needed In a world inundated with tech buzzwords and innovation hype, few voices cut through the noise with clarity, charisma, and credibility. Olympia LePoint does. A rocket scientist turned transformational keynote speaker, LePoint is redefining what it […]
- May 2, 2025
- (18)
THE AI WORKFORCE REVOLUTION: THE AUGMENTED FUTURE The world of work is constantly evolving, and as technology advances at an unprecedented pace, it is becoming increasingly clear that the workforce of tomorrow will look vastly different from the one we know today. A new term has emerged in this brave new world— the augmented workforce. […]
- June 20, 2023
