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Technology – a tool for good or evil | Darlene Damm | TEDxDanubia


so how many of you think that technology

so how many of you think that technology can solve all of our biggest social

can solve all of our biggest social

can solve all of our biggest social problems a few hands a few at the top

problems a few hands a few at the top

problems a few hands a few at the top how many of you think that maybe

how many of you think that maybe

how many of you think that maybe technology isn’t the answer that we just

technology isn’t the answer that we just

technology isn’t the answer that we just need to improve our social systems to

need to improve our social systems to

need to improve our social systems to solve our problems and maybe technology

solve our problems and maybe technology

solve our problems and maybe technology creates problems ah more of you great

creates problems ah more of you great

creates problems ah more of you great great so I think that you’re both right

great so I think that you’re both right

great so I think that you’re both right personally I believe that we have the

personally I believe that we have the

personally I believe that we have the technology today that we could solve all

technology today that we could solve all

technology today that we could solve all the world’s biggest social problems food

the world’s biggest social problems food

the world’s biggest social problems food water shelter energy for everyone on the

water shelter energy for everyone on the

water shelter energy for everyone on the planet within 10 years at the same time

planet within 10 years at the same time

planet within 10 years at the same time these technologies are also so powerful

these technologies are also so powerful

these technologies are also so powerful that I believe they could also greatly

that I believe they could also greatly

that I believe they could also greatly harm our society and that today we need

harm our society and that today we need

harm our society and that today we need to come up with new ethical frameworks

to come up with new ethical frameworks

to come up with new ethical frameworks on how to use these technologies and we

on how to use these technologies and we

on how to use these technologies and we need to redesign how our societies our

need to redesign how our societies our

need to redesign how our societies our governments our economic systems our

governments our economic systems our

governments our economic systems our education systems work I want to tell

education systems work I want to tell

education systems work I want to tell you more about why I believe that and in

you more about why I believe that and in

you more about why I believe that and in the process tell you a bit about my own

the process tell you a bit about my own

the process tell you a bit about my own journey as a social entrepreneur who

journey as a social entrepreneur who

journey as a social entrepreneur who started working with technology this is

started working with technology this is

started working with technology this is my hometown I’m from the countryside in

my hometown I’m from the countryside in

my hometown I’m from the countryside in California and it’s a very rural area

California and it’s a very rural area

California and it’s a very rural area and as a child I I could see the stars I

and as a child I I could see the stars I

and as a child I I could see the stars I could see nature around me and I love

could see nature around me and I love

could see nature around me and I love science and I love technology however

science and I love technology however

science and I love technology however also being in a small community

also being in a small community

also being in a small community I saw people’s lives over 20 years I saw

I saw people’s lives over 20 years I saw

I saw people’s lives over 20 years I saw the social problems that they faced and

the social problems that they faced and

the social problems that they faced and I cared a great deal about people I

I cared a great deal about people I

I cared a great deal about people I wanted to study physics but then I

wanted to study physics but then I

wanted to study physics but then I switched to history and I went to work

switched to history and I went to work

switched to history and I went to work in the nonprofit sector when I was young

in the nonprofit sector when I was young

in the nonprofit sector when I was young I went to places like Vietnam where I

I went to places like Vietnam where I

I went to places like Vietnam where I worked in the education sector in

worked in the education sector in

worked in the education sector in Myanmar where I worked with orphans and

Myanmar where I worked with orphans and

Myanmar where I worked with orphans and also teaching and I also spent about 10

also teaching and I also spent about 10

also teaching and I also spent about 10 years working with an organization

years working with an organization

years working with an organization called Ashoka which is the world’s

called Ashoka which is the world’s

called Ashoka which is the world’s largest organization of soul

largest organization of soul

largest organization of soul to entrepreneurs but something that was

to entrepreneurs but something that was

to entrepreneurs but something that was interesting to me was that during those

interesting to me was that during those

interesting to me was that during those years

years

years most people were in this industry were

most people were in this industry were

most people were in this industry were very suspicious of technology they

very suspicious of technology they

very suspicious of technology they didn’t like technology and this is

didn’t like technology and this is

didn’t like technology and this is because this is what technology was

because this is what technology was

because this is what technology was usually you would have a very wealthy

usually you would have a very wealthy

usually you would have a very wealthy country wanting to help a low-income

country wanting to help a low-income

country wanting to help a low-income country and they would bring in a well

country and they would bring in a well

country and they would bring in a well or other big infrastructure projects

or other big infrastructure projects

or other big infrastructure projects they would drop it on a village with no

they would drop it on a village with no

they would drop it on a village with no input from the villagers the

input from the villagers the

input from the villagers the infrastructure would break then it would

infrastructure would break then it would

infrastructure would break then it would be very expensive and no one would have

be very expensive and no one would have

be very expensive and no one would have running water or other things but I have

running water or other things but I have

running water or other things but I have the sense that it somewhere along the

the sense that it somewhere along the

the sense that it somewhere along the line that technology was changing the

line that technology was changing the

line that technology was changing the this big expensive infrastructure wasn’t

this big expensive infrastructure wasn’t

this big expensive infrastructure wasn’t what technology had to be and in 2011 I

what technology had to be and in 2011 I

what technology had to be and in 2011 I heard of this place called the

heard of this place called the

heard of this place called the singularity University and it’s a

singularity University and it’s a

singularity University and it’s a university based in the Silicon Valley

university based in the Silicon Valley

university based in the Silicon Valley that says we want to use exponential

that says we want to use exponential

that says we want to use exponential technologies to solve the world’s

technologies to solve the world’s

technologies to solve the world’s biggest problems to impact the lives of

biggest problems to impact the lives of

biggest problems to impact the lives of a billion people in a positive way so I

a billion people in a positive way so I

a billion people in a positive way so I went to this program and I learned that

went to this program and I learned that

went to this program and I learned that technology had indeed changed we live

technology had indeed changed we live

technology had indeed changed we live now in a world that is digital and we’re

now in a world that is digital and we’re

now in a world that is digital and we’re digitizing everything that we we can you

digitizing everything that we we can you

digitizing everything that we we can you know from the Internet to our DNA to how

know from the Internet to our DNA to how

know from the Internet to our DNA to how we manufacture goods and digital

we manufacture goods and digital

we manufacture goods and digital technology is different than the old

technology is different than the old

technology is different than the old technology it’s cheap it scales very

technology it’s cheap it scales very

technology it’s cheap it scales very very very fast and you can iterate with

very very fast and you can iterate with

very very fast and you can iterate with it and work with it and almost you know

it and work with it and almost you know

it and work with it and almost you know anyone in the world more and more can

anyone in the world more and more can

anyone in the world more and more can take this technology and use it to solve

take this technology and use it to solve

take this technology and use it to solve their own problems while we were there I

their own problems while we were there I

their own problems while we were there I was on a team that created a company

was on a team that created a company

was on a team that created a company called the mater net which was the

called the mater net which was the

called the mater net which was the world’s first use of drones for

world’s first use of drones for

world’s first use of drones for transport we came up with the idea we

transport we came up with the idea we

transport we came up with the idea we could use these cheap flying robots to

could use these cheap flying robots to

could use these cheap flying robots to deliver medicine in low-income countries

deliver medicine in low-income countries

deliver medicine in low-income countries where people might have to walk 8 hours

where people might have to walk 8 hours

where people might have to walk 8 hours a day just to get a lab test or to get

a day just to get a lab test or to get

a day just to get a lab test or to get medicine that company worked and it

medicine that company worked and it

medicine that company worked and it created a whole new drone transport

created a whole new drone transport

created a whole new drone transport industry that exists today that was a

industry that exists today that was a

industry that exists today that was a very powerful experience for me because

very powerful experience for me because

very powerful experience for me because I

I

I learned the power of technology today

learned the power of technology today

learned the power of technology today and how it could dramatically solve our

and how it could dramatically solve our

and how it could dramatically solve our social problems I met other incredible

social problems I met other incredible

social problems I met other incredible people too they were also using

people too they were also using

people too they were also using technology there’s a man named Mark post

technology there’s a man named Mark post

technology there’s a man named Mark post from the Netherlands who has invented

from the Netherlands who has invented

from the Netherlands who has invented this hamburger he takes a little bit of

this hamburger he takes a little bit of

this hamburger he takes a little bit of a cow he doesn’t kill the cow he takes a

a cow he doesn’t kill the cow he takes a

a cow he doesn’t kill the cow he takes a piece of the cow about this big and puts

piece of the cow about this big and puts

piece of the cow about this big and puts it in a bioreactor and he grows meat his

it in a bioreactor and he grows meat his

it in a bioreactor and he grows meat his first hamburger that cost him about two

first hamburger that cost him about two

first hamburger that cost him about two hundred thousand dollars to build very

hundred thousand dollars to build very

hundred thousand dollars to build very expensive but now it’s only about ten

expensive but now it’s only about ten

expensive but now it’s only about ten dollars and he has a lot of competition

dollars and he has a lot of competition

dollars and he has a lot of competition people or other people are working on

people or other people are working on

people or other people are working on hamburgers chicken meat poultry at first

hamburgers chicken meat poultry at first

hamburgers chicken meat poultry at first you think this sounds disgusting who

you think this sounds disgusting who

you think this sounds disgusting who would want to eat this right but then I

would want to eat this right but then I

would want to eat this right but then I thought like well you don’t kill animals

thought like well you don’t kill animals

thought like well you don’t kill animals with this and think about all the damage

with this and think about all the damage

with this and think about all the damage to their environment that the livestock

to their environment that the livestock

to their environment that the livestock industry causes the fishing industry’s

industry causes the fishing industry’s

industry causes the fishing industry’s eating meat is causes huge problems to

eating meat is causes huge problems to

eating meat is causes huge problems to our world and furthermore you can make

our world and furthermore you can make

our world and furthermore you can make this meat a possibly healthier so it

this meat a possibly healthier so it

this meat a possibly healthier so it doesn’t give you a heart attack someday

doesn’t give you a heart attack someday

doesn’t give you a heart attack someday right so I actually think I will eat

right so I actually think I will eat

right so I actually think I will eat that meat when it comes out and I I

that meat when it comes out and I I

that meat when it comes out and I I could I hope our whole world might do so

could I hope our whole world might do so

could I hope our whole world might do so also I also met another team that was

also I also met another team that was

also I also met another team that was working on improving education in

working on improving education in

working on improving education in Myanmar through virtual reality

Myanmar through virtual reality

Myanmar through virtual reality Myanmar’s one of the poorest countries

Myanmar’s one of the poorest countries

Myanmar’s one of the poorest countries in the world and has one of the worst

in the world and has one of the worst

in the world and has one of the worst education systems this team just went

education systems this team just went

education systems this team just went around and recorded classes and how

around and recorded classes and how

around and recorded classes and how teachers were teaching students in

teachers were teaching students in

teachers were teaching students in virtual reality and within a few months

virtual reality and within a few months

virtual reality and within a few months they had a hundred and twenty eight

they had a hundred and twenty eight

they had a hundred and twenty eight schools in Myanmar signed up to train

schools in Myanmar signed up to train

schools in Myanmar signed up to train their teachers in 21st education this

their teachers in 21st education this

their teachers in 21st education this did not cost a lot of money to do this

did not cost a lot of money to do this

did not cost a lot of money to do this is the hope that we have for rapidly

is the hope that we have for rapidly

is the hope that we have for rapidly improving our education system globally

improving our education system globally

improving our education system globally another team RSA I actually from Europe

another team RSA I actually from Europe

another team RSA I actually from Europe they’re building an artificial

they’re building an artificial

they’re building an artificial intelligence that can perform biomedical

intelligence that can perform biomedical

intelligence that can perform biomedical research maybe someday they’ll save my

research maybe someday they’ll save my

research maybe someday they’ll save my life or your life again I want to

life or your life again I want to

life or your life again I want to emphasize this technology it’s not

emphasize this technology it’s not

emphasize this technology it’s not expensive it doesn’t take that long to

expensive it doesn’t take that long to

expensive it doesn’t take that long to build we live

build we live

build we live this world now where anyone can start

this world now where anyone can start

this world now where anyone can start creating solutions for one another but

creating solutions for one another but

creating solutions for one another but as I was working in this industry I

as I was working in this industry I

as I was working in this industry I started to see there’s also a dark side

started to see there’s also a dark side

started to see there’s also a dark side to technology I took this photo of a

to technology I took this photo of a

to technology I took this photo of a self-driving car that’s in my

self-driving car that’s in my

self-driving car that’s in my neighbourhood in Mountain View so I

neighbourhood in Mountain View so I

neighbourhood in Mountain View so I Drive with these cars already and I love

Drive with these cars already and I love

Drive with these cars already and I love them because they will they will reduce

them because they will they will reduce

them because they will they will reduce traffic accidents they will allow the

traffic accidents they will allow the

traffic accidents they will allow the elderly and this disabled to be mobile

elderly and this disabled to be mobile

elderly and this disabled to be mobile but they and other robots and artificial

but they and other robots and artificial

but they and other robots and artificial intelligence are going to cause possibly

intelligence are going to cause possibly

intelligence are going to cause possibly massive on an unemployment and because

massive on an unemployment and because

massive on an unemployment and because this technology is so that falls so

this technology is so that falls so

this technology is so that falls so quickly in cost I actually don’t believe

quickly in cost I actually don’t believe

quickly in cost I actually don’t believe that our current economic system will be

that our current economic system will be

that our current economic system will be able to work in the future many of you

able to work in the future many of you

able to work in the future many of you know the internet the promise of the

know the internet the promise of the

know the internet the promise of the Internet you know Mark Zuckerberg

Internet you know Mark Zuckerberg

Internet you know Mark Zuckerberg Facebook stands for giving everyone a

Facebook stands for giving everyone a

Facebook stands for giving everyone a voice I believe that too I believe that

voice I believe that too I believe that

voice I believe that too I believe that in the potential of everyone on this

in the potential of everyone on this

in the potential of everyone on this planet to have a voice to contribute to

planet to have a voice to contribute to

planet to have a voice to contribute to society and I love the internet and

society and I love the internet and

society and I love the internet and social media for making that possible I

social media for making that possible I

social media for making that possible I think about the ice bucket challenge

think about the ice bucket challenge

think about the ice bucket challenge where strangers through generosity

where strangers through generosity

where strangers through generosity through play raise two hundred million

through play raise two hundred million

through play raise two hundred million dollars to help cure a disease that’s

dollars to help cure a disease that’s

dollars to help cure a disease that’s what the Internet has allowed us to do

what the Internet has allowed us to do

what the Internet has allowed us to do but there’s also a dark side if everyone

but there’s also a dark side if everyone

but there’s also a dark side if everyone has access to the Internet and can

has access to the Internet and can

has access to the Internet and can create their own paid web sites and news

create their own paid web sites and news

create their own paid web sites and news sources we now don’t know which news is

sources we now don’t know which news is

sources we now don’t know which news is true or false this has caused a crisis

true or false this has caused a crisis

true or false this has caused a crisis in my own country and others might agree

in my own country and others might agree

in my own country and others might agree also in there’s about two weeks ago we

also in there’s about two weeks ago we

also in there’s about two weeks ago we had all of our scientists come out onto

had all of our scientists come out onto

had all of our scientists come out onto the street because they felt the

the street because they felt the

the street because they felt the scientific method was under attack so

scientific method was under attack so

scientific method was under attack so these are very big fundamental changes

these are very big fundamental changes

these are very big fundamental changes that are happening right now I told you

that are happening right now I told you

that are happening right now I told you the story about our drone company and

the story about our drone company and

the story about our drone company and drones are saving lives but in the last

drones are saving lives but in the last

drones are saving lives but in the last few months

few months

few months Isis has also been using drones to kill

Isis has also been using drones to kill

Isis has also been using drones to kill people they put bombs on them and just

people they put bombs on them and just

people they put bombs on them and just send them at soldiers and they put

send them at soldiers and they put

send them at soldiers and they put grenades on them and drop them from

grenades on them and drop them from

grenades on them and drop them from above so it’s not really is the

above so it’s not really is the

above so it’s not really is the technology good or bad the technology

technology good or bad the technology

technology good or bad the technology can save a

can save a

can save a i frakkin kill a life it’s what do you

i frakkin kill a life it’s what do you

i frakkin kill a life it’s what do you intend to do with it Liz Parrish this is

intend to do with it Liz Parrish this is

intend to do with it Liz Parrish this is one of my my favorite favorite people

one of my my favorite favorite people

one of my my favorite favorite people she lives in Washington State in the US

she lives in Washington State in the US

she lives in Washington State in the US and she realized that for years we’d

and she realized that for years we’d

and she realized that for years we’d been performing gene therapy to reduce

been performing gene therapy to reduce

been performing gene therapy to reduce Aging in lab animals but she knew she

Aging in lab animals but she knew she

Aging in lab animals but she knew she could never get this cleared and through

could never get this cleared and through

could never get this cleared and through our regulatory system so she created a

our regulatory system so she created a

our regulatory system so she created a startup she didn’t have a university she

startup she didn’t have a university she

startup she didn’t have a university she didn’t work for a big biomedical company

didn’t work for a big biomedical company

didn’t work for a big biomedical company and she took the gene therapy on herself

and she took the gene therapy on herself

and she took the gene therapy on herself she did this about two years ago and she

she did this about two years ago and she

she did this about two years ago and she has not had any negative effects and

has not had any negative effects and

has not had any negative effects and that there’s biomarkers in her cells

that there’s biomarkers in her cells

that there’s biomarkers in her cells that are now 20 years younger so this is

that are now 20 years younger so this is

that are now 20 years younger so this is this is the world that we’re living in

this is the world that we’re living in

this is the world that we’re living in one person can create a startup to

one person can create a startup to

one person can create a startup to reverse aging or one person could create

reverse aging or one person could create

reverse aging or one person could create a used genetic engineering to perhaps

a used genetic engineering to perhaps

a used genetic engineering to perhaps create a virus that could harm all of us

create a virus that could harm all of us

create a virus that could harm all of us Elon Musk you know he started SpaceX you

Elon Musk you know he started SpaceX you

Elon Musk you know he started SpaceX you know he started Tesla he recently

know he started Tesla he recently

know he started Tesla he recently announced he’s creating a neural lace

announced he’s creating a neural lace

announced he’s creating a neural lace that will they’ll read your brain and

that will they’ll read your brain and

that will they’ll read your brain and he’s hooking it up to a computer for

he’s hooking it up to a computer for

he’s hooking it up to a computer for decades scientists have been working on

decades scientists have been working on

decades scientists have been working on this to help paralyzed people you can

this to help paralyzed people you can

this to help paralyzed people you can read the person’s brainwaves send it to

read the person’s brainwaves send it to

read the person’s brainwaves send it to a computer hook it up to an exoskeleton

a computer hook it up to an exoskeleton

a computer hook it up to an exoskeleton and then people can walk this is

and then people can walk this is

and then people can walk this is happening right now but just to be clear

happening right now but just to be clear

happening right now but just to be clear this is also the beginning of merging

this is also the beginning of merging

this is also the beginning of merging our minds with machines and it’s the

our minds with machines and it’s the

our minds with machines and it’s the beginning of telepathy when I think of

beginning of telepathy when I think of

beginning of telepathy when I think of all this

all this

all this III think of it we are now entering a

III think of it we are now entering a

III think of it we are now entering a human revolution we know we’ve been in a

human revolution we know we’ve been in a

human revolution we know we’ve been in a technological revolution the Internet

technological revolution the Internet

technological revolution the Internet era the Information Age computers

era the Information Age computers

era the Information Age computers technology we’ve defined all of us our

technology we’ve defined all of us our

technology we’ve defined all of us our generation but that is now triggering

generation but that is now triggering

generation but that is now triggering this human revolution where I think

this human revolution where I think

this human revolution where I think these technologies are are giving

these technologies are are giving

these technologies are are giving fundamental questions that we thought

fundamental questions that we thought

fundamental questions that we thought our great-grandchildren might have to

our great-grandchildren might have to

our great-grandchildren might have to answer to us now do you want to live

answer to us now do you want to live

answer to us now do you want to live forever do you want to cook your brain

forever do you want to cook your brain

forever do you want to cook your brain up to someone else’s mind if a robot

up to someone else’s mind if a robot

up to someone else’s mind if a robot takes your job

takes your job

takes your job what will you do what will be your

what will you do what will be your

what will you do what will be your purpose these questions are for our

purpose these questions are for our

purpose these questions are for our generation that we need to work out now

generation that we need to work out now

generation that we need to work out now and so you know I started out asking if

and so you know I started out asking if

and so you know I started out asking if you thought technology could help us or

you thought technology could help us or

you thought technology could help us or if it might harm us for those of you who

if it might harm us for those of you who

if it might harm us for those of you who are working in technology please

are working in technology please

are working in technology please understand the huge social implications

understand the huge social implications

understand the huge social implications and ethics of this technology and use it

and ethics of this technology and use it

and ethics of this technology and use it for good for those of you who are

for good for those of you who are

for good for those of you who are suspicious of technology or may not work

suspicious of technology or may not work

suspicious of technology or may not work in it I ask you to get involved like

in it I ask you to get involved like

in it I ask you to get involved like myself I studied history and worked in

myself I studied history and worked in

myself I studied history and worked in the nonprofit sector

the nonprofit sector

the nonprofit sector I started forming technology companies

I started forming technology companies

I started forming technology companies because I knew they could have an

because I knew they could have an

because I knew they could have an incredible social impact so we need you

incredible social impact so we need you

incredible social impact so we need you also directing how these applications

also directing how these applications

also directing how these applications work so I hope you will join me in this

work so I hope you will join me in this

work so I hope you will join me in this coming human revolution and make a world

coming human revolution and make a world

coming human revolution and make a world that works for everybody thank you

that works for everybody thank you

that works for everybody thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

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