your name so we raise your hands if you’re a human
so we raise your hands if you’re a human
so we raise your hands if you’re a human being
being
being Homo sapiens any homeless aliens great a
Homo sapiens any homeless aliens great a
Homo sapiens any homeless aliens great a lot of homeless a fans in the audience
lot of homeless a fans in the audience
lot of homeless a fans in the audience okay raise your hand if you’re about to
okay raise your hand if you’re about to
okay raise your hand if you’re about to become obsolete or irrelevant fewer
become obsolete or irrelevant fewer
become obsolete or irrelevant fewer hands but I know you’re being timid
hands but I know you’re being timid
hands but I know you’re being timid because we’ve all heard this story right
because we’ve all heard this story right
because we’ve all heard this story right we are all about to become obsolete or
we are all about to become obsolete or
we are all about to become obsolete or irrelevant and if not us then certainly
irrelevant and if not us then certainly
irrelevant and if not us then certainly our children no amount of coding camp
our children no amount of coding camp
our children no amount of coding camp will help travel soccer definitely not
will help travel soccer definitely not
will help travel soccer definitely not okay
okay
okay algorithms have already defeated the
algorithms have already defeated the
algorithms have already defeated the best among us in chess in jeopardy and
best among us in chess in jeopardy and
best among us in chess in jeopardy and most recently in the famously
most recently in the famously
most recently in the famously challenging and subtle game of Go
challenging and subtle game of Go
challenging and subtle game of Go we have robot bartenders on cruise ships
we have robot bartenders on cruise ships
we have robot bartenders on cruise ships in Thailand they have robot food tasters
in Thailand they have robot food tasters
in Thailand they have robot food tasters and in Saudi Arabia yes
and in Saudi Arabia yes
and in Saudi Arabia yes robot camel jockeys so in short
robot camel jockeys so in short
robot camel jockeys so in short algorithms are doing work so well and
algorithms are doing work so well and
algorithms are doing work so well and doing work performed by humans so well
doing work performed by humans so well
doing work performed by humans so well they’re pretty soon there won’t be
they’re pretty soon there won’t be
they’re pretty soon there won’t be anything left for us to do okay that’s
anything left for us to do okay that’s
anything left for us to do okay that’s the story there’s another story that
the story there’s another story that
the story there’s another story that you’ve probably heard which is that
you’ve probably heard which is that
you’ve probably heard which is that we’re on the cusp of a great singularity
we’re on the cusp of a great singularity
we’re on the cusp of a great singularity humans transcend biology as the
humans transcend biology as the
humans transcend biology as the algorithmic frontier moves forward we
algorithmic frontier moves forward we
algorithmic frontier moves forward we will all become man-machine cyborgs
will all become man-machine cyborgs
will all become man-machine cyborgs every one of us an iron man or an iron
every one of us an iron man or an iron
every one of us an iron man or an iron woman living indefinitely so what will
woman living indefinitely so what will
woman living indefinitely so what will it be for us this utopian singularity or
it be for us this utopian singularity or
it be for us this utopian singularity or a dystopian world without work the story
a dystopian world without work the story
a dystopian world without work the story that I want to tell today and the story
that I want to tell today and the story
that I want to tell today and the story that I believe reflects the actual flow
that I believe reflects the actual flow
that I believe reflects the actual flow of history not just going back decades
of history not just going back decades
of history not just going back decades but going back centuries and millennia
but going back centuries and millennia
but going back centuries and millennia is neither of these the story I want to
is neither of these the story I want to
is neither of these the story I want to tell is yes algorithms and data enabled
tell is yes algorithms and data enabled
tell is yes algorithms and data enabled machines are
machines are
machines are advancing and becoming more powerful at
advancing and becoming more powerful at
advancing and becoming more powerful at an exponential rate and no we will not
an exponential rate and no we will not
an exponential rate and no we will not be working in the same way in 20 years
be working in the same way in 20 years
be working in the same way in 20 years ten years or even five years as we are
ten years or even five years as we are
ten years or even five years as we are today but as the comparative advantage
today but as the comparative advantage
today but as the comparative advantage of machine over man continues to grow in
of machine over man continues to grow in
of machine over man continues to grow in many areas of work the human advantage
many areas of work the human advantage
many areas of work the human advantage will persist an indoor indefinitely in
will persist an indoor indefinitely in
will persist an indoor indefinitely in others in my story they answer the
others in my story they answer the
others in my story they answer the question what can humans do better than
question what can humans do better than
question what can humans do better than digital computers is pretty simple
digital computers is pretty simple
digital computers is pretty simple humans are better and being human which
humans are better and being human which
humans are better and being human which of course leads to the question what
of course leads to the question what
of course leads to the question what does it mean to be human and that is the
does it mean to be human and that is the
does it mean to be human and that is the question we have to answer now it turns
question we have to answer now it turns
question we have to answer now it turns out that humans and tools machines have
out that humans and tools machines have
out that humans and tools machines have been Co evolving for as long as we’ve
been Co evolving for as long as we’ve
been Co evolving for as long as we’ve been humans our hominid ancestors 2
been humans our hominid ancestors 2
been humans our hominid ancestors 2 million years ago had the idea to cut
million years ago had the idea to cut
million years ago had the idea to cut into meat and pounded tubers like yams
into meat and pounded tubers like yams
into meat and pounded tubers like yams before eating them now what this did was
before eating them now what this did was
before eating them now what this did was to sort of pre digest the food it was
to sort of pre digest the food it was
to sort of pre digest the food it was like we outsource part of our digestive
like we outsource part of our digestive
like we outsource part of our digestive system and because sticks literal sticks
system and because sticks literal sticks
system and because sticks literal sticks and stones were doing work for us we
and stones were doing work for us we
and stones were doing work for us we could do other work and the other work
could do other work and the other work
could do other work and the other work that we did was to grow our relative to
that we did was to grow our relative to
that we did was to grow our relative to other animals large and in particular
other animals large and in particular
other animals large and in particular densely interconnected brains so what
densely interconnected brains so what
densely interconnected brains so what this first production process did this
this first production process did this
this first production process did this first recipe did was literally make us
first recipe did was literally make us
first recipe did was literally make us the species that we are today for better
the species that we are today for better
the species that we are today for better and for worse in my book the code
and for worse in my book the code
and for worse in my book the code economy of 40,000 year history I refer
economy of 40,000 year history I refer
economy of 40,000 year history I refer to the evolution of human societies from
to the evolution of human societies from
to the evolution of human societies from simplicity to complexity over the span
simplicity to complexity over the span
simplicity to complexity over the span of millenia as the advance of code now
of millenia as the advance of code now
of millenia as the advance of code now my use of the word code requires some
my use of the word code requires some
my use of the word code requires some explanation when we think about code in
explanation when we think about code in
explanation when we think about code in the context of the future of work or the
the context of the future of work or the
the context of the future of work or the past of work we tend to default to
past of work we tend to default to
past of work we tend to default to thinking about computer code digital
thinking about computer code digital
thinking about computer code digital code and that’s certainly relevant in
code and that’s certainly relevant in
code and that’s certainly relevant in the story I’m telling today we can think
the story I’m telling today we can think
the story I’m telling today we can think about legal codes Cryptologic codes
about legal codes Cryptologic codes
about legal codes Cryptologic codes building code
building code
building code a lot of different versions of code but
a lot of different versions of code but
a lot of different versions of code but the the version of the word code the
the the version of the word code the
the the version of the word code the meaning of the word code that is of
meaning of the word code that is of
meaning of the word code that is of greatest relevance to my talk today is
greatest relevance to my talk today is
greatest relevance to my talk today is actually genetic code DNA and the
actually genetic code DNA and the
actually genetic code DNA and the question that I posed is essentially
question that I posed is essentially
question that I posed is essentially what is if we take this evolutionary
what is if we take this evolutionary
what is if we take this evolutionary notion of human societies in the economy
notion of human societies in the economy
notion of human societies in the economy what is the analog to DNA and human
what is the analog to DNA and human
what is the analog to DNA and human societies and my answer is that the
societies and my answer is that the
societies and my answer is that the analog is production processes it’s how
analog is production processes it’s how
analog is production processes it’s how we take inputs and convert them into
we take inputs and convert them into
we take inputs and convert them into outputs ideas into things ingredients
outputs ideas into things ingredients
outputs ideas into things ingredients into meals literally recipes so staying
into meals literally recipes so staying
into meals literally recipes so staying with literal culinary recipes for a
with literal culinary recipes for a
with literal culinary recipes for a moment
moment
moment consider this Sumerian tablets dating
consider this Sumerian tablets dating
consider this Sumerian tablets dating from 3500 BC the first known recipe book
from 3500 BC the first known recipe book
from 3500 BC the first known recipe book in case you’re curious it contains
in case you’re curious it contains
in case you’re curious it contains recipes for 25 stews 22 meats two is
recipes for 25 stews 22 meats two is
recipes for 25 stews 22 meats two is three vegetarian what the existence of
three vegetarian what the existence of
three vegetarian what the existence of this cookbook tells us is that we have
this cookbook tells us is that we have
this cookbook tells us is that we have not only been inventing new recipes but
not only been inventing new recipes but
not only been inventing new recipes but we’ve been writing them down encoding
we’ve been writing them down encoding
we’ve been writing them down encoding them sharing with sharing them with
them sharing with sharing them with
them sharing with sharing them with other people for 5,000 years now
other people for 5,000 years now
other people for 5,000 years now consider this further astonishing fact
consider this further astonishing fact
consider this further astonishing fact in those 5,000 years about a hundred
in those 5,000 years about a hundred
in those 5,000 years about a hundred billion people have been alive that’s
billion people have been alive that’s
billion people have been alive that’s four quadrillion meals prepared in some
four quadrillion meals prepared in some
four quadrillion meals prepared in some manner or another and consumed over five
manner or another and consumed over five
manner or another and consumed over five thousand years with more or less the
thousand years with more or less the
thousand years with more or less the same in fact due to monoculture and
same in fact due to monoculture and
same in fact due to monoculture and large-scale agriculture a shrinking set
large-scale agriculture a shrinking set
large-scale agriculture a shrinking set of ingredients so our creativity has
of ingredients so our creativity has
of ingredients so our creativity has been sufficient at over 5,000 years we
been sufficient at over 5,000 years we
been sufficient at over 5,000 years we can not only come up with new recipes
can not only come up with new recipes
can not only come up with new recipes but it’s possible to not just survive
but it’s possible to not just survive
but it’s possible to not just survive but prosper in our society by inventing
but prosper in our society by inventing
but prosper in our society by inventing new recipes and sharing them with other
new recipes and sharing them with other
new recipes and sharing them with other people as the story of Julia Child
people as the story of Julia Child
people as the story of Julia Child so clearly attests now I refer to for
so clearly attests now I refer to for
so clearly attests now I refer to for 40,000 years as as as my reference point
40,000 years as as as my reference point
40,000 years as as as my reference point for the advance of code because the
for the advance of code because the
for the advance of code because the first complex multistage production
first complex multistage production
first complex multistage production process that that archaeologists have
process that that archaeologists have
process that that archaeologists have documented is the production of obsidian
documented is the production of obsidian
documented is the production of obsidian axes in the Upper Paleolithic era about
axes in the Upper Paleolithic era about
axes in the Upper Paleolithic era about thousand years ago subsequently in the
thousand years ago subsequently in the
thousand years ago subsequently in the Neolithic Europe about ten thousand
Neolithic Europe about ten thousand
Neolithic Europe about ten thousand years ago we built enormous monuments of
years ago we built enormous monuments of
years ago we built enormous monuments of stone that required semi-permanent
stone that required semi-permanent
stone that required semi-permanent encampments for their construction and
encampments for their construction and
encampments for their construction and maintenance one of these encampments
maintenance one of these encampments
maintenance one of these encampments developed into humanity’s first city
developed into humanity’s first city
developed into humanity’s first city shuttle Hewitt in modern-day Turkey as
shuttle Hewitt in modern-day Turkey as
shuttle Hewitt in modern-day Turkey as famed urbanist Jane Jacobs wrote in her
famed urbanist Jane Jacobs wrote in her
famed urbanist Jane Jacobs wrote in her book the economy of cities agriculture
book the economy of cities agriculture
book the economy of cities agriculture and cities evolved together developed
and cities evolved together developed
and cities evolved together developed together ideas and seeds hybridized
together ideas and seeds hybridized
together ideas and seeds hybridized together and code became trades guild
together and code became trades guild
together and code became trades guild protected trades that were so stable
protected trades that were so stable
protected trades that were so stable over time that they became family names
over time that they became family names
over time that they became family names Baker burger Smith or Eisenhower which
Baker burger Smith or Eisenhower which
Baker burger Smith or Eisenhower which means iron worker in the 20th century
means iron worker in the 20th century
means iron worker in the 20th century production by small-scale tradesmen
production by small-scale tradesmen
production by small-scale tradesmen craftsmen family farmers began to be
craftsmen family farmers began to be
craftsmen family farmers began to be overtaken by large complex firms society
overtaken by large complex firms society
overtaken by large complex firms society invented a new way to organize work the
invented a new way to organize work the
invented a new way to organize work the job now admittedly there were large
job now admittedly there were large
job now admittedly there were large scale organizations before the 20th
scale organizations before the 20th
scale organizations before the 20th century notably the British East India
century notably the British East India
century notably the British East India Company and there might have been
Company and there might have been
Company and there might have been versions of something like what we would
versions of something like what we would
versions of something like what we would call a job today
call a job today
call a job today but it was really only in the last
but it was really only in the last
but it was really only in the last hundred years that we had fixed roles
hundred years that we had fixed roles
hundred years that we had fixed roles specific sub routines within sub
specific sub routines within sub
specific sub routines within sub routines within large organizations
unions pensions all of the things that
unions pensions all of the things that we think about it as a job or just in
we think about it as a job or just in
we think about it as a job or just in the last hundred years a blink in human
the last hundred years a blink in human
the last hundred years a blink in human history in the last 40 years in the
history in the last 40 years in the
history in the last 40 years in the United States and other advanced
United States and other advanced
United States and other advanced industrialized country and countries
industrialized country and countries
industrialized country and countries another ethical change took place
Manufacturing farms became increasingly
Manufacturing farms became increasingly efficient as a consequence of both
efficient as a consequence of both
efficient as a consequence of both algorithms and robots as well as improve
algorithms and robots as well as improve
algorithms and robots as well as improve production processes management it was
production processes management it was
production processes management it was possible to produce the output consumed
possible to produce the output consumed
possible to produce the output consumed in society with far fewer people that
in society with far fewer people that
in society with far fewer people that had been the case in the past the
had been the case in the past the
had been the case in the past the society shifted to services it turns out
society shifted to services it turns out
society shifted to services it turns out that data on word frequencies from
that data on word frequencies from
that data on word frequencies from Google Ngram Google’s Ngram tool show
Google Ngram Google’s Ngram tool show
Google Ngram Google’s Ngram tool show that the phrases have a nice day and may
that the phrases have a nice day and may
that the phrases have a nice day and may I help you emerged into common parlance
I help you emerged into common parlance
I help you emerged into common parlance at the same time that the economy
at the same time that the economy
at the same time that the economy shifted from manufacturing to services
shifted from manufacturing to services
shifted from manufacturing to services now in the last 10 or 15 years these
now in the last 10 or 15 years these
now in the last 10 or 15 years these mechanistic scripted versions of a
mechanistic scripted versions of a
mechanistic scripted versions of a service economy have began slowly to
service economy have began slowly to
service economy have began slowly to yield to a more fluid theatrical version
yield to a more fluid theatrical version
yield to a more fluid theatrical version of the Apple Store or of Harry Potter
of the Apple Store or of Harry Potter
of the Apple Store or of Harry Potter world we are ostensibly in the age of
world we are ostensibly in the age of
world we are ostensibly in the age of the experience economy corporations
the experience economy corporations
the experience economy corporations around the world are now talking about
around the world are now talking about
around the world are now talking about not providing goods and services to
not providing goods and services to
not providing goods and services to their customers but to create
their customers but to create
their customers but to create experiences so that roughly speaking is
experiences so that roughly speaking is
experiences so that roughly speaking is where we are today so where are we going
where we are today so where are we going
where we are today so where are we going before I conclude I’m gonna ask you to
before I conclude I’m gonna ask you to
before I conclude I’m gonna ask you to do something for me it’s gonna take
do something for me it’s gonna take
do something for me it’s gonna take about 45 seconds maybe a minute that’s
about 45 seconds maybe a minute that’s
about 45 seconds maybe a minute that’s going to require some work so you guys
going to require some work so you guys
going to require some work so you guys ready I’m going to ask you to stand up
ready I’m going to ask you to stand up
ready I’m going to ask you to stand up it has to stand up first unless you
it has to stand up first unless you
it has to stand up first unless you can’t which is fine then we’re gonna
can’t which is fine then we’re gonna
can’t which is fine then we’re gonna have to sort of lean and stand up stand
have to sort of lean and stand up stand
have to sort of lean and stand up stand up everybody stand up and find one
up everybody stand up and find one
up everybody stand up and find one person exactly one person if you don’t
person exactly one person if you don’t
person exactly one person if you don’t have a person that’s okay
have a person that’s okay
have a person that’s okay but try to find exactly one person and
but try to find exactly one person and
but try to find exactly one person and hold their hand for one moment just one
hold their hand for one moment just one
hold their hand for one moment just one person to be your partner okay turn
person to be your partner okay turn
person to be your partner okay turn around if you don’t have a person just
around if you don’t have a person just
around if you don’t have a person just one it can only be one it’s got to only
one it can only be one it’s got to only
one it can only be one it’s got to only been one person so you got to turn
been one person so you got to turn
been one person so you got to turn around and find somebody this is the
around and find somebody this is the
around and find somebody this is the tricky part find one person one person
tricky part find one person one person
tricky part find one person one person okay
okay
okay now now I’m going to count to three
now now I’m going to count to three
now now I’m going to count to three listen up you got to have your one
listen up you got to have your one
listen up you got to have your one person I’m going to count to three and
person I’m going to count to three and
person I’m going to count to three and at three I want you to look into that
at three I want you to look into that
at three I want you to look into that person’s eyes for five seconds
person’s eyes for five seconds
person’s eyes for five seconds do not look away do not blink
do not look away do not blink
do not look away do not blink okay just five seconds all right on the
okay just five seconds all right on the
okay just five seconds all right on the count of three one two three
all right I love that I loved watching
all right I love that I loved watching you guys do that all right okay so so so
you guys do that all right okay so so so
you guys do that all right okay so so so how did that feel
how did that feel
how did that feel why did I ask you to do that okay you
why did I ask you to do that okay you
why did I ask you to do that okay you can sit down now thank you getting back
can sit down now thank you getting back
can sit down now thank you getting back to where I started
to where I started
to where I started what does it mean to be human right to
what does it mean to be human right to
what does it mean to be human right to be human is to to create to collaborate
be human is to to create to collaborate
be human is to to create to collaborate to share we know that from the
to share we know that from the
to share we know that from the archaeological and anthropological
archaeological and anthropological
archaeological and anthropological record we are a social species
anthropologist eel Wilson wrote in his
anthropologist eel Wilson wrote in his book the social conquest of Earth that
book the social conquest of Earth that
book the social conquest of Earth that it was group selection not selfish genes
it was group selection not selfish genes
it was group selection not selfish genes that propelled our species forward over
that propelled our species forward over
that propelled our species forward over the span of millennia to be human is to
the span of millennia to be human is to
the span of millennia to be human is to create and share meals the end of the
create and share meals the end of the
create and share meals the end of the festival of Ramadan Diwali Passover
festival of Ramadan Diwali Passover
festival of Ramadan Diwali Passover dinner
dinner
dinner Easter Sunday festivals meals recipes
Easter Sunday festivals meals recipes
Easter Sunday festivals meals recipes and our humanity are deeply intertwined
and our humanity are deeply intertwined
and our humanity are deeply intertwined to be human is to share of our
to be human is to share of our
to be human is to share of our creativity and passions with other
creativity and passions with other
creativity and passions with other people
people
people knitting circles trading baseball cards
knitting circles trading baseball cards
knitting circles trading baseball cards or like my friend a modest car from
or like my friend a modest car from
or like my friend a modest car from Northern Virginia to create a falafel
Northern Virginia to create a falafel
Northern Virginia to create a falafel shop to benefit refugees to be human is
shop to benefit refugees to be human is
shop to benefit refugees to be human is to do what we’re doing today but it’s
to do what we’re doing today but it’s
to do what we’re doing today but it’s more but to be human is to listen it’s
more but to be human is to listen it’s
more but to be human is to listen it’s to console it’s to empathize so no you
to console it’s to empathize so no you
to console it’s to empathize so no you are not going to become obsolete or
are not going to become obsolete or
are not going to become obsolete or irrelevant and neither your children
irrelevant and neither your children
irrelevant and neither your children because of one simple reason
because of one simple reason
because of one simple reason human contact can’t be automated no
human contact can’t be automated no
human contact can’t be automated no passion can’t be automated and in a very
passion can’t be automated and in a very
passion can’t be automated and in a very real and physical sense I contact can’t
real and physical sense I contact can’t
real and physical sense I contact can’t be automated
be automated
be automated thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment