I spend a surprising amount of my time telling my kids that they shouldn’t do
telling my kids that they shouldn’t do
telling my kids that they shouldn’t do everything that comes into their head
they lack that life experience that
they lack that life experience that would trigger caution they have a ton of
would trigger caution they have a ton of
would trigger caution they have a ton of energy and no inhibition it’s like
energy and no inhibition it’s like
energy and no inhibition it’s like living with little drunk people I run a
living with little drunk people I run a
living with little drunk people I run a tech company and it’s not that different
tech company and it’s not that different
tech company and it’s not that different they’re drunk people running around
they’re drunk people running around
they’re drunk people running around everywhere but not most of the time but
everywhere but not most of the time but
everywhere but not most of the time but in technology we have no parents there’s
in technology we have no parents there’s
in technology we have no parents there’s nobody to guide us towards things that
nobody to guide us towards things that
nobody to guide us towards things that move us forward and away from things
move us forward and away from things
move us forward and away from things that are you know dangerous we’re kind
that are you know dangerous we’re kind
that are you know dangerous we’re kind of left to figure that out for ourselves
of left to figure that out for ourselves
of left to figure that out for ourselves as a species we’re editing DNA and in
as a species we’re editing DNA and in
as a species we’re editing DNA and in the coming decades it’s likely that
the coming decades it’s likely that
the coming decades it’s likely that we’re gonna eradicate a whole pile of
we’re gonna eradicate a whole pile of
we’re gonna eradicate a whole pile of genetic diseases we create new variants
genetic diseases we create new variants
genetic diseases we create new variants of crops that require shorter growing
of crops that require shorter growing
of crops that require shorter growing seasons and tolerate drought and we’re
seasons and tolerate drought and we’re
seasons and tolerate drought and we’re editing the DNA of mosquitoes so that
editing the DNA of mosquitoes so that
editing the DNA of mosquitoes so that they can’t breathe or transmit disease
they can’t breathe or transmit disease
they can’t breathe or transmit disease but what happens when we start using
but what happens when we start using
but what happens when we start using those same DNA editing techniques we
those same DNA editing techniques we
those same DNA editing techniques we used in agriculture on our kids because
used in agriculture on our kids because
used in agriculture on our kids because we will my wife and I both come from
we will my wife and I both come from
we will my wife and I both come from genetic lines that carry at least one of
genetic lines that carry at least one of
genetic lines that carry at least one of the mutations responsible for breast and
the mutations responsible for breast and
the mutations responsible for breast and ovarian cancer and that means our kids
ovarian cancer and that means our kids
ovarian cancer and that means our kids are probably carriers too and that sucks
are probably carriers too and that sucks
are probably carriers too and that sucks if the technology had existed for us to
if the technology had existed for us to
if the technology had existed for us to repair that mutation before we passed it
repair that mutation before we passed it
repair that mutation before we passed it along to our kids and probably would
along to our kids and probably would
along to our kids and probably would have used it even with the knowledge
have used it even with the knowledge
have used it even with the knowledge that anytime we monkey with nature
that anytime we monkey with nature
that anytime we monkey with nature there’s that chance of unexpected
there’s that chance of unexpected
there’s that chance of unexpected consequence
consequence
consequence it’s not like we know what we’re doing
it’s not like we know what we’re doing
it’s not like we know what we’re doing in evolutionary terms we’re the same
in evolutionary terms we’re the same
in evolutionary terms we’re the same dumb animal that was walking the earth
dumb animal that was walking the earth
dumb animal that was walking the earth fifty thousand years ago we’re no
fifty thousand years ago we’re no
fifty thousand years ago we’re no smarter today than we were then the only
smarter today than we were then the only
smarter today than we were then the only thing that differentiates us from that
thing that differentiates us from that
thing that differentiates us from that primitive beast is technology language
primitive beast is technology language
primitive beast is technology language is a technology the ability to write
is a technology the ability to write
is a technology the ability to write things down and transfer knowledge from
things down and transfer knowledge from
things down and transfer knowledge from generation to generation as a technology
generation to generation as a technology
generation to generation as a technology we’re a primitive beast
we’re a primitive beast
we’re a primitive beast that’s discovering things at an
that’s discovering things at an
that’s discovering things at an astonishing rate and we just need to be
astonishing rate and we just need to be
astonishing rate and we just need to be aware of that and we need to be careful
the rate at which we’re bringing new
the rate at which we’re bringing new technology into existence is increasing
technology into existence is increasing
technology into existence is increasing it used to be that you know we had time
it used to be that you know we had time
it used to be that you know we had time to adapt but that’s no longer the case
to adapt but that’s no longer the case
to adapt but that’s no longer the case my wife and I just bought a car that
my wife and I just bought a car that
my wife and I just bought a car that sees the lines on the road and helps us
sees the lines on the road and helps us
sees the lines on the road and helps us steer and you know we did we turned it
steer and you know we did we turned it
steer and you know we did we turned it off for the life of us we could not
off for the life of us we could not
off for the life of us we could not figure out how to drive like that this
figure out how to drive like that this
figure out how to drive like that this morning my phone updated itself again
morning my phone updated itself again
morning my phone updated itself again and now I’m having trouble working it
and now I’m having trouble working it
and now I’m having trouble working it again
again
again I run a technology company and I can’t
I run a technology company and I can’t
I run a technology company and I can’t work my phone half the time but to find
work my phone half the time but to find
work my phone half the time but to find an example of a technology that’s gone
an example of a technology that’s gone
an example of a technology that’s gone completely sideways on us we need look
completely sideways on us we need look
completely sideways on us we need look no further than nuclear and I would say
no further than nuclear and I would say
no further than nuclear and I would say in nuclear technology is bad no
in nuclear technology is bad no
in nuclear technology is bad no technology is inherently good or bad
technology is inherently good or bad
technology is inherently good or bad technology just is but we can’t talk
technology just is but we can’t talk
technology just is but we can’t talk about nuclear technology without
about nuclear technology without
about nuclear technology without acknowledging its dark side and our
acknowledging its dark side and our
acknowledging its dark side and our spectacular failure in controlling it
spectacular failure in controlling it
spectacular failure in controlling it forget about the Cuban Missile Crisis
forget about the Cuban Missile Crisis
forget about the Cuban Missile Crisis you know what scares me the close calls
you know what scares me the close calls
you know what scares me the close calls that we know about 1979 1983 and 1995 we
that we know about 1979 1983 and 1995 we
that we know about 1979 1983 and 1995 we brought ourselves to within minutes of
brought ourselves to within minutes of
brought ourselves to within minutes of extinction we’ve accidentally dropped
extinction we’ve accidentally dropped
extinction we’ve accidentally dropped two large nuclear weapons on North
two large nuclear weapons on North
two large nuclear weapons on North Carolina one of which armed itself and
Carolina one of which armed itself and
Carolina one of which armed itself and nearly went off like little kids who
nearly went off like little kids who
nearly went off like little kids who don’t know how to clean up after
don’t know how to clean up after
don’t know how to clean up after themselves we still don’t have a good
themselves we still don’t have a good
themselves we still don’t have a good solution for what to do with all of our
solution for what to do with all of our
solution for what to do with all of our spent nuclear fuel and now we have an
spent nuclear fuel and now we have an
spent nuclear fuel and now we have an impulsive president toddling us all
impulsive president toddling us all
impulsive president toddling us all towards nuclear war that can leave you
towards nuclear war that can leave you
towards nuclear war that can leave you feeling kind of hopeless and powerless
feeling kind of hopeless and powerless
feeling kind of hopeless and powerless but the rise of technology is also
but the rise of technology is also
but the rise of technology is also changing the game never before in the
changing the game never before in the
changing the game never before in the arc of human history have individuals
arc of human history have individuals
arc of human history have individuals held so much power to affect global
held so much power to affect global
held so much power to affect global change our company sent a team to Amman
change our company sent a team to Amman
change our company sent a team to Amman Jordan to see if artificial intelligence
Jordan to see if artificial intelligence
Jordan to see if artificial intelligence could be used to help formulate a
could be used to help formulate a
could be used to help formulate a response to the refugee crisis the
response to the refugee crisis the
response to the refugee crisis the world’s facing the largest number of
world’s facing the largest number of
world’s facing the largest number of displaced people since the end of World
displaced people since the end of World
displaced people since the end of World War two now estimated at over 65 million
War two now estimated at over 65 million
War two now estimated at over 65 million people we met with extraordinary people
people we met with extraordinary people
people we met with extraordinary people working the front lines of that crisis
working the front lines of that crisis
working the front lines of that crisis doing everything they can with what they
doing everything they can with what they
doing everything they can with what they have
have
have to keep people alive and to get them
to keep people alive and to get them
to keep people alive and to get them somewhere safe
somewhere safe
somewhere safe we met with people from the United
we met with people from the United
we met with people from the United Nations and UNICEF the International
Nations and UNICEF the International
Nations and UNICEF the International Committee for the Red Cross a recurring
Committee for the Red Cross a recurring
Committee for the Red Cross a recurring theme was the need to reunite families
theme was the need to reunite families
theme was the need to reunite families including where it involved identifying
including where it involved identifying
including where it involved identifying the dead over 28,000 people are forced
the dead over 28,000 people are forced
the dead over 28,000 people are forced to flee their homes every day because of
to flee their homes every day because of
to flee their homes every day because of conflict and families can end up
conflict and families can end up
conflict and families can end up separate and in across refugee camps or
separate and in across refugee camps or
separate and in across refugee camps or spontaneous settlements they might make
spontaneous settlements they might make
spontaneous settlements they might make a run for it over land to Lebanon or
a run for it over land to Lebanon or
a run for it over land to Lebanon or Jordan or Turkey or in what could only
Jordan or Turkey or in what could only
Jordan or Turkey or in what could only charitably be called a boat to southern
charitably be called a boat to southern
charitably be called a boat to southern Europe and many don’t make it we saw an
Europe and many don’t make it we saw an
Europe and many don’t make it we saw an opportunity to use facial recognition to
opportunity to use facial recognition to
opportunity to use facial recognition to help reunite these families so we
help reunite these families so we
help reunite these families so we brainstorm some ideas we flew home and
brainstorm some ideas we flew home and
brainstorm some ideas we flew home and we got to work we built a small portable
we got to work we built a small portable
we got to work we built a small portable camera similar to a police body cam only
camera similar to a police body cam only
camera similar to a police body cam only this one can recognize faces that’s been
this one can recognize faces that’s been
this one can recognize faces that’s been taught to look for so now we have this
taught to look for so now we have this
taught to look for so now we have this tool we can use to locate missing people
tool we can use to locate missing people
tool we can use to locate missing people as they arrive on those beaches in
as they arrive on those beaches in
as they arrive on those beaches in southern Europe or out in the field and
southern Europe or out in the field and
southern Europe or out in the field and spontaneous settlements and refugee
spontaneous settlements and refugee
spontaneous settlements and refugee camps in conflict zones and today we’re
camps in conflict zones and today we’re
camps in conflict zones and today we’re working on getting it into the hands of
working on getting it into the hands of
working on getting it into the hands of aid workers so that they can put it to
aid workers so that they can put it to
aid workers so that they can put it to use but then we thought what else could
use but then we thought what else could
use but then we thought what else could we do with this thing so we taught it to
we do with this thing so we taught it to
we do with this thing so we taught it to recognize the UPS truck we got it to
recognize the UPS truck we got it to
recognize the UPS truck we got it to send us an alert when an unrecognized
send us an alert when an unrecognized
send us an alert when an unrecognized person came to the house we taught it to
person came to the house we taught it to
person came to the house we taught it to recognize the neighbor’s dog and turn on
recognize the neighbor’s dog and turn on
recognize the neighbor’s dog and turn on the sprinklers when she came over to
the sprinklers when she came over to
the sprinklers when she came over to poop in our yard
but in our current political environment
but in our current political environment it’s not hard to imagine this being used
it’s not hard to imagine this being used
it’s not hard to imagine this being used in nefarious ways computer vision is a
in nefarious ways computer vision is a
in nefarious ways computer vision is a near perfect tool for racial profiling
near perfect tool for racial profiling
near perfect tool for racial profiling what happens when the license plate
what happens when the license plate
what happens when the license plate scanners we drive through at toll booths
scanners we drive through at toll booths
scanners we drive through at toll booths every day start to perform facial or
every day start to perform facial or
every day start to perform facial or ethnic recognition because they will we
ethnic recognition because they will we
ethnic recognition because they will we captured all your faces tonight we could
captured all your faces tonight we could
captured all your faces tonight we could look through them to see who out there
look through them to see who out there
look through them to see who out there might be Hispanic and maybe undocumented
might be Hispanic and maybe undocumented
might be Hispanic and maybe undocumented or Somali or Arab but then we’re making
or Somali or Arab but then we’re making
or Somali or Arab but then we’re making it so easy for them we are all posting
it so easy for them we are all posting
it so easy for them we are all posting an enormous amount of personal data to
an enormous amount of personal data to
an enormous amount of personal data to the internet and that means with a
the internet and that means with a
the internet and that means with a little digging we can figure out who you
little digging we can figure out who you
little digging we can figure out who you are where you live
are where you live
are where you live who’s your significant other who are
who’s your significant other who are
who’s your significant other who are your friends where you like to hang out
your friends where you like to hang out
your friends where you like to hang out and what your political leanings are and
and what your political leanings are and
and what your political leanings are and that’s an incredibly powerful tool for
that’s an incredibly powerful tool for
that’s an incredibly powerful tool for anyone interested in political
anyone interested in political
anyone interested in political repression and that at a time when we’re
repression and that at a time when we’re
repression and that at a time when we’re seeing a resurgence of authoritarianism
seeing a resurgence of authoritarianism
seeing a resurgence of authoritarianism across the globe and here at home we can
across the globe and here at home we can
across the globe and here at home we can take it a step further and weaponize it
take it a step further and weaponize it
take it a step further and weaponize it targeting individual eyes now somebody’s
targeting individual eyes now somebody’s
targeting individual eyes now somebody’s a hundred bucks in parts from building a
a hundred bucks in parts from building a
a hundred bucks in parts from building a blinding laser weapon that’s illegal
blinding laser weapon that’s illegal
blinding laser weapon that’s illegal under international law but that they
under international law but that they
under international law but that they could build in their garage so where are
could build in their garage so where are
could build in their garage so where are the grown-ups who are our grown-ups it’s
the grown-ups who are our grown-ups it’s
the grown-ups who are our grown-ups it’s pretty easy to make the argument that
pretty easy to make the argument that
pretty easy to make the argument that our lawmakers are not equipped to answer
our lawmakers are not equipped to answer
our lawmakers are not equipped to answer these questions for us and if history is
these questions for us and if history is
these questions for us and if history is any guide they’re going to push us in
any guide they’re going to push us in
any guide they’re going to push us in the wrong direction we’re gonna need to
the wrong direction we’re gonna need to
the wrong direction we’re gonna need to force their hand fortunately there are
force their hand fortunately there are
force their hand fortunately there are organizations like the Union of
organizations like the Union of
organizations like the Union of Concerned Scientists formed in nineteen
Concerned Scientists formed in nineteen
Concerned Scientists formed in nineteen 69 by a bunch of researchers at MIT
69 by a bunch of researchers at MIT
69 by a bunch of researchers at MIT during the height of the Vietnam War
during the height of the Vietnam War
during the height of the Vietnam War they now have over a hundred thousand
they now have over a hundred thousand
they now have over a hundred thousand members and they work every day to
members and they work every day to
members and they work every day to direct scientific research away from the
direct scientific research away from the
direct scientific research away from the military and towards solving humanity’s
military and towards solving humanity’s
military and towards solving humanity’s pressing environmental and social
pressing environmental and social
pressing environmental and social problems and there’s the International
problems and there’s the International
problems and there’s the International Committee for the Red Cross the
Committee for the Red Cross the
Committee for the Red Cross the defenders of the Geneva Convention they
defenders of the Geneva Convention they
defenders of the Geneva Convention they document the use of illegal weapons of
document the use of illegal weapons of
document the use of illegal weapons of war and the indiscriminate or
war and the indiscriminate or
war and the indiscriminate or intentional targeting of civilians now
intentional targeting of civilians now
intentional targeting of civilians now they need and deserve our help and we do
they need and deserve our help and we do
they need and deserve our help and we do that by getting back to electing
that by getting back to electing
that by getting back to electing lawmakers that support the ideals of
lawmakers that support the ideals of
lawmakers that support the ideals of international humanitarian law we used
international humanitarian law we used
international humanitarian law we used to do that we used to pride ourselves on
to do that we used to pride ourselves on
to do that we used to pride ourselves on that and those of us working in
that and those of us working in
that and those of us working in technology we have a responsibility to
technology we have a responsibility to
technology we have a responsibility to lead through the choices that we make we
lead through the choices that we make we
lead through the choices that we make we don’t have to take jobs building more
don’t have to take jobs building more
don’t have to take jobs building more advanced weapons or tools that could be
advanced weapons or tools that could be
advanced weapons or tools that could be used to support a surveillance state we
used to support a surveillance state we
used to support a surveillance state we can make a conscious decision to direct
can make a conscious decision to direct
can make a conscious decision to direct our efforts towards projects that
our efforts towards projects that
our efforts towards projects that benefit the common good because there
benefit the common good because there
benefit the common good because there are a ton of things that we can and
are a ton of things that we can and
are a ton of things that we can and should do and it’s the choices that we
should do and it’s the choices that we
should do and it’s the choices that we make that could very well determine the
make that could very well determine the
make that could very well determine the future of our species and our planet
future of our species and our planet
future of our species and our planet thank you
”
Be First to Comment