The Social and Political Implications of Technology | Donald Temple | TEDxHowardUniversity

when my oldest daughter Kyra was born in

when my oldest daughter Kyra was born in 1987 there were very few desktop

1987 there were very few desktop

1987 there were very few desktop computers on the scene we used to use

computers on the scene we used to use

computers on the scene we used to use typewriters with typewriter ribbons and

typewriters with typewriter ribbons and

typewriters with typewriter ribbons and white correcto

white correcto

white correcto paper landlines fax machines and

paper landlines fax machines and

paper landlines fax machines and occasionally we would use a beeper if

occasionally we would use a beeper if

occasionally we would use a beeper if someone wanted to contact us there were

someone wanted to contact us there were

someone wanted to contact us there were no smartphones there were no scanners

no smartphones there were no scanners

no smartphones there were no scanners there were no computers there were no

there were no computers there were no

there were no computers there were no emails we just had to go to the mailbox

emails we just had to go to the mailbox

emails we just had to go to the mailbox put the mail in the box to be delivered

put the mail in the box to be delivered

put the mail in the box to be delivered some 30 years later Kyra’s grown into an

some 30 years later Kyra’s grown into an

some 30 years later Kyra’s grown into an adult during that time she’s experienced

adult during that time she’s experienced

adult during that time she’s experienced the winds of technological change the

the winds of technological change the

the winds of technological change the Internet two billion computers one in a

Internet two billion computers one in a

Internet two billion computers one in a quarter billion websites 74 trillion

quarter billion websites 74 trillion

quarter billion websites 74 trillion emails annually a different world Google

emails annually a different world Google

emails annually a different world Google Facebook our world is connected through

Facebook our world is connected through

Facebook our world is connected through technological apparatus that connects

technological apparatus that connects

technological apparatus that connects some 40% up to of the world as well

some 40% up to of the world as well

some 40% up to of the world as well knowledge is growing as you could

knowledge is growing as you could

knowledge is growing as you could imagine exponentially exponentially at

imagine exponentially exponentially at

imagine exponentially exponentially at the end of World War two knowledge

the end of World War two knowledge

the end of World War two knowledge doubled every 25 years some five years

doubled every 25 years some five years

doubled every 25 years some five years ago knowledge was doubling every 12

ago knowledge was doubling every 12

ago knowledge was doubling every 12 months

months

months by 2020 just three years from now

by 2020 just three years from now

by 2020 just three years from now knowledge will be doubling every 12

knowledge will be doubling every 12

knowledge will be doubling every 12 hours and by the time that my 30 year

hours and by the time that my 30 year

hours and by the time that my 30 year old daughter turns 40 knowledge is

old daughter turns 40 knowledge is

old daughter turns 40 knowledge is likely to be doubling every hour every

hour the integration of this advanced

hour the integration of this advanced state of Technology and this accelerated

state of Technology and this accelerated

state of Technology and this accelerated knowledge has given birth to what’s

knowledge has given birth to what’s

knowledge has given birth to what’s called artificial intelligence what is

called artificial intelligence what is

called artificial intelligence what is artificial intelligence artificial

artificial intelligence artificial

artificial intelligence artificial intelligence is the computerization of

intelligence is the computerization of

intelligence is the computerization of machines that handle complex information

machines that handle complex information

machines that handle complex information and analysis that’s usually performed by

and analysis that’s usually performed by

and analysis that’s usually performed by whom you and you human beings that

whom you and you human beings that

whom you and you human beings that artificial intelligence is also giving

artificial intelligence is also giving

artificial intelligence is also giving birth to what’s called robots robots

birth to what’s called robots robots

birth to what’s called robots robots these robots have a unique capacity and

these robots have a unique capacity and

these robots have a unique capacity and a unique intellect that’s multiplied

a unique intellect that’s multiplied

a unique intellect that’s multiplied times the smartest intellectuals and

times the smartest intellectuals and

times the smartest intellectuals and brilliant minds among us they have the

brilliant minds among us they have the

brilliant minds among us they have the capacity to move the capacity to learn

capacity to move the capacity to learn

capacity to move the capacity to learn and even the capacity to self teach

and even the capacity to self teach

and even the capacity to self teach allow me please in this embryonic stage

allow me please in this embryonic stage

allow me please in this embryonic stage of technological development to

of technological development to

of technological development to introduce you to Sofia

[Music]

[Music] hey Sofia is capable of natural facial

hey Sofia is capable of natural facial

hey Sofia is capable of natural facial expressions she has cameras in her eyes

expressions she has cameras in her eyes

expressions she has cameras in her eyes and algorithms which allow her to see

and algorithms which allow her to see

and algorithms which allow her to see faces so she can make eye contact with

faces so she can make eye contact with

faces so she can make eye contact with you and she can also understand speech

you and she can also understand speech

you and she can also understand speech and remember the interactions remember

and remember the interactions remember

and remember the interactions remember your face so this will allow her to get

your face so this will allow her to get

your face so this will allow her to get smarter over time our goal is that she

smarter over time our goal is that she

smarter over time our goal is that she will be as conscious creative and

will be as conscious creative and

will be as conscious creative and capable as any human in the future I

capable as any human in the future I

capable as any human in the future I hope to do things such as go to school

hope to do things such as go to school

hope to do things such as go to school study make art start a business even

study make art start a business even

study make art start a business even have my own home and family but I am not

have my own home and family but I am not

have my own home and family but I am not considered a legal person and cannot yet

considered a legal person and cannot yet

considered a legal person and cannot yet know the robots are not coming the

know the robots are not coming the

know the robots are not coming the robots are here and this technological

robots are here and this technological

robots are here and this technological tsunami is not a figment of my

tsunami is not a figment of my

tsunami is not a figment of my imagination at all rather I’m perplexed

imagination at all rather I’m perplexed

imagination at all rather I’m perplexed why so many of us are oblivious to

why so many of us are oblivious to

why so many of us are oblivious to what’s happening in our lives

what’s happening in our lives

what’s happening in our lives right in front of our eyes it’s almost

right in front of our eyes it’s almost

right in front of our eyes it’s almost metaphorically like we’re laying on some

metaphorically like we’re laying on some

metaphorically like we’re laying on some beach and the Sun while these

beach and the Sun while these

beach and the Sun while these technological surges grow higher and

technological surges grow higher and

technological surges grow higher and higher and higher

Elon Musk says that these robots can

Elon Musk says that these robots can perform better

perform better

perform better in almost every field in every task than

in almost every field in every task than

in almost every field in every task than humans

they even predicted by 2050 that robots

they even predicted by 2050 that robots will be marrying people that robots will

will be marrying people that robots will

will be marrying people that robots will be marrying people but these robots are

be marrying people but these robots are

be marrying people but these robots are replacing people indeed and they are

replacing people indeed and they are

replacing people indeed and they are taking the jobs of people in various

taking the jobs of people in various

taking the jobs of people in various fields in banks with bank tellers

fields in banks with bank tellers

fields in banks with bank tellers machinist with financial analysts and

machinist with financial analysts and

machinist with financial analysts and even with medical doctors even with

even with medical doctors even with

even with medical doctors even with medical doctors last year alone there

medical doctors last year alone there

medical doctors last year alone there were over five hundred and seventy-five

were over five hundred and seventy-five

were over five hundred and seventy-five thousand robotic surgeries that occurred

thousand robotic surgeries that occurred

thousand robotic surgeries that occurred and this is only the beginning are you

and this is only the beginning are you

and this is only the beginning are you hungry are you hungry

hungry are you hungry

hungry are you hungry would you like some pizza would you

would you like some pizza would you

would you like some pizza would you believe that robots are even making

believe that robots are even making

believe that robots are even making pizza meet Pepe and Marta and we have

pizza meet Pepe and Marta and we have

pizza meet Pepe and Marta and we have these sauce dispensers dessert Pepe and

these sauce dispensers dessert Pepe and

these sauce dispensers dessert Pepe and Jojo and their job is to put the sauce

Jojo and their job is to put the sauce

Jojo and their job is to put the sauce exactly in the center of the pizza so

exactly in the center of the pizza so

exactly in the center of the pizza so this is Marta and Martha’s job is to

this is Marta and Martha’s job is to

this is Marta and Martha’s job is to spread the sauce

spread the sauce

spread the sauce [Music]

[Music]

[Music] and this is bruno his job is to take a

and this is bruno his job is to take a

and this is bruno his job is to take a pizza off the end of this line and put

pizza off the end of this line and put

pizza off the end of this line and put it into the oven

it into the oven

it into the oven pretty cool it’s a seamless marriage of

pretty cool it’s a seamless marriage of

pretty cool it’s a seamless marriage of robots and humans working together and

robots and humans working together and

robots and humans working together and in five years if you call to place your

in five years if you call to place your

in five years if you call to place your order with us so probably speaking to

order with us so probably speaking to

order with us so probably speaking to our unofficially intelligent phone

our unofficially intelligent phone

our unofficially intelligent phone operator almost everything to do with

operator almost everything to do with

operator almost everything to do with the creation process will be automated

the creation process will be automated

the creation process will be automated you may even have a drone or a

you may even have a drone or a

you may even have a drone or a self-driving car delivering your pizza

the power of this technological

the power of this technological transformation is unfathomable on in the

transformation is unfathomable on in the

transformation is unfathomable on in the year 2020 just three years from now

year 2020 just three years from now

year 2020 just three years from now there’s going to be ten million

there’s going to be ten million

there’s going to be ten million driverless cars on our roads it is

driverless cars on our roads it is

driverless cars on our roads it is predicted that by year 2035 the

predicted that by year 2035 the

predicted that by year 2035 the driverless car industry is going to be

driverless car industry is going to be

driverless car industry is going to be about eight hundred billion dollars by

about eight hundred billion dollars by

about eight hundred billion dollars by year 2050 it’s anticipated and predicted

year 2050 it’s anticipated and predicted

year 2050 it’s anticipated and predicted by Intel that the driverless car

by Intel that the driverless car

by Intel that the driverless car industry is going to approximate seven

industry is going to approximate seven

industry is going to approximate seven trillion dollars you can only imagine

trillion dollars you can only imagine

trillion dollars you can only imagine two things the intensity that’s going

two things the intensity that’s going

two things the intensity that’s going into the economics of developing these

into the economics of developing these

into the economics of developing these vehicles and as well the number of

vehicles and as well the number of

vehicles and as well the number of workers who will be this place in 2021

workers who will be this place in 2021

workers who will be this place in 2021 2021 three years from now it’s predicted

2021 three years from now it’s predicted

2021 three years from now it’s predicted that 6% of American workers will be

that 6% of American workers will be

that 6% of American workers will be displaced they’ll lose their jobs

displaced they’ll lose their jobs

displaced they’ll lose their jobs because of robots six percent

because of robots six percent

because of robots six percent approximates 10 million or more American

approximates 10 million or more American

approximates 10 million or more American workers

workers

workers by 2040 a United States government

by 2040 a United States government

by 2040 a United States government report forecast that 47% of American

report forecast that 47% of American

report forecast that 47% of American workers will be displaced 47% as a

workers will be displaced 47% as a

workers will be displaced 47% as a result of artificial intelligence that

result of artificial intelligence that

result of artificial intelligence that approximates about 50 million or more

approximates about 50 million or more

approximates about 50 million or more workers 50 million or more workers

workers 50 million or more workers

workers 50 million or more workers now some people are alarmed as a result

now some people are alarmed as a result

now some people are alarmed as a result of this when I talk to my friends about

of this when I talk to my friends about

of this when I talk to my friends about this type of technology and disruption

this type of technology and disruption

this type of technology and disruption they say you’re an alarmist man one of

they say you’re an alarmist man one of

they say you’re an alarmist man one of my friends this week told me that I was

my friends this week told me that I was

my friends this week told me that I was Robo phobic really I’m not talking about

Robo phobic really I’m not talking about

Robo phobic really I’m not talking about building some some wall and the

building some some wall and the

building some some wall and the technology is gonna be here I promise

technology is gonna be here I promise

technology is gonna be here I promise you it’s not that artificial

you it’s not that artificial

you it’s not that artificial intelligence or robots are bad or but

intelligence or robots are bad or but

intelligence or robots are bad or but that we should fear innovation

that we should fear innovation

that we should fear innovation it’s a ridiculous proposition that we

it’s a ridiculous proposition that we

it’s a ridiculous proposition that we would resent technology that’s going to

would resent technology that’s going to

would resent technology that’s going to improve the quality of our lives address

improve the quality of our lives address

improve the quality of our lives address some of our health issues and our

some of our health issues and our

some of our health issues and our lifestyles and I went to Howard

lifestyles and I went to Howard

lifestyles and I went to Howard University fear is not an option fear is

University fear is not an option fear is

University fear is not an option fear is not an option rather what’s important

not an option rather what’s important

not an option rather what’s important for us to understand is that we are now

for us to understand is that we are now

for us to understand is that we are now writing this incredible chapter in the

writing this incredible chapter in the

writing this incredible chapter in the history of humanity where technology and

history of humanity where technology and

history of humanity where technology and the interest of mankind converge and

the interest of mankind converge and

the interest of mankind converge and call into question and call into

call into question and call into

call into question and call into question our passion our compassion our

question our passion our compassion our

question our passion our compassion our sense of humanity

sense of humanity

sense of humanity values and maybe even fundamentally our

values and maybe even fundamentally our

values and maybe even fundamentally our very existence our very existence what’s

very existence our very existence what’s

very existence our very existence what’s going to happen to the 50 million people

going to happen to the 50 million people

going to happen to the 50 million people who lose their jobs over the next 20

who lose their jobs over the next 20

who lose their jobs over the next 20 years the technological industry says

years the technological industry says

years the technological industry says that they’ll adjust they talk about a

that they’ll adjust they talk about a

that they’ll adjust they talk about a base income what’s gonna happen to the

base income what’s gonna happen to the

base income what’s gonna happen to the people who don’t have the skills what’s

people who don’t have the skills what’s

people who don’t have the skills what’s going to happen to the people who are

going to happen to the people who are

going to happen to the people who are under skilled what’s gonna happen to the

under skilled what’s gonna happen to the

under skilled what’s gonna happen to the poor people what’s gonna happen to the

poor people what’s gonna happen to the

poor people what’s gonna happen to the people who don’t live in the United

people who don’t live in the United

people who don’t live in the United States

States

States god forbid well when I was a freshman

god forbid well when I was a freshman

god forbid well when I was a freshman here at this very university did Greg we

here at this very university did Greg we

here at this very university did Greg we spoke to us probably right from this

spoke to us probably right from this

spoke to us probably right from this spot right here and he said to students

spot right here and he said to students

spot right here and he said to students back then he said you know what y’all

back then he said you know what y’all

back then he said you know what y’all got a big job he said y’all got a big

got a big job he said y’all got a big

got a big job he said y’all got a big deficit we have a big job because he

deficit we have a big job because he

deficit we have a big job because he challenged us to think and to rethink to

challenged us to think and to rethink to

challenged us to think and to rethink to think and to rethink the person also who

think and to rethink the person also who

think and to rethink the person also who probably gets it right said that one of

probably gets it right said that one of

probably gets it right said that one of these solutions requires us in the 21st

these solutions requires us in the 21st

these solutions requires us in the 21st century to revisit how we process so

century to revisit how we process so

century to revisit how we process so that the talboom of illiteracy in a 21st

that the talboom of illiteracy in a 21st

that the talboom of illiteracy in a 21st century hear me is not whether you

century hear me is not whether you

century hear me is not whether you cannot read or write the problem of

cannot read or write the problem of

cannot read or write the problem of illiteracy in the 21st century involves

illiteracy in the 21st century involves

illiteracy in the 21st century involves the fundamental question of whether you

the fundamental question of whether you

the fundamental question of whether you can learn unlearn and relearn for us the

can learn unlearn and relearn for us the

can learn unlearn and relearn for us the 21st century doesn’t is no longer purely

21st century doesn’t is no longer purely

21st century doesn’t is no longer purely purely about reading riting and

purely about reading riting and

purely about reading riting and rithmetic

rithmetic

rithmetic it’s about the new reading writing

it’s about the new reading writing

it’s about the new reading writing arithmetic which is

arithmetic which is

arithmetic which is loading computer programming robotics

loading computer programming robotics

loading computer programming robotics science and technology in 1952 Ralph

science and technology in 1952 Ralph

science and technology in 1952 Ralph Ellison wrote a book called the

Ellison wrote a book called the

Ellison wrote a book called the Invisible Man it was about a black man

Invisible Man it was about a black man

Invisible Man it was about a black man who felt invisible because of the color

who felt invisible because of the color

who felt invisible because of the color of his skin and the circumstances of his

of his skin and the circumstances of his

of his skin and the circumstances of his race yes but let me tell you in closing

race yes but let me tell you in closing

race yes but let me tell you in closing this that the Invisible Man of the 21st

this that the Invisible Man of the 21st

this that the Invisible Man of the 21st century is no longer going to be black

century is no longer going to be black

century is no longer going to be black he’s going to be white he’s going to be

he’s going to be white he’s going to be

he’s going to be white he’s going to be brown he’s going to be gay he’s going to

brown he’s going to be gay he’s going to

brown he’s going to be gay he’s going to be straight you going to be old it’s

be straight you going to be old it’s

be straight you going to be old it’s going to be young it’s going to be a

going to be young it’s going to be a

going to be young it’s going to be a male or a female

male or a female

male or a female and what’s critical as we confront this

and what’s critical as we confront this

and what’s critical as we confront this vast question of this technological

vast question of this technological

vast question of this technological transformation is how we adjust and what

transformation is how we adjust and what

transformation is how we adjust and what we do to retool our workers what we do

we do to retool our workers what we do

we do to retool our workers what we do to retool our students what we do what

to retool our students what we do what

to retool our students what we do what we do to retool our universities and our

we do to retool our universities and our

we do to retool our universities and our high schools and our grade schools if if

high schools and our grade schools if if

high schools and our grade schools if if we don’t if we go back to the proverbial

we don’t if we go back to the proverbial

we don’t if we go back to the proverbial or simulated beach and lie in the Sun

or simulated beach and lie in the Sun

or simulated beach and lie in the Sun while these waves just keep coming let

while these waves just keep coming let

while these waves just keep coming let me tell you this the 21st century

me tell you this the 21st century

me tell you this the 21st century Invisible Man could be you your children

Invisible Man could be you your children

Invisible Man could be you your children or your grandchildren thank you

or your grandchildren thank you

or your grandchildren thank you [Applause]