Will the future be more like Star Trek or Mad Max? | Alec Ross | TEDxMidAtlantic

will the future look more like Star Trek

will the future look more like Star Trek or more like Mad Max when asked that

or more like Mad Max when asked that

or more like Mad Max when asked that question in Seattle or San Francisco

question in Seattle or San Francisco

question in Seattle or San Francisco everybody says Star Trek when asked that

everybody says Star Trek when asked that

everybody says Star Trek when asked that question in my native West Virginia or

question in my native West Virginia or

question in my native West Virginia or in West Baltimore where I started my

in West Baltimore where I started my

in West Baltimore where I started my career

career

career people say Mad Max is that whether the

people say Mad Max is that whether the

people say Mad Max is that whether the future looks more like Star Trek or more

future looks more like Star Trek or more

future looks more like Star Trek or more like Mad Max comes down to a distinctly

like Mad Max comes down to a distinctly

like Mad Max comes down to a distinctly human question that we are not going to

human question that we are not going to

human question that we are not going to be able to outsource to algorithms will

be able to outsource to algorithms will

be able to outsource to algorithms will we rewrite our social contract

we rewrite our social contract

we rewrite our social contract what’s a social contract a social

what’s a social contract a social

what’s a social contract a social contract is an agreement between the

contract is an agreement between the

contract is an agreement between the government citizens and the private

government citizens and the private

government citizens and the private sector that defines and limits the

sector that defines and limits the

sector that defines and limits the responsibilities and duties of each it

responsibilities and duties of each it

responsibilities and duties of each it holds that all of our political and

holds that all of our political and

holds that all of our political and moral obligations have to be both

moral obligations have to be both

moral obligations have to be both formally and informally codified so that

formally and informally codified so that

formally and informally codified so that we can live in a functional society now

we can live in a functional society now

we can live in a functional society now for the longest time the world didn’t

for the longest time the world didn’t

for the longest time the world didn’t have much of a social contract during

have much of a social contract during

have much of a social contract during the early empires the leader whether it

the early empires the leader whether it

the early empires the leader whether it was an emperor a king or a Khan I was

was an emperor a king or a Khan I was

was an emperor a king or a Khan I was treated almost like a god and basically

treated almost like a god and basically

treated almost like a god and basically everybody lived to be the gods subject

everybody lived to be the gods subject

everybody lived to be the gods subject and worked for his greater glory and

and worked for his greater glory and

and worked for his greater glory and this held for thousands of years and

this held for thousands of years and

this held for thousands of years and changed significantly the for the first

changed significantly the for the first

changed significantly the for the first time in the West with the first real

time in the West with the first real

time in the West with the first real Western social contract was feudalism

Western social contract was feudalism

Western social contract was feudalism feudalism the nobles would hold the

feudalism the nobles would hold the

feudalism the nobles would hold the lands for the crown in exchange for

lands for the crown in exchange for

lands for the crown in exchange for taxes and military service and the

taxes and military service and the

taxes and military service and the peasants in turn would be obliged to

peasants in turn would be obliged to

peasants in turn would be obliged to live on their Lord’s land and provide

live on their Lord’s land and provide

live on their Lord’s land and provide homage labor and a share of the Harvey

homage labor and a share of the Harvey

homage labor and a share of the Harvey notionally in exchange for military

notionally in exchange for military

notionally in exchange for military protection and the right to stay on the

protection and the right to stay on the

protection and the right to stay on the land this was the social contract of the

land this was the social contract of the

land this was the social contract of the agricultural age this was the contract

agricultural age this was the contract

agricultural age this was the contract that existed when more than 80% of all

that existed when more than 80% of all

that existed when more than 80% of all labor took place on the farm where most

labor took place on the farm where most

labor took place on the farm where most of our economic activity was rooted in

of our economic activity was rooted in

of our economic activity was rooted in keeping ourselves fed it was the first

keeping ourselves fed it was the first

keeping ourselves fed it was the first time where we began to look at each

time where we began to look at each

time where we began to look at each member of society as being dependent on

member of society as being dependent on

member of society as being dependent on the other and it was inspired in

the other and it was inspired in

the other and it was inspired in significant measure by st. Paul’s first

significant measure by st. Paul’s first

significant measure by st. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians which I wanted

letter to the Corinthians which I wanted

letter to the Corinthians which I wanted to read a little bit from to you the st.

to read a little bit from to you the st.

to read a little bit from to you the st. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians it said now the body is not a single

it said now the body is not a single

it said now the body is not a single part but many if a foot should say

part but many if a foot should say

part but many if a foot should say because I am NOT a hand I do not belong

because I am NOT a hand I do not belong

because I am NOT a hand I do not belong to the body it is not for this reason

to the body it is not for this reason

to the body it is not for this reason belong any less to the body or if an ear

belong any less to the body or if an ear

belong any less to the body or if an ear should say because I am NOT an eye I do

should say because I am NOT an eye I do

should say because I am NOT an eye I do not belong to the body it is not for

not belong to the body it is not for

not belong to the body it is not for this reason belong any less to the body

this reason belong any less to the body

this reason belong any less to the body if the whole body were an eye where

if the whole body were an eye where

if the whole body were an eye where would the hearing be if the whole body

would the hearing be if the whole body

would the hearing be if the whole body were hearing where would the sense of

were hearing where would the sense of

were hearing where would the sense of smell be but as it is God placed the

smell be but as it is God placed the

smell be but as it is God placed the parts each one of them in the body as he

parts each one of them in the body as he

parts each one of them in the body as he intended if they were all one part where

intended if they were all one part where

intended if they were all one part where would the body be but as it is there are

would the body be but as it is there are

would the body be but as it is there are many parts yet one body the eye cannot

many parts yet one body the eye cannot

many parts yet one body the eye cannot say to the hand I do not need you nor

say to the hand I do not need you nor

say to the hand I do not need you nor again the head to the feet I do not need

again the head to the feet I do not need

again the head to the feet I do not need you indeed the parts of the body that

you indeed the parts of the body that

you indeed the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more

seem to be weaker are all the more

seem to be weaker are all the more necessary and those parts of the body we

necessary and those parts of the body we

necessary and those parts of the body we consider less honorable we surround with

consider less honorable we surround with

consider less honorable we surround with greater honor and our less presentable

greater honor and our less presentable

greater honor and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety

parts are treated with greater propriety

parts are treated with greater propriety whereas our more presentable parts do

whereas our more presentable parts do

whereas our more presentable parts do not need this but God has so constructed

not need this but God has so constructed

not need this but God has so constructed the body as to give greatest honor to a

the body as to give greatest honor to a

the body as to give greatest honor to a part that is without it so that there

part that is without it so that there

part that is without it so that there may be no division in the body but that

may be no division in the body but that

may be no division in the body but that the parts may have the same concern for

the parts may have the same concern for

the parts may have the same concern for one another if one part suffers all the

one another if one part suffers all the

one another if one part suffers all the parts suffer if one part is honored all

parts suffer if one part is honored all

parts suffer if one part is honored all the parts share its joy now this concept

the parts share its joy now this concept

the parts share its joy now this concept of interdependence is at the heart of

of interdependence is at the heart of

of interdependence is at the heart of every social contract and this social

every social contract and this social

every social contract and this social contract

contract

contract of the agricultural age lasted for

of the agricultural age lasted for

of the agricultural age lasted for hundreds and hundreds of years until

hundreds and hundreds of years until

hundreds and hundreds of years until three things really propelled its change

three things really propelled its change

three things really propelled its change capitalism the introduction of a limited

capitalism the introduction of a limited

capitalism the introduction of a limited form of democracy and industrialization

form of democracy and industrialization

form of democracy and industrialization with this a new social contract for the

with this a new social contract for the

with this a new social contract for the Industrial Age and a lot of this was

Industrial Age and a lot of this was

Industrial Age and a lot of this was catalyzed by innovation in science and

catalyzed by innovation in science and

catalyzed by innovation in science and technology so for example the

technology so for example the

technology so for example the mechanization of the form inventions

mechanization of the form inventions

mechanization of the form inventions like the cotton gin made it less

like the cotton gin made it less

like the cotton gin made it less necessary for there to be so many farm

necessary for there to be so many farm

necessary for there to be so many farm workers the invention of the printing

workers the invention of the printing

workers the invention of the printing press created a more informed public

press created a more informed public

press created a more informed public that demanded some limited forms of

that demanded some limited forms of

that demanded some limited forms of democratic participation other

democratic participation other

democratic participation other inventions from science and technology

inventions from science and technology

inventions from science and technology that propelled us from an agricultural

that propelled us from an agricultural

that propelled us from an agricultural age into an industrial age included

age into an industrial age included

age into an industrial age included things like the steam engine and the

things like the steam engine and the

things like the steam engine and the production of industrial chemicals now

production of industrial chemicals now

production of industrial chemicals now as labor moved from farm to factory and

as labor moved from farm to factory and

as labor moved from farm to factory and from countryside to city a new social

from countryside to city a new social

from countryside to city a new social contract was written over a period of

contract was written over a period of

contract was written over a period of many many decades and some of its key

many many decades and some of its key

many many decades and some of its key components were things like a 40-hour

components were things like a 40-hour

components were things like a 40-hour workweek a minimum wage social insurance

workweek a minimum wage social insurance

workweek a minimum wage social insurance the social net free public education and

the social net free public education and

the social net free public education and this this social contract of the

this this social contract of the

this this social contract of the Industrial Age has existed now for going

Industrial Age has existed now for going

Industrial Age has existed now for going on 200 years or less but we are once

on 200 years or less but we are once

on 200 years or less but we are once again at one of those very rare

again at one of those very rare

again at one of those very rare inflection points we’re moving from an

inflection points we’re moving from an

inflection points we’re moving from an industrial age to an Information Age so

industrial age to an Information Age so

industrial age to an Information Age so we need to rewrite that contract land

we need to rewrite that contract land

we need to rewrite that contract land was the raw material of the agricultural

was the raw material of the agricultural

was the raw material of the agricultural age iron was the raw material of the

age iron was the raw material of the

age iron was the raw material of the Industrial Age data is the raw material

Industrial Age data is the raw material

Industrial Age data is the raw material of the Information Age

of the Information Age

of the Information Age he who owned the land and controlled the

he who owned the land and controlled the

he who owned the land and controlled the land during the agricultural age had the

land during the agricultural age had the

land during the agricultural age had the power he who owned the factories and

power he who owned the factories and

power he who owned the factories and controlled access to the natural

controlled access to the natural

controlled access to the natural resources during the Industrial Age had

resources during the Industrial Age had

resources during the Industrial Age had the power he or she who owned the data

the power he or she who owned the data

the power he or she who owned the data control the data were can harvest

control the data were can harvest

control the data were can harvest meaning from the data are those who have

meaning from the data are those who have

meaning from the data are those who have the power today and tomorrow

the power today and tomorrow

the power today and tomorrow now just as inventions like the printing

now just as inventions like the printing

now just as inventions like the printing press and the cotton gin propelled us

press and the cotton gin propelled us

press and the cotton gin propelled us from an agricultural age into an

from an agricultural age into an

from an agricultural age into an industrial age so too are today’s

industrial age so too are today’s

industrial age so too are today’s technologies propelling us from an

technologies propelling us from an

technologies propelling us from an industrial age into an Information Age

industrial age into an Information Age

industrial age into an Information Age and the Internet is just the beginning

and the Internet is just the beginning

and the Internet is just the beginning of it you know other technologies like

of it you know other technologies like

of it you know other technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics

artificial intelligence and robotics

artificial intelligence and robotics autonomous vehicles 3d printing all of

autonomous vehicles 3d printing all of

autonomous vehicles 3d printing all of these things are reshaping the

these things are reshaping the

these things are reshaping the relationship between the governing and

relationship between the governing and

relationship between the governing and the governed its reshaping the

the governed its reshaping the

the governed its reshaping the relationship between citizen Corporation

relationship between citizen Corporation

relationship between citizen Corporation and state for both good and ill as we

and state for both good and ill as we

and state for both good and ill as we think about the implications of this

think about the implications of this

think about the implications of this transition from an industrial economy

transition from an industrial economy

transition from an industrial economy into an information based economy we

into an information based economy we

into an information based economy we need to think about what those

need to think about what those

need to think about what those transition points that are that we can

transition points that are that we can

transition points that are that we can take advantage of and think about who’s

take advantage of and think about who’s

take advantage of and think about who’s being harmed within this if we think

being harmed within this if we think

being harmed within this if we think about some of the technologies that are

about some of the technologies that are

about some of the technologies that are emerging for example like like

emerging for example like like

emerging for example like like artificial intelligence and 3d printing

artificial intelligence and 3d printing

artificial intelligence and 3d printing these technologies place great strains

these technologies place great strains

these technologies place great strains on the working class because they are

on the working class because they are

on the working class because they are inherently automation technologies these

inherently automation technologies these

inherently automation technologies these technologies are freeing for many but

technologies are freeing for many but

technologies are freeing for many but for others they cause real problems

for others they cause real problems

for others they cause real problems rooted in economics as we think about

rooted in economics as we think about

rooted in economics as we think about the incisions that we need to make in

the incisions that we need to make in

the incisions that we need to make in our society right now as we transition

our society right now as we transition

our society right now as we transition from an industrial based economy into an

from an industrial based economy into an

from an industrial based economy into an increasingly technology rich

increasingly technology rich

increasingly technology rich knowledge-based economy one of the

knowledge-based economy one of the

knowledge-based economy one of the things that we need to recognize is that

things that we need to recognize is that

things that we need to recognize is that the way technology is evolving is a

the way technology is evolving is a

the way technology is evolving is a is advantaging capital / labor so for

is advantaging capital / labor so for

is advantaging capital / labor so for example most of the innovations that

example most of the innovations that

example most of the innovations that have taken place in recent years and

have taken place in recent years and

have taken place in recent years and things like artificial intelligence

things like artificial intelligence

things like artificial intelligence machine learning robotics and the

machine learning robotics and the

machine learning robotics and the internet they advantage capital they an

internet they advantage capital they an

internet they advantage capital they an advantage intellectual capital and the

advantage intellectual capital and the

advantage intellectual capital and the advantage financial capital they

advantage financial capital they

advantage financial capital they advantage those people who are the

advantage those people who are the

advantage those people who are the investors and they advance those people

investors and they advance those people

investors and they advance those people who are the entrepreneurs and we value

who are the entrepreneurs and we value

who are the entrepreneurs and we value ever more highly skilled talent that can

ever more highly skilled talent that can

ever more highly skilled talent that can work in those knowledge-based sectors

work in those knowledge-based sectors

work in those knowledge-based sectors while the talent that is lower skilled

while the talent that is lower skilled

while the talent that is lower skilled and what we associate with the working

and what we associate with the working

and what we associate with the working class the value that we attach to that

class the value that we attach to that

class the value that we attach to that continues to stagnate human beings are

continues to stagnate human beings are

continues to stagnate human beings are not as easy to update as software and

not as easy to update as software and

not as easy to update as software and this is what’s fueling the disillusion

this is what’s fueling the disillusion

this is what’s fueling the disillusion this is what’s fueling the fear I in

this is what’s fueling the fear I in

this is what’s fueling the fear I in working-class America a a

working-class America a a

working-class America a a winner-takes-all economy in which the

winner-takes-all economy in which the

winner-takes-all economy in which the working class has very limited access is

working class has very limited access is

working class has very limited access is a recipe for a dysfunctional democracy

a recipe for a dysfunctional democracy

a recipe for a dysfunctional democracy this is what unites West Virginia with

this is what unites West Virginia with

this is what unites West Virginia with West Baltimore this is the Star Trek Mad

West Baltimore this is the Star Trek Mad

West Baltimore this is the Star Trek Mad Max of binary when too many people are

Max of binary when too many people are

Max of binary when too many people are left behind

left behind

left behind this in turn fuels the hatred and the

this in turn fuels the hatred and the

this in turn fuels the hatred and the unrest that we’ve already begun to see

unrest that we’ve already begun to see

unrest that we’ve already begun to see this is being exacerbated by filter

this is being exacerbated by filter

this is being exacerbated by filter bubbles that we’ve created through

bubbles that we’ve created through

bubbles that we’ve created through social media and through and through

social media and through and through

social media and through and through cable news it ought to be the case that

cable news it ought to be the case that

cable news it ought to be the case that abundant access to information and each

abundant access to information and each

abundant access to information and each other creates a more cohesive society

other creates a more cohesive society

other creates a more cohesive society and cross-cultural understanding but in

and cross-cultural understanding but in

and cross-cultural understanding but in fact part of what we’ve seen is that it

fact part of what we’ve seen is that it

fact part of what we’ve seen is that it actually highlights the differences

actually highlights the differences

actually highlights the differences between the haves and the have-nots and

between the haves and the have-nots and

between the haves and the have-nots and it creates a space for extremist

it creates a space for extremist

it creates a space for extremist ideologies to grow there’s a period in

ideologies to grow there’s a period in

ideologies to grow there’s a period in history that most people have forgotten

history that most people have forgotten

history that most people have forgotten called the angles pause which was

called the angles pause which was

called the angles pause which was between about 1800 and 1840

between about 1800 and 1840

between about 1800 and 1840 and this too was a period of really fast

and this too was a period of really fast

and this too was a period of really fast technological innovation with stagnating

technological innovation with stagnating

technological innovation with stagnating standards of living for the

standards of living for the

standards of living for the working-class in some of its byproducts

working-class in some of its byproducts

working-class in some of its byproducts were things like the Communist Manifesto

were things like the Communist Manifesto

were things like the Communist Manifesto and the largest wave of revolutions in

and the largest wave of revolutions in

and the largest wave of revolutions in Europe’s history I think we are at sort

Europe’s history I think we are at sort

Europe’s history I think we are at sort of an angle spawns in the United States

of an angle spawns in the United States

of an angle spawns in the United States right now where technology is trained is

right now where technology is trained is

right now where technology is trained is transforming the relationship between

transforming the relationship between

transforming the relationship between government corporation and citizen but

government corporation and citizen but

government corporation and citizen but we haven’t yet updated our social

we haven’t yet updated our social

we haven’t yet updated our social contract to account for that change and

contract to account for that change and

contract to account for that change and it’s not good enough to just sort of

it’s not good enough to just sort of

it’s not good enough to just sort of graft the Industrial Age programs on to

graft the Industrial Age programs on to

graft the Industrial Age programs on to the Information Age industries you know

the Information Age industries you know

the Information Age industries you know think for example about labor as more

think for example about labor as more

think for example about labor as more labor goes from being employer based to

labor goes from being employer based to

labor goes from being employer based to being freelanced and brokered through

being freelanced and brokered through

being freelanced and brokered through online platforms traditional worker

online platforms traditional worker

online platforms traditional worker protections like pensions and workers

protections like pensions and workers

protections like pensions and workers compensation aren’t there so it’s not

compensation aren’t there so it’s not

compensation aren’t there so it’s not good enough to just sort of insist that

good enough to just sort of insist that

good enough to just sort of insist that we graft the Industrial Age protections

we graft the Industrial Age protections

we graft the Industrial Age protections on to these Information Age programs we

on to these Information Age programs we

on to these Information Age programs we need to think anew we need to think anew

need to think anew we need to think anew

need to think anew we need to think anew about what we want the relationship

about what we want the relationship

about what we want the relationship between corporation citizen and state to

between corporation citizen and state to

between corporation citizen and state to be what I really want to do is get you

be what I really want to do is get you

be what I really want to do is get you thinking about what you think the

thinking about what you think the

thinking about what you think the elements of a new social contract should

elements of a new social contract should

elements of a new social contract should be what should be in a new social

be what should be in a new social

be what should be in a new social contract but for the purposes of sort of

contract but for the purposes of sort of

contract but for the purposes of sort of getting popcorn popping in your head I

getting popcorn popping in your head I

getting popcorn popping in your head I did want to throw out two possibilities

did want to throw out two possibilities

did want to throw out two possibilities I want to sort of throw out two things

I want to sort of throw out two things

I want to sort of throw out two things that I think should be in the social

that I think should be in the social

that I think should be in the social contract for the information age number

contract for the information age number

contract for the information age number one

one

one we need to fix the single biggest

we need to fix the single biggest

we need to fix the single biggest problem of the Industrial Age we need to

problem of the Industrial Age we need to

problem of the Industrial Age we need to stop climate change and to do this I

stop climate change and to do this I

stop climate change and to do this I believe that business needs to go carbon

believe that business needs to go carbon

believe that business needs to go carbon neutral business will produce no product

neutral business will produce no product

neutral business will produce no product and no service where it does not either

and no service where it does not either

and no service where it does not either produce or purchase an offset in and

produce or purchase an offset in and

produce or purchase an offset in and offsetting the amount of carbon offsets

offsetting the amount of carbon offsets

offsetting the amount of carbon offsets now this would take decades to do but it

now this would take decades to do but it

now this would take decades to do but it is worth doing and it’s not meant to be

is worth doing and it’s not meant to be

is worth doing and it’s not meant to be punitive it’s not you broke it you buy

punitive it’s not you broke it you buy

punitive it’s not you broke it you buy it

it

it remember why we have a social contract

remember why we have a social contract

remember why we have a social contract in the first places so we can do

in the first places so we can do

in the first places so we can do something where we all ultimately

something where we all ultimately

something where we all ultimately benefit and we all benefit including

benefit and we all benefit including

benefit and we all benefit including business if we live on a habitable

business if we live on a habitable

business if we live on a habitable planet the only way we save the planet

planet the only way we save the planet

planet the only way we save the planet and and have a place for economic

and and have a place for economic

and and have a place for economic activity to even take place is if we

activity to even take place is if we

activity to even take place is if we stop climate change big social contract

stop climate change big social contract

stop climate change big social contract idea and number two society was rigidly

idea and number two society was rigidly

idea and number two society was rigidly hierarchical during the agricultural age

hierarchical during the agricultural age

hierarchical during the agricultural age if you were born Richard died rich if

if you were born Richard died rich if

if you were born Richard died rich if you were born poor you died poor it was

you were born poor you died poor it was

you were born poor you died poor it was based entirely on blood and it was

based entirely on blood and it was

based entirely on blood and it was determined the day that you were born we

determined the day that you were born we

determined the day that you were born we then saw some progress during the

then saw some progress during the

then saw some progress during the industrial age where we began to see

industrial age where we began to see

industrial age where we began to see mobility between economic and social

mobility between economic and social

mobility between economic and social classes and we’re limited forms of

classes and we’re limited forms of

classes and we’re limited forms of democracy allowed people to begin to

democracy allowed people to begin to

democracy allowed people to begin to vote and decide who would be their

vote and decide who would be their

vote and decide who would be their governors but what we now see what we

governors but what we now see what we

governors but what we now see what we now see is that race religion and gender

now see is that race religion and gender

now see is that race religion and gender are still too deterministic of Economic

are still too deterministic of Economic

are still too deterministic of Economic Opportunity and my second and last big

Opportunity and my second and last big

Opportunity and my second and last big idea for what should be a component in

idea for what should be a component in

idea for what should be a component in our social contract of the future is

our social contract of the future is

our social contract of the future is that we commit to being a society of

that we commit to being a society of

that we commit to being a society of radical non-discrimination and that we

radical non-discrimination and that we

radical non-discrimination and that we take this recent moment of history of

take this recent moment of history of

take this recent moment of history of ours where we’ve seen a surge in hatred

ours where we’ve seen a surge in hatred

ours where we’ve seen a surge in hatred it based in part on race religion and

it based in part on race religion and

it based in part on race religion and gender that’s rooted in significant

gender that’s rooted in significant

gender that’s rooted in significant measure because of the difficulties

measure because of the difficulties

measure because of the difficulties converting from an industrial based

converting from an industrial based

converting from an industrial based economy into an information based

economy into an information based

economy into an information based economy let’s take the hatred that has

economy let’s take the hatred that has

economy let’s take the hatred that has emerged recently and let’s make it the

emerged recently and let’s make it the

emerged recently and let’s make it the end of a piece of history rather than

end of a piece of history rather than

end of a piece of history rather than the beginning of a piece of history so

the beginning of a piece of history so

the beginning of a piece of history so those are my two ideas but please think

those are my two ideas but please think

those are my two ideas but please think about what you think should be the

about what you think should be the

about what you think should be the elements of a social contract for the

elements of a social contract for the

elements of a social contract for the future will the future look more like

future will the future look more like

future will the future look more like Star Trek or more like Mad Max it’s

Star Trek or more like Mad Max it’s

Star Trek or more like Mad Max it’s entirely up to

entirely up to

entirely up to thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]