by As we enter a new era of unprecedented scientific achievement and technological innovation, we are faced with confounding ethical problems. How much should we sacrifice for the sake of science and technology? As our society becomes more advanced we may begin to lose sight of our own humanity. E.F. Schumacher wrote in Small is Beautiful that, “The system of nature, of which man is a part, tends to be self-balancing, self-adjusting, self-cleansing. Not so with technology.” Human nature and nature, in general, tend to observe the same patterns, Schumacher is hinting that technology changes the way we interact with each other and the world around us. While a lot of modern technology has undoubtedly made our lives easier, we must still take heed. New technology on the horizon, such as Elon Musk’s much anticipated Neuralink technology, has the potential to completely change human interaction. It remains to be seen whether it will change for the better or for the worse.
Elon Musk’s next great feat in AI technology certainly shows a lot of promise. According to Popular Science, Musk’s Neuralink promises to catapult society to new heights, “Amputees could use the interface to control artificial limbs. Non-verbal people could operate communication devices without the need for hands. We could jam our Spotify playlists directly into our grey matter. We’re human hardware.” The potential of this product is extremely enticing. Neuralink could simultaneously revolutionize technology, healthcare, social interaction, and countless other facets of our lives. While the excitement for this technology is palpable, we must be cautious about how we choose to use it.
We don’t yet fully understand how this technology might change the way we interact with one another. By relying on artificial intelligence to communicate with others we may unknowingly meddle with our own social skills. Allowing artificial intelligence to dictate our lives could have drastic consequences. As William Kelly says, “Man is a slow, sloppy and brilliant thinker; the machine is fast, accurate and stupid.” Neuralink technology may streamline decision making for us, and improve our efficiency, however, artificial intelligence lacks a certain human element. Our own intuition, rationalization, and creativity are just as necessary to decisionmaking as processing power, output, and speed.
The vast potential of artificial intelligence and advanced technology can be daunting and even scary. Science fiction has taught us the pitfalls of misusing technology and leaving it unchecked. However, this does not mean that we should fear the future of science and technology. Our fear of what technology can do may hinder our progress, and the opportunity to make important advancements. We must endeavor to think ethically about how we use technology and rely on our own human instinct to guide us forward. In The Nature of Science, Edwin Powell Hubble said, “Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” We must continue to approach science and technology in the same way. The adventure of science and the aspect of scientific exploration is not a smooth journey. There will be numerous mistakes to learn from, pitfalls to avoid, and obstacles to overcome. All of these bumps in the road are important learning opportunities, and as long as society doesn’t stray too far from what makes us human than the future of Science, Technology, and Humanity is bright.
Sources:
https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-ai-chip-announcement/
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