Smarter Than You Think Summary

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Technology is evolving at an all time rate. Every aspect of life seems to have a machine that can do what you used to do, for you: the car that can park itself, the stairs that climb… or rather escalate for you, and too many drones flying around to count. Clive Thompson explores the ever changing world of technology and addresses the best use for technology in Smarter than You Think: How Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better. The author begins by proposing an intriguing question about chess: who is better at it, humans or computers? The ultimate battle of grand chess master versus supercomputer. On one hand, Thompson refers to how humans are intuitive, insightful, and can read their opponents emotionally. On the other hand, he mentions …show more content…

The human being is a fascinating “creature” that possess gifts such as intuition and feelings. Technology does not feel. Today’s technology possess the ability to process information at an incredibly fast rate and do things that humans frankly cannot do. But again, the fight is not won when the two are at odds, but instead together. The centaur combination of human and machine is undoubtedly the best “creature.” Many fear technology will one day become too advanced for us to handle. However, human history would disagree as we have continuously adapted to the technology that is evolving around us. Thompson acknowledges this claim, “Each time we’re faced with bewildering new thinking tools, we panic - then quickly set about deducing how they can be used to help us work, meditate, and create,” (Thompson 353). Mankind has been able to work hand in hand with technology throughout history: we learned how to use fire to our advantage, we have taken to the skies with the airplane, and every person in the country basically has a smart phone. No matter how “fancy” technology seems to get, humans seem to be right there ready to use it and improve upon it. The only way technology will take us down is if we let it. It is in our control when to turn the machines on and off. The human can decide when to use their technology, just as

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