Technology: The Impacts Of The Exponential Growth Of Technology

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When looking at the immeasurable exponential growth of technology, we as humans often overlook the fact that, as technology changes, so do we. In fact, technology starts acting more like us every day. For example: We have robots capable of undergoing and understanding research, and although the “singularity,” a point in time at which technology becomes capable of incrementing its own intelligence (similarly to humans), hasn’t been reached yet, we can’t deny that the time is closing in. Conversely, human independence has been decreasing at a similar rate to that of which technology has been growing. We need to have technology on us at all times, otherwise, we would feel “naked.” Since technology is becoming such a vital part of life, and it …show more content…

One of our trump cards is that our ability to create life, combined with our ability synthesize thoughts and ideas, will never be outshined by the everlasting growth of technology. For example, consider Arik Gabbai, a renown senior editor from the Smithsonian magazine, who asks the question: Is there a unique trait linking all human beings? To which he quickly responds by saying “The truly unique trait of Sapiens is our ability to create and believe fiction. All other animals use their communication system to describe reality. We use our communication system to create new realities” (Gabbai, n. pag). Clearly, it is believed that our ability to create is a unique trait of the human race, and as it has been developing over millennia, it would be unreasonable to picture it being outshined by a machine that somehow “learned” how to create from a blueprint. Furthermore, the miracle of birth, a property unique to living species, becomes an impossible task for machines to complete. Machines simply will never be equipped with our instincts of survival and consciousness which would be necessary for them to find the need to reproduce. David Gelernter, a professor of computer science at Yale says: “Some day, digital computers …show more content…

We have the power to create and escalate thoughts on a metaphysical level based on assumptions commonly referred to as “laws.” Undeniably, we as humans just “do.” All of our being revolves around “doing.” Inevitably, we may ask: Why do we “do?” Consequently, we will find that anyone will probably say we act out of motivation. In my eyes, this motivation or desire is another qualifying characteristic of a living entity. Goals and dreams can be used as another distinguishing detail when juxtaposing humans and machines. Although goals and desires aren’t necessarily human characteristics, as animals have demonstrated drive towards a goal before as well, they are a unique advanced living organism trait. As Paul J. Griffiths said in his article The Nature of Desire, “Human desire, [...] is doubly infinite: We are perpetually unsatisfied when we get what we want, and we are capable of wanting anything at all” (Griffiths, n. pag). What this means is that humans will always find something they want, and this “want” is what drives them to act and advance as a species. Even the whole concept of technology wouldn’t be a reality had humans not wanted to have commodities and convenience in their lives. In addition, up to this point in history, it has been impossible for a machine to have desires or needs. Although they are capable of demonstrating functional needs such as a car asking for gas, they are nothing but reflections of what the programmer decided

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