(Image: Adobe) The following is an extract from Techno by Marcus Smith, out this week via The University of Queensland Press. We began by considering the need to examine and reflect on the technological revolution: how it is impacting the world today, and how it is likely to do so in the future. In the midst of it, we may not have the perspective to fully appreciate just how much has occurred in such a short period of time, and the implications for humanity.
But if we reflect on the technological developments that have occurred throughout history, the extent to which new technologies have changed everyday life in just 25 years is amazing. Technology and its regulation is the defining issue of the time we are living in and we must take it seriously. The complexity of technology companies’ products, financial resources and global nature means that national governments must collaborate to achieve effective regulation.
Governments have so far not devoted enough resources to addressing the costs of new technology: privacy impacts, crime, social inequality and the potential for artificial general intelligence to change the world in ways we cannot even anticipate. ‘Can I log into my partner’s device?’: Politicians, police, public servants spy on family’s phones, leak suggests Read More One reason may be that we are so immersed in technology that we haven’t thought enough about why it needs to be regulated and impressed this on our leaders. New technology has simultaneous.
