The man credited with coining the term “virtual reality” warned that humanity could face extinction due to our growing dependence on social media and app-running tech billionaires. I’m here.
Jaron Lanier, a self-proclaimed computer scientist, composer, artist and author, recently told The Guardian that the current state of technology poses an “existential threat” to humanity.
“People survive by passing information to each other,” Lanier said.
“We are incorporating the fundamental nature of human nature into a process with intrinsic motivations for corruption and depravity.”
“The fundamental drama of our time is whether we can find a way to properly survive in those elements.”
The 61-year-old has repeatedly warned about the dangers surrounding technology and in 2018 published a book titled 10 Arguments to Delete Your Social Media Accounts Now.
In a recent warning, Lanier referred to top tech billionaires like Elon Musk, who dominates social media platforms.
Between their power and “psych operatives” working for world leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lanier told the outlet there is no free market for information on the internet today. rice field.
Instead, multiple actors are pushing specific information for their own benefit.
“There are all sorts of intermediaries. They may be the people who own the platforms, Elon Musk these days, or third parties who are good at sneaking in influence,” Lanier said.
“Interventions vary. Some are official, some are public, some are hidden. Some are competent, some are incompetent. Some are random, like an algorithm I never understood.”
Ultimately, Lanier believes this could lead to the end of humanity.
“I still think that extinction is being considered as a result. Not necessarily, but the underlying drama.”
He hinted at hope, saying that if humanity “can adjust itself to solve the climate change crisis, that’s a fundamental sign that we’re not completely dysfunctional.”
Lanier, who was very influential in virtual reality research in the 1980s, went on to accuse several different technology companies of what he called “digital maoism.”
He even called Facebook and Google “spy agencies.”
Now, this scientist believes that frequent inclusion of fun or offensive content on social media is harmful.
According to The Guardian, “I think you’re going to see people online who are operant conditioned, people who have had pleasant or unpleasant experiences,” he said.
“When you enter an era where power, mediation and influence are all there is and nothing means anything, it becomes very difficult to come up with ideas and very easy to come across as intended,” he continued. .
Lanier later added that he had no confidence that internet users would know “that what we are saying sounds right.”
Despite his harsh warnings, Lanier told the outlet he hopes he’s wrong.
“If you make a gloomy prophecy and it comes true, then you were useless,” he said.
“I don’t say I have all the answers, but I believe our survival hinges on fixing the internet: friendly to human perception and the way people actually are.” It’s about creating structure.”