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Briefing Document: The Existential Importance of Ethics in a Technological Future

Executive Summary:

Futurist Gerd Leonhard argues that humanity is at a critical juncture, facing exponential technological advancements that demand a renewed focus on ethics and human values. He warns against “machine-thinking,” the dangers of reductionism, and the potential for technology to dehumanise society if not guided by a clear vision of the “good future”. The core question is not just what technology can do, but what kind of future do we want to create.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. Ethics as Existential:

• Ethics are defined as “the difference between having the power or the right to do something and to do what is the right thing to do.”
• Technology is amoral, acting as a “present and it can also be a bomb”, its impact determined by our ethical choices. It is “more than neutral until we use it”.
• Leonhard believes ethics aren’t just religious or belief-based. They are “very fundamental ethical values” that are somewhat universal.

1. Exponential Technological Change vs. Linear Human Adaptation:

• Technology is advancing exponentially in areas like big data, cloud computing, AI, and genetic engineering.
• Humans, however, are limited by their biological constraints and adapt linearly, creating a significant gap and potential for societal disruption.
• Leonhard states “as technology is growing exponential humans are not”.

1. The Fork in the Road:

• We are at a “fork in the road moment,” with the next 10 years crucial for shaping the long-term future.
• Decisions made now regarding climate change, AI, business practices, and other areas will set the stage for generations to come.

1. The Question of the “Good Future”:

• The key question isn’t “What will the future bring?” but rather “What do you want the future to be?”
• The future is malleable and defined by our values and ethics, not solely by technological possibilities.
• We need to think not just about economic gains, but about the overall well-being of society.

1. Dangers of Technology-Driven Societal Problems:

• Social media, using Facebook as an example, can inadvertently “shoot at democracy”.
• There is a concern that the convenience and profit motives of technology companies can lead to negative externalities like radicalisation and loneliness.
• Data, like plutonium, has the potential to be used as a weapon.

1. The Need for Digital Ethics Councils:

• Leonhard advocates for the creation of “digital ethics councils” at the country, company, and continental levels to determine the “right thing to do with technology.”
• Such councils can help establish rules and guidelines for emerging technologies, similar to how societies have addressed nuclear weapons and genetic engineering.

1. The Metaverse and Reductionism:

• Leonhard expresses caution about the Metaverse, warning it could be “heaven for business, big tech and commerce and ‘hell' for human relationships and society (the MetaPERverse)”.
• He argues that the Metaverse might be an attempt to replace human relationships with simulations, reducing complex human experiences to data feeds.
• He believes it might lead us away from “real happiness”.
• Reductionism is described as “depicting something – or rather mirroring or simulating something – that can pass as a useful and entertaining copy of the real thing. It is the effort of creating an acceptable result without having to go through all of the work first, the idea of getting most of the benefits of something without needing to go through the efforts.”
• Leonhard lists “laziness, escapism, nihilism, disembodiment, obsession with efficiency” as some things that bother him most about the Metaverse concept.

1. Avoiding Machine-Thinking and Prioritising Humanity:

• Leonhard cautions against “machine thinking,” which reduces human lives to what machines perceive them to be.
• Instead, he encourages finding what makes us human. “Our job is to do the opposite to find what makes us human”.
• He uses the term “androrithms” to describe uniquely human attributes such as emotions, intuition, compassion, imagination, and values. These should not be replaced or handled by machines.
• The goal is to use technology to augment human capabilities, “humans on top of amazing technology”, not to replace or diminish human qualities.

1. The Importance of Balance and Holistic Thinking:

• We need to “rehumanize technology” and adopt a “holistic view of the world” that goes beyond traditional measures of success like GDP and profit.
• He suggests a “triple bottom line” of “people, planet, purpose, and prosperity.”
• Leonhard concludes that while technology offers many potential solutions (disease, climate change), its application requires wisdom and ethical decision-making, or else technology makes “human problems” worse.

1. Dangers of Replacing Humanity with Machines

• Leonhard asks “is this an opportunity to monetize the weakness of humans, to believe that machines are better?”
• He says “the biggest business opportunity that's being pursued in Silicon Valley and in China, and increasingly also in Europe and in India, is the idea to replace humanity with machines – to essentially take away what makes us human, to make us merge with machines.”

Actionable Insights:

• Promote Ethical Discussions: Encourage ongoing conversations about the ethical implications of technology in governments, businesses, and communities.
• Invest in Human-Centred Design: Prioritise technology development that enhances human capabilities and well-being, rather than simply pursuing efficiency and automation.
• Foster Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking: Empower citizens to critically evaluate information and resist the allure of overly simplistic or reductionist technological solutions.
• Support Independent Research: Fund research that explores the social, psychological, and ethical impacts of emerging technologies.
• Refuse to Participate: Leonhard urges on the one hand to “start to REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE when technologies (or those purveying them) become overbearing or when alleged progress threatens to dehumanise us”.

Conclusion:

Gerd Leonhard's message is a call to action for humanity to consciously shape its technological future. By prioritising ethics, human values, and a holistic view of progress, we can harness the power of technology to create a “good future” that benefits all of humanity.