Anti-Blind: How do you see what you can't see? | Tristan Harris | TEDxSanFrancisco

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker delves into the concept of blind spots in human perception and how they affect our understanding of technology, society, and even medicine. Drawing from magic, psychology, and real-world examples, they highlight how our minds consistently overlook certain truths, leading to widespread misinformation and errors. The speaker argues that as technology amplifies these blind spots, society must become more self-aware and proactive in addressing them. By embracing a deeper understanding of our mental limitations, we can foster more thoughtful decision-making and a more transparent, responsible world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Human cognition has inherent blind spots that everyone shares, regardless of profession or expertise.
• 😀 These blind spots can lead to systematic errors, such as spreading misinformation on social media or making medical mistakes.
• 😀 Technology, while advancing rapidly, often amplifies our cognitive blind spots rather than solving them.
• 😀 The phenomenon of ‘not seeing what we don’t see’ is a core feature of human cognition, often invisible even to experts.
• 😀 Facebook's algorithm-driven news feed amplifies these cognitive biases by elevating content based on shares rather than accuracy.
• 😀 Medical errors, such as performing surgery on the wrong part of the body, remain a persistent issue due to human mental blind spots.
• 😀 Strategies like 'casting doubt' and ‘questioning science’ are often used by companies to manipulate public perception and avoid accountability.
• 😀 Despite advancements in technology and reason, humans remain limited by the inherent blind spots in our thinking and decision-making.
• 😀 ‘Doubt Club’ is an example of a support group that helps individuals confront and reflect on their doubts to improve decision-making.
• 😀 Acknowledging our blind spots as part of human nature can lead to a more self-aware and thoughtful society, focusing on creating ‘anti-blind’ systems.
• 😀 The ‘overview effect’ from space travel provides a metaphor for seeing the world from a new perspective, encouraging greater introspection and environmental consciousness.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's message in the transcript?

The speaker explores the idea that human minds have inherent blind spots, which remain unchanged despite advancements in technology. These blind spots affect our perception, decision-making, and behaviors, influencing everything from media consumption to medical errors. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing these blind spots in order to improve both individual and societal awareness.

How does the speaker use magic to explain the concept of blind spots?

The speaker uses magic as an analogy to explain how there are consistent ways in which human minds fail to see certain things. Magic tricks rely on exploiting these blind spots, where even highly knowledgeable individuals, such as quantum physicists or psychologists, cannot perceive how a trick works. This illustrates that our blind spots are universal and not influenced by our knowledge.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate how our blind spots affect the way we consume information?

The speaker refers to a study on Facebook, where 70% of users only read the headline of science stories before commenting or sharing them. Furthermore, a fabricated story with Latin nonsense was shared by 50,000 people, illustrating how people often share content without fully engaging with it. This highlights how our blind spots lead to the spread of misinformation.

What is the significance of Facebook firing its human editorial news team, according to the speaker?

The speaker explains that Facebook's decision to replace its human editorial team with an algorithm led to the amplification of false or misleading information. The algorithm, like the human mind, prioritized what was shared the most, which in this case was a fabricated story. This highlights the dangers of relying on technology that mirrors our own cognitive blind spots.

What does the speaker mean when they talk about the 'invisible' errors in medicine?

The speaker points out that despite advancements in medical technology and knowledge, human errors persist, such as surgeries performed on the wrong body part. These errors are a result of mental blind spots and automatic processing, and they remain a significant issue in healthcare, causing harm to patients and contributing to medical malpractice.

How does the tobacco industry use blind spots to its advantage, according to the speaker?

The speaker explains that the tobacco industry used the strategy of creating doubt about the dangers of smoking by claiming that 'the science isn't clear' or 'the jury's still out.' This tactic, known as 'manufactured doubt,' exploits people's cognitive blind spots and prevents them from recognizing the full extent of the harm caused by smoking.

Why does the speaker believe it is important to acknowledge our human blind spots?

The speaker believes that recognizing our blind spots is essential for improving our ability to navigate complex issues in society. By acknowledging our limitations, we can design systems, technologies, and institutions that account for these blind spots, leading to better decision-making and a more informed society.

What does the speaker mean by an 'anti-blind' world, and how could it benefit society?

An 'anti-blind' world, as the speaker describes, is one where we design our institutions and environments to account for our cognitive blind spots. This could include creating systems that make us more aware of persuasive tactics, groupthink, and biases. In such a world, people would be empowered to see beyond their automatic thinking and make more thoughtful, informed choices.

What is the significance of the speaker's experience with 'Doubt Club'?

The speaker shares a personal story about starting 'Doubt Club,' a group where individuals could openly discuss their doubts about their companies, products, and personal lives. This club helped the speaker and others gain new perspectives and make better decisions by recognizing the importance of questioning their assumptions and acknowledging their blind spots.

How does the Apollo 8 mission photograph contribute to the speaker's argument about self-awareness?

The speaker uses the famous photograph taken by Apollo 8 astronauts, showing Earth from the Moon, to illustrate the power of seeing ourselves from a different perspective. The astronauts' experience, known as the 'overview effect,' led them to view Earth as a fragile and sacred entity, which helped galvanize the environmental movement. This serves as a metaphor for how recognizing our cognitive limitations could lead to a new, more conscious approach to understanding ourselves and addressing societal challenges.