Is Technology Our Savior — or Our Slayer? | Ruha Benjamin | TED

Summary

The script discusses the future shaped by a small, powerful group focused on technology and space travel, neglecting social needs like healthcare and housing. It contrasts utopian and dystopian tech-driven futures, both sidelining human agency. The speaker introduces 'ustopia,' a term coined by Margaret Atwood, emphasizing collective well-being over wealth concentration. Highlighting initiatives like Barcelona's Decidim platform and Atlanta's resistance to 'Cop City,' the script calls for communities to reclaim their imagination and build inclusive futures prioritizing people and the planet.

Takeaways

• 🌌 A small elite imposes their visions on humanity, investing in space travel and AI while neglecting basic needs like health care and housing.
• 🚀 Futurists dream of transforming material and digital realities but fail to address social realities for a meaningful life for all.
• 📜 Two main future narratives exist: Silicon Valley's utopia of convenience and Hollywood's dystopia of chaos and inequality.
• 🤖 Both narratives assume technology drives the future, ignoring human impact and input.
• 🌀 The concept of 'ustopia,' borrowed from Margaret Atwood, emphasizes the future as a collective creation reflecting our interconnected struggles.
• 🏙️ Technological advances often deepen social inequities, displacing long-term residents and ignoring broader social needs.
• 🌐 Barcelona's 'Decidim' platform exemplifies a participatory approach to governance, prioritizing collective well-being over technological dominance.
• 🌳 Atlanta's resistance to 'Cop City' highlights grassroots efforts to prioritize community safety and environmental preservation over militarization.
• 🌱 Initiatives like Decidim and forest defenders show that true community safety and well-being rely on public goods and connection.
• 🌍 The vision of ustopia involves dismantling harmful systems and creating inclusive, sustainable communities where no one is left behind.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed in the script about the current state of humanity's future vision?

The script expresses concern that a small group of people with power and resources are imposing their visions on the rest of humanity, focusing on space travel, AI, and personal security while neglecting basic needs like healthcare and housing for all.

What are the two contrasting narratives about the future presented in the script?

The two narratives are the Silicon Valley version, which is a utopia where technology caters to every human desire, and the Hollywood version, which is a dystopian future characterized by conflict, competition, and technology dominating humanity.

What does the script suggest is the underlying logic shared by both utopian and dystopian visions of the future?

The underlying logic is that in both visions, humans give up power and let technology take the driver's seat, with technology impacting us for better or worse, but our impact on technology and the human inputs shaping our digital and physical worlds are missing.

What is the term 'ustopia' as used in the script, and what does it represent?

'Ustopia' is a term borrowed from Margaret Atwood to describe the idea that the future is shaped by us, reflecting our values, interests, and needs. It is a collective imagination where everyone has what they need to thrive.

What is the script's perspective on the role of technology in shaping our future?

The script suggests that technology should not be the sole driver of our future. Instead, it should be shaped by collective human input, focusing on collective well-being and addressing social inequities.

Can you provide an example from the script where technology deepens social inequity?

The example given is from the Bay area during the tech sector's growth, where long-time residents were displaced, and the focus on biotechnology advancements did not translate into accessible healthcare for all.

What is the 'Decidim' platform mentioned in the script, and how does it contribute to creating policies?

'Decidim' is an open-source digital platform used in Barcelona that allows residents to create, comment, consult on ideas, and track policy development in real time. It has been instrumental in creating policies that respond to people's actual needs.

How does the script describe the participatory experiment in Barcelona, Spain?

The participatory experiment in Barcelona involves the use of the 'Decidim' platform alongside in-person neighborhood-level deliberations, enabling residents from all walks of life to contribute to policy-making and ensure public transparency.

What is the 'Superblocks' initiative mentioned in the script, and what is its purpose?

The 'Superblocks' initiative is an effort in Barcelona to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality by closing 12 city districts to through traffic, making interior blocks more hospitable to pedestrians and cyclists, and creating more green spaces.

What is the 'Cop City' controversy mentioned in the script, and how did the community respond?

'Cop City' was a planned 90-million-dollar facility in Atlanta for training police, which would have involved cutting down a significant forest and affecting a predominantly Black, working-class community. The community responded with a broad coalition using direct action and digital tools to oppose the project.

How does the script suggest we can create a better future?

The script suggests that we can create a better future by strengthening the social fabric in our local communities, prioritizing people over profit, and working collectively to dismantle systems that do not serve the common good.