Yuk Hui: “We are living in a gigantic technological system”

Summary

The transcript explores the transformation of technological systems from Marx’s era to the present, highlighting the shift from mechanical, alienating machines to self-regulating cybernetic machines, such as AI and neural networks. The speaker critiques the dominance of science fiction narratives, which obscure real technological issues like capitalism’s appropriation of digital tech and the homogenization of knowledge. The speaker proposes a philosophical project that examines the intimacy between technology and philosophy, advocating for a multiplicity of technological understandings across different cultures and traditions, challenging the universalism of modern technological thinking.

Takeaways

• 😀 The technological condition we live in today is vastly different from past systems, with the rise of cybernetic machines capable of self-regulation and self-improvement.
• 😀 The shift from traditional, closed, automatic machines (as described by Marx) to modern cybernetic machines marks a change in the nature of alienation in society.
• 😀 While Marx described machines as a source of alienation, today's cybernetic machines are more integrated into systems capable of autoregulation, impacting human interaction with technology.
• 😀 The concept of 'organizing inorganic' reflects the evolution of tools and machines from simple tools (like hammers) to complex systems that organize themselves.
• 😀 The reliance on science fiction to predict the future, particularly in relation to AI and technological advancements, is seen as problematic because it can prevent a concrete analysis of current issues.
• 😀 Silicon Valley companies, through narratives about AI and mass unemployment, contribute to creating self-fulfilling prophecies by promoting technologies that might replace human workers.
• 😀 The concept of **technodiversity** or **cosmotechnics** suggests that different cultures and philosophical traditions approach technology in unique ways, and this diversity should be embraced.
• 😀 Modern technological discourse often overlooks the multiplicity of technological thinking across different cultures, especially due to the homogenizing forces of colonization and modernization.
• 😀 The need to explore the relationship between philosophy and technology is essential to understanding how technology shapes our cultural and philosophical landscapes.
• 😀 The future of technology should be analyzed through a multiplicity of lenses, acknowledging that diverse philosophical traditions and cultures contribute to a more holistic understanding of technology.

Q & A

What is the key difference between the cybernetic machine and the automatic machine described by Marx?

The key difference is that while Marx's automatic machines were isolated and closed, leading to alienation by removing human knowledge and subordinating the body, cybernetic machines are capable of self-regulation and self-improvement, as seen in modern technologies like neural networks and artificial intelligence.

How does the speaker view the relationship between technology and philosophy?

The speaker views technology as constitutive in philosophical thinking, suggesting that there is an intimate relationship between philosophy and technology. They argue that understanding this connection is essential to analyze the broader implications of technology on human society.

What is the concept of 'organized inorganic' and how has it evolved?

'Organized inorganic' refers to tools and objects like hammers and screwdrivers that are inorganic but are used and organized by humans to incorporate them into their bodies. The evolution from 'organized inorganic' to 'organizing inorganic' indicates that inorganic material now has the ability to regulate and improve itself, seen in technologies like AI and computer networks.

Why does the speaker find the reliance on science fiction problematic?

The speaker finds it problematic because science fiction is often used to project a future without critically analyzing the present technological situation. This reliance on speculative fiction can obscure the real, concrete issues related to technology, especially in industries like AI and its potential societal impacts.

What is the concept of 'self-prophecy' in the context of AI and technological advancements?

Self-prophecy refers to the idea that industries like AI are creating the very problems they predict. For instance, the claim that AI will cause mass unemployment is followed by the development of technologies that replace human workers, thus making their own prophecy come true.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea of slowing down AI development?

The speaker criticizes the calls to slow down AI development, such as Elon Musk's proposal for a six-month break. They argue that this is contradictory, as the same individuals or companies who push for a slowdown are also actively developing and improving AI technologies.

What is the philosophical project the speaker proposes regarding technology?

The speaker proposes a philosophical project focused on understanding the multiplicity of technology, acknowledging that different cultures and philosophical traditions have diverse ways of thinking about and engaging with technology. This project would explore the intersection of philosophy, technology, and cultural perspectives.

How does the concept of technological diversity challenge the modern view of technology?

Technological diversity challenges the modern view that technology is universal and rational. The speaker suggests that different philosophical systems, such as Chinese, Japanese, or Amazonian thought, have their own distinct concepts of technology that differ from the Western modern conception.

What role does colonization play in the homogenization of technology and knowledge?

Colonization, and later modernization, has led to the homogenization of knowledge and worldviews, particularly regarding technology. The speaker points out that modernization, which was often driven by colonization, has led to a global dominance of Western technological thinking, overshadowing other cultural perspectives.

How does the speaker view the relationship between technological thinking and other forms of thought, such as aesthetic, religious, and philosophical thinking?

The speaker believes that technological thinking is deeply intertwined with other forms of thought, such as aesthetic, religious, and philosophical thinking. They reference thinkers like Simondon, who suggested that different philosophical traditions relate to technology in unique ways, influencing the development of technology in those cultures.