I grew up using maps and having a sense of direction, and now I have a phone. I used to try to remember numbers, and now I... can just call them up instantly. And that's great. But what's happening right now is that we're in a phase of human evolution where we're merging with machines.
Interpretation
Franklin Foer reflects on the impact of technology on human memory and direction.
In this quote, Foer highlights the transformation brought about by technological advancements, specifically how reliance on devices like smartphones has altered our fundamental skills, such as navigation and memory. He suggests that while these changes have conveniences, they also represent a significant shift in human evolution as we increasingly integrate with machines, blurring the lines between human capability and technological assistance.
In practice
During a technology conference to illustrate the pros and cons of modern advancements.
The biggest problem is that Facebook and Google are these giant feedback loops that give people what they want to hear. And when you use them in a world where your biases are being constantly confirmed, you become susceptible to fake news, propaganda, demagoguery.
We've been merging with tools since the beginning of human evolution, and arguably, that's one of the things that makes us human beings.
Not only have computers changed the way we think, they've also discovered what makes humans think - or think we're thinking. At least enough to predict and even influence it.
Mr Edison gave America just what was needed at that moment in history. They say that when people think of me, they think of my assembly line. Mr. Edison, you built an assembly line which brought together the genius of invention, science and industry.
We're all vulnerable to social approval. The need to belong, to be approved or appreciated by our peers is among the highest human motivations. But now our social approval is in the hands of tech companies.
New technologies, however remarkable they might seem, are fundamentally just tools made by people for people.
When technological advancement can go up so exponentially, I do think there's a risk of losing sight of the fact that tech should serve humanity, not the other way around.
The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.
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