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.
Interpretation
Human evolution is deeply intertwined with the use of tools, which is a defining characteristic of our species.
The quote by Franklin Foer emphasizes the intrinsic relationship between humans and the tools we create and use. It suggests that our ability to innovate and merge with technology is not just a modern phenomenon, but a foundational aspect of our evolution, shaping what it means to be human and allowing us to adapt and thrive in various environments.
In practice
During a presentation on human evolution, one might quote this to illustrate how technology has shaped our species.
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.
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.
Many of us now expect our online activities to be recorded and analyzed, but we assume the physical spaces we inhabit are different. The data broker industry doesn't see it that way. To them, even the act of walking down the street is a legitimate data set to be captured, catalogued, and exploited.
The goal of Tesla is to accelerate sustainable energy, so we're going to take a step back and think about what's most likely to achieve that goal.
But the idea that some day people would want to be able to interact and get stock quotes and talk with other people or all these different things, I just believed that was going to happen
The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom.
The truth is I've been doing Kickstarter before there was Kickstarter; there was no Internet. Social Media was writing letters, making phone calls, beating the bushes.
Technology is seductive when what it offers meets our human vulnerabilities. And as it turns out, we are very vulnerable indeed. We are lonely but fearful of intimacy. Digital connections and the sociable robot may offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. Our networked life allows us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each other. Weβd rather text than talk.
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