Bill Gates is a Loon
So Bill Gates thinks that with the rise of automated technology, a lot of us are going to be out of work soon.
"...in the wake of mass unemployment, the Microsoft co-founder said that they [governments] should basically get on their knees and beg businesses to keep employing humans over algorithms."
Beg businesses to hire people over algorithms? Does he really believe that computer algorithms have surpassed human creativity and innovation? Maybe that explains Windows 8, and why Microsoft's influence is dwindling in our ever evolving digital age. Now that I think about it even more, I don't recall the last time anything Gates has said anything that isn't attached to an old and rotting capitalistic paradigm. Like last year when he challenged how Google's Loon intiative, would help people get over malaria. Or his seemingly obsessed nature with increasing the range of mandatory mass vaccinations. So let's break this down a little, Mr Gates....
Challenge #1 is that the future holds a world we cannot even fathom. Think about any milestones in human evolution. Fire brought us warmth and light, but also brought upon us cooking and metal working, and suddenly the world is a completely different landscape. How about the assembly line? Something in theory that could have doomed the work industry with expedition, instead it paved the way for more automation (like the algorithms we're talking about now!) A technologically automated world is going to change the employment scene completely, there's no doubt about that, but preparing for joblessness? How about preparing for jobs that don't exist yet?
This brings me to challenge #2, Bill. No, provided poor rural areas with free internet access will not directly cure Malaria (for those who didn't open the link, Google Loon is a system of weather balloons that works to provide free hoc wireless internet). But all our attempts at curing Malaria in Africa hasn't cure Malaria either! It's time for a change, and this is where challenge #1 comes in so handy. The internet is THE new landscape for culture, innovation, business, health, art and (obviously) technology. Beyond that though, the internet is a global network and and infinite knowledge base, and one that allows an unbiased participation. And that participation is SO vital and SO sought after, that it can't be limited to just developed countries, or to those with the coin to pay for service provision. I bet Bill Gates wouldn't have thought this boy had tech development at the top of his priorities. Oh, and that cure to Malaria? Look at how an online game has helped bring us closer to eliminating AIDS.
Alright, Bill, challenge #3 is the hardest. This is going to us to move away from this capitalistic system and into something that none of us have control over (I know I know...how very anarchist of me!). And let me tell you, the Gates Foundation's vaccine campaign is sooooo old capitalism! For-profit? -- check! Influence limited to the wealthy? -- check! Solving problems that are outdated? -- check! I'll let you do the nitty gritty research on this one. It's not about getting people into the global market anymore, Bill, it's about surpassing our old system and into something new (see unknown futures in challenge #1). And what might that "new" be?
OPEN SOURCE
"Open-source" is now not only a catchphrase for software and hardware accessibility, but is the new economic and political playing field. And it really ties everything together! Think about a world where EVERYONE had free access to the internet. Think about the global collaboration! Think about not only mapping out an AIDS protein, but a full on participatory medical research field. Think about new hardwares and softwares that could expand automation into under-developed countries, where basic needs aren't even met. Think about ushering in new thought leaders, with no bias to age, race, status, wealth, gender or level of education.
Think about the future, because it's here!
