When it comes to technology, never before have we been both more dependent, and more cautious. Society is more connected, but also more lonely ; more productive, but also more burnt-out; we have more privacy tools, but arguably less privacy. Would it be wrong to say we are becoming disappointed with it?
There’s no doubt that some tech innovation has been universally great. A new antibiotic that killed a previously deadly superbug was invented by an Al tool. Machines that can suck carbon dioxide out of the air could be a huge help in the fight against climate change. But on the other hand, tech-related scandals (丑闻) dominate headlines. Stories about cyberattacks and horrible online abuse are regularly on the news. “Like everything, tech has a dark side. It is a two-edged sword,” says veteran Silicon Valley watcher, Prof Mike Malone.
“Fundamentally, if there was a problem people would, should, stop using it,” Paolo Pescatore, an analyst, says . But he then goes on to talk about the peer pressure to remain plugged in -from colleagues, friends and family, and even from governments wanting to switch to digital services.
Mr Halgas, a young tech boss with big ambition, tells me that the industry has become a more easily affected place for its staff. “Tech workers were very comfortable in our jobs,” he explains. “People used to say , ‘Google isn’t a job; it’s a retirement plan’. Those days are long gone.” “Tech workers thought they were safe from automation: now we are among the people who might be replaced by code-writing Al tools,” he says.
A recent survey by PR firm Edelman suggested that 52% of people in the UK believed tech innovation was developing too fast, and 70% thought tech bosses should develop new tech slowly.
Realistically, there is practically zero chance of that happening. The money and power that is flooding in, particularly to the AI sector, speaks for itself. “But the outpouring of public debate that also centers around it is healthy”, argues Prof Malone.“ We’re not just blindly embracing new tech anymore and that’s a good thing,” he says.
【小题1】What do Mr Halgas’s words indicate?| A．Tech industry is taking a bad turn. | B．Workers in tech industry are comfortable. |
| C．Google provides detailed retirement plans. | D．Tech workers may be replaced someday. |
| A．New tech is well received currently. | B．New tech can not flood into the Al sector. |
| C．New tech is under sensible discussion now. | D．New tech is criticized for developing too slow. |
| A．A bolder attitude to developing new tech. | B．An urgent appeal to welcome new tech. |
| C．A balanced approach to embracing new tech. | D．A comprehensive plan to advance new tech. |
| A．Should the Public Embrace Digital Services? | B．Can Innovative Technology Follow Up? |
| C．Is It Good to Slow Tech Innovation Down? | D．Should We Have Faith in Technology? |
