Technology

If someone consistently films artillery strikes from their home, not only can we geolocate where the strikes are occurring, but we can also pinpoint the filmer's residence. If an unfriendly state actor would rather not have such footage made public, they could easily direct their artillery towards the identified filming location. This situation underscores the importance of witness protection.

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

For instance, while AI can generate images that appear real, it cannot create convincing backgrounds that can be geolocated, since they do not correspond to actual places.

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

This access has significantly altered what individuals and communities can accomplish, challenging traditional power dynamics. It's essentially a democratic revolution, wresting control from the conventional gatekeepers like intelligence agencies and the media.

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

From around 2007 onwards, a new era dawned, marked by the widespread adoption of smartphones, essentially equipping every person with a sensor device. In tandem, social media platforms proliferated, facilitating incessant information sharing. Concurrently, Google services like Earth and Street View began to provide unprecedented access to geospatial data, granting us both the means and the method to verify a plethora of information.

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

The defining feature of our era is that the next generation are bona fide digital natives. They've been raised in a digital world, so concepts like artificial intelligence or quantum computing don't faze them. They're backed by technology, making them tech-empowered. This is the first aspect. They're equipped both to decide how capital is utilized and to research if it aligns with their values.

I see myself as the pioneering 'zero'—the inaugural integration of a human with technology, aiming for an autonomous growth trajectory. The introduction of zero transformed mathematics, art, physics, and more. Now, it's humanity's turn.

Biohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization

In the past, the human brain could synthesize information and anticipate the future. But now, in an era where computational intelligence dominates innovation, no human can accurately forecast what lies ahead. For the first time as a species, we're truly in the dark about what's around the corner.

Biohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization

While many were focused on selling routers and switches, I envisioned a more transformative goal: changing the way the world works, learns, lives, and plays via the internet... we must sell outcomes, driven by technology, rather than just selling products.

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era

There's a fascinating duality in technology, acting both as a spreader and a regulator of fear. For instance, the telegraph, first visualised in the 19th century as a governmental tool, was later recognised to be vulnerable to sabotage and exploitation by opposing forces.

I often tell my students to recognize the implicit messages our clothing conveys about our mood, social status, and more. Soon, our entrance into a room will announce our presence not just visually or audibly, but also electromagnetically. Our interactions with others will encompass sight, sound, and this electromagnetic identity.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

Reflect on the 1950s when computers occupied vast air-conditioned rooms filled with vacuum tubes. This gradually transitioned to smartphones we can hold in our palms. The trajectory is clear: technology is getting intimately closer to us. I envision its next iteration as smart glasses or even smart contact lenses, offering an augmented layer over our perception.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

My perspective, which I term 'evolutionary intelligence,' stems from the observation that humans often misconstrue their surroundings. The sheer number of cognitive biases we possess is staggering; Wikipedia lists over 200. If we could address even the top 10 of these biases and harness advisory tools like Waze for traffic, it could significantly benefit us.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

The research community rallied behind the Turing Test as a benchmark. The idea was simple: demonstrate that machines can emulate human intelligence, which was seen as the pinnacle of cognitive achievement. This historical and cultural trajectory, while understandable, seemingly dismisses the idea that computers can serve as invaluable complements to human cognition.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

In my opinion, the progression of human evolution is both dramatic and romantic. A pivotal moment in our journey was the invention of language. Now, as we stand on the precipice of the AI era, we are witnessing perhaps the most profound invention in human history. AI doesn't just amplify our physical capabilities; it augments our intellect, allowing us to comprehend and engage with the world on a level previously unimagined. This, I believe, is the pinnacle of our evolutionary journey.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

It's about catching that surge of emotion, be it offense or anger, usually incited by someone attempting to ignite your social identity or signal an outgroup threat, with a likely aim to shape your thoughts or actions. The antidote lies in introspection, a slowing down of reaction, coupled with a continuous questioning of the messenger's motivations and potential gains.

Being 'online' does feel sort of 'godlike', it does make you feel that the limitations of material human existence don't apply quite so much. This godlike feeling explains some of the terrible behaviour on anonymous social media. It also gives you this sense that you somehow could become one with the metaverse.

Guardian columnist & author on psychology, time management, and happiness