Role of new technologies and AI in society

From: mk_thisisit

Silicon Valley: A Paradox of Wealth and Sadness

Silicon Valley, the heart of technological innovation, presents a stark contrast between immense wealth and significant social issues. Despite being home to multimillionaires, profound sadness and economic disparity are evident “right on the street” [00:00:03]. While beautiful houses may boast large yards, they often lack the presence of children, leading to a methodical and less spontaneous social life for young people [00:07:38]. The region, specifically San Jose, also houses estates for homeless people just “300 meters further on the right and left side” [00:09:05]. This visible sadness exists amidst the “heart of Silicon Valley” [00:09:11].

This environment challenges the perception of Silicon Valley as a place of “unlimited possibilities” [00:09:34]. While opportunities abound, they often come with “enormous hardships that we very often do not read about and do not know” [00:09:40]. The region’s history, rooted in military technology and subsequent commercialization, has led to the creation of vast amounts of money, attracting more people and establishing a visible global presence [00:10:04].

The Human Cost of Progress

The rapid advancements in new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), often overlook the struggles of the general population. A significant economic disparity exists:

• Approximately 50% of Americans cannot afford an unexpected $500 bill [00:00:34], [00:17:14].
• Many people lack health insurance and cannot even afford basic dental care [00:17:02]. This contrasts sharply with the “trillions” [00:15:14] in valuations of technology companies like Open AI, which achieved an $80-90 billion valuation just eight years after its founding [00:15:28].

Social Media and Mental Health

Social media, while initially intended to connect people, has contributed to growing societal problems, particularly among adolescents. One entrepreneur’s dream project aims to “reduce depression [and] loneliness of adolescents” [00:04:38] by “connecting the real world with the virtual world” [00:05:31]. This initiative acknowledges that while social media is a permanent part of young people’s reality, it also leads to addiction [00:04:47]. The goal is to “hack their mind” by providing the addiction but leading them towards real-world activities [00:05:15].

The “Golden Cage” of Tech Employment

High-paying tech jobs in Silicon Valley can be viewed as a “golden cage” [00:12:34]. While engineers at companies like Google or Facebook can earn between $300,000and$700,000 annually, along with benefits like free food and healthcare [00:11:46], [00:12:25], this comes with significant risks. The American hiring culture often involves employing “thousands” and then suddenly firing “thousands” [00:13:30]. Losing such a job can lead to depression, as individuals accustomed to a high level of comfort suddenly face the reality of budgeting and reduced financial security [00:13:50]. This system can be seen as a “very nice manipulation” or “modern slavery” [00:14:09].

The AI Revolution

Currently, the main direction of technological innovation in Silicon Valley is Artificial Intelligence (AI) [00:17:45]. Chat GPT exemplifies this trend, achieving the fastest growth in history to 100 million users, even surpassing TikTok [00:18:24].

Experts foresee the development of AI unfolding in three main pillars:

1. AI Product Development: Creation of tools like Chat GPT [00:18:54].
2. National Economic Involvement: Countries engaging in AI development to strengthen their geopolitical position by providing companies access to data [00:19:04].
3. Solving Civilization’s Fundamental Problems: The belief that without AI, it will not be possible to solve “the fundamental problems of civilization” or “the survival of the human species” [00:19:21].

However, a critical perspective questions this third pillar, arguing that these AI solutions are primarily for the “first world” [00:19:50], ignoring the billions of people in the “third world” who lack basic necessities [00:19:57]. This highlights a growing disproportion as advanced technologies like GPT chats and food analysis bypass those most in need [00:17:26].

The Polish Perspective: Potential and Challenges

Poland is recognized as a “programming powerhouse” with strong intellectual potential [00:29:51], [00:30:06]. Polish engineers have even taught German colleagues, solving problems “faster, more efficiently, better” [00:30:31]. Poland and Ukraine are considered “one of the best places for product implementation” [00:02:59], [00:23:03].

However, significant challenges hinder Poland’s technological growth:

• Lack of Intellectual Property Protection: Despite brilliant minds, Poland does not adequately protect its intellectual property. Germany submits 27,000 patent applications to the European Patent Office annually, while Poland submits only about 500 [00:31:09]. This suggests that Polish knowledge often becomes “public domain” due to a lack of patenting [00:32:00].
• Capital Shortage and Risk Aversion: There is a “lack of capital” in Poland for technological investments [00:36:09]. Polish businessmen prefer safer investments like tenement houses, yielding small but easy returns, rather than the higher-risk, higher-reward ventures of startups [00:36:51]. Unlike American investors who might fund 10 projects expecting only one or two to succeed, Polish investors view multiple failures as a “tragedy” [00:37:18].
• Government and Education Support: Support from the government and educational institutions for technological innovation is perceived as “a bit weak” [00:35:24].

Despite these challenges, Polish individuals are “quite creative” and “flexible” in their approach to problem-solving, often forced by circumstances to be more adaptable than their specialized Western counterparts [00:35:37].

Fostering Talent and Innovation

To retain and develop talent, particularly young innovators, it is crucial to:

• Create a positive and engaging work environment: Beyond just providing resources, leaders should foster a “spirit of organization” and an atmosphere where people “want to come to work on Monday” [00:33:59].
• Cultivate talent internally: Instead of just “searching for talents,” it is often “easier to create them in your own company” through internships and mentorship [00:37:50].
• Allow for mistakes and provide space for growth: Young people, who may not even realize their own potential, should be given opportunities to make mistakes, which stimulates positive motivation and allows their capabilities to expand [00:38:31].

Ultimately, young people are encouraged to “get to know and simply experience” [00:26:50] the world, whether in Silicon Valley or elsewhere, rather than just reading or watching. This hands-on approach is vital for personal and professional development.