The article “Why the future doesn’t need us” by Bill Joy raises several thought provoking questions about technology superseding the need for human existence and decision making. While the author offers many relevant points about the advances in technology and the growing intelligence of computers to make decisions, I feel humans will always be in control of technology. The main reason I feel humans will retain control over machines is because machines, computers, and software were created by humans. Technology was developed to help humans perform tasks better and more efficiently; the technology is available because humans need assistance with efficiencies and continue to develop the technology. If humans were not needed, the technology would not continue to develop on its own.
While I do feel humans are necessary in relation to technology and humans will continue to be in control of decisions and technology development, I did appreciate the argument Bill Joy presents about the topic. At one point he makes the argument “we are suggesting neither that the human race would voluntarily turn power over to the machines nor that the machines would willfully seize power” (Joy, xx). In this part of the argument he is showing how the submission of power from humans to machines would not be willful on either side, either human or machines. He goes on to say “What we do suggest is that the human race might easily permit itself to drift into a position of such dependence on the machines that it would have no practical choice but to accept all of the machines' decisions” (Joy, xx). The point he is making with both statements is that neither humans nor machines desire control, power, and decision making to be turned over to machines, but due to dependency on the technology the submission of power could naturally evolve. However, I feel that if humans didn’t depend on the technology it would not be a relevant argument and humans would continue to be in control.
In conclusion, I feel the article has many relevant and thought provoking points about how technology has the possibility to surpass humans, but ultimately I feel technology would not be relevant without humans. Without the human reliance on technology and the desire to continue developing the technology it would not exist nor be needed. Removing the dependence on technology would also remove the potential for technology to overcome the need for humans. The article presents many interesting and relevant points related to rampant and increasing use of technology, but I feel humans will always be necessary in relation to technology.
Works Cited
Joy, Bill. Why the Future Doesn't Need Us: How 21st Century Technologies Threaten to Make Humans an Endangered Species. Random House Audio Assets, 2007.
