Where Will Man Take Us is a peek into the past and future of technology and Artificial Intelligence. The book is a crash course into the growth and invasiveness of tech into our lives. Right now we can’t imagine our lives without our gadgets, smart watches, and Alexia but at what cost?
Technology is our boon or is it a bane? Our lives revolve around it, with and even a few minutes without our gadgets and gizmos sends us in a tizzy. Zero privacy, constantly tethered to our devices and slaves to the instant access makes it our source of joy and flaunting the latest tech makes us most popular. At present our tech can do no wrong but was it always like this, more so, will it remain like this?
Atul Jalan has not just traced the history of tech but also highlighted an important aspect of how we are enslaved by it. The book is divided into chapters with each aspect of our life being covered separately. The most important thing these chapters so is tell us how dependent we are. He has shared incidents of how the tech caused human lives and how it is saving them too.
The title Where Will Man Take Us is apt as it is we who are driving this race and growth. We have the power to channel it for our progress or annihilation. Yes, both scenarios are possible and equally viable right now.
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Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
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This quote was the first I read when I started studying Political Science but it is applicable in all walks of our lives and to our tech also. It is thinking, evolving, learning and growing as we do. One day it might have a superiority complex and may think of us as inconsequential. What then? If humans can be merciless and ruthless, have world wars then can the machines they create not do the same?
The author has used examples from our lives, inventions or discoveries and even movies to drive home the point that we are at the cusp of change. Where we go is in our hands and we must choose wisely. Of all the scenarios that Atul has shared in his book, I found some comforting and others not so much. Movies like The Bicentennial Man and Gattaca that are my favourites were not there but others like Terminator, I Robot, HER, Ex Machina find a mention and share a future that can be a nasty reality.
Many books, news reports, journals and magazines have been referred and quoted in the book, Where Will Man Take Us to prove his views on how our life is changing. Medicine, education, learning, play, love and even our life spans are all eagerly taking all they can from machines. Aliens, our future lives and even our planet are all impacted but are we really paying attention or we are in it just for the moment?
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In these times of instant gratification, are we squandering away our future for a pleasant present? Atul Jalan has presented both sides of the picture, explaining how it is a fragile balance. It is up to us to harness, nurture and use it for our benefit. Already so many stories have become a reality, we must be cautious of the ones that technology can bring alive.
A book that is definitely not an easy read since it makes you think and evaluate your actions and options. It is a must read so we can make better choices about how much our privacy, our social presence and our lives means to us. Where Will Man Take Us is a book that will definitely make you check your phone settings and online presence.
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BLURB
…………………………………………………..The first person who will live to be 150 years old has already been born.
The screen that we peer into will soon be within us.
We could soon be taking happiness pills before breakfast.
The perfect partner might need to be charged before bed.
This is a new world we are walking into. And the man who began this journey won’t be the man who ends this journey. Where Will Man Take Us? explores the changes technology is bringing about in us-as a society and as a species. What will the next generation turn into, what will it be like, how will the new Adam and Eve live and love?
In this book, Atul Jalan tackles nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and genetics, seamlessly weaving the future of technology with the changing dynamics of human love, morality and ethics.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
In case you click on any of the links and make a purchase, I get a commission at no extra cost to you to help offset the cost to keep this website going.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Note: This review is commissioned by the author, views are my own.
