Friday IoT

I have a simplistic view of the world we are headed towards:

1)    Ubiquitous sensors, big data and algorithms will increasingly replace human cognition
2)    Robotics will increasingly replace human action.

The guy that some think is primarily responsible for the Internet as we know it today is probably a good source of prognostication.

We will truly live in the best of all possible worlds! What could possibly go wrong?

Well, it’s probably worth pondering the implications of living this dangerous world (where is Voltaire when we need him most?)

And, these implications don’t even begin to address the issues around always on surveillance.

I would also argue that the primary source contributing to the escalating burnout among physicians that has been in the news so much lately is the erosion of agency. Being a Physician has traditionally been one of the roles in society that allowed an incredible degree of agency. In a world where machines increasingly direct, or actually do most of the thinking and acting, where will humans find a source of value through agency?

Is there any value in nurturing something that doesn’t really fit into our Puritan work ethic?

Have a great weekend!

Randale