Is technology our savior — or our slayer? | Ruha Benjamin

A More Inclusive Vision of the Future

The current future is shaped by a small group of tech billionaires who prioritize their own interests, resulting in a lopsided imagination that neglects the needs of the many. There are two narratives about the future: a Silicon Valley utopia where technology caters to our every desire and a dystopia where technology dominates and displaces humanity. Both narratives overlook the importance of human input and fail to address social transformation. To move forward, we must dismantle these narratives and imagine a future, called 'ustopia,' that prioritizes collective well-being and recognizes the interconnectedness of struggles. Barcelona's participatory experiment with Decideam showcases the power of collective intelligence in creating policies that respond to people's needs.