Your Undivided Attention
Laughing at Power: A Troublemaker’s Guide to Changing Tech
Jan 16, 2025
Srdja Popovic, an activist and founder of CANVAS, is known for his pivotal role in peacefully overthrowing Slobodan Milošević. In this conversation, he discusses the power of laughter and creative resistance in challenging oppressive systems. Popovic emphasizes the role of humor in activism, drawing parallels between past and present struggles. He also explores the complexities of technology, AI, and economic incentives in enacting social change, highlighting how individuals can harness these tools for positive activism.
45:47
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Srdja Popovic emphasizes that creative resistance, including humor and 'dilemma actions,' can effectively challenge and undermine oppressive tech narratives.
- The podcast highlights the dual nature of technology, asserting that it can empower both oppressive regimes and movements seeking positive change.
Deep dives
The Role of Incentives in Technology
The podcast examines how current technology systems are driven by incentives that often do not serve the public good. Technologies can lead to harmful outcomes, such as addiction to devices, mental health issues among children, societal polarization, and data exploitation. Daniel Barkay expresses concern about why people continue to tolerate this status quo, as it appears stable despite its negative impacts. By questioning the underlying incentives and the psychology shaping technology, there is hope for creating a healthier tech ecosystem.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
