Top-Down Technological Development and Lack of Public Input in Technology Usage

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The prevailing issue in technology development is the top-down approach where entities with power and resources build technology without public input, leading to potential negative impacts on people's lives and work. While the notion is that the market decides the usage of technology, especially in enterprise software like generative AI, individuals often have minimal say in how it affects their work. There is a trend where technologies developed, like Chet GPT, are increasingly being used in workplaces to streamline processes, leading to job replacements or department eliminations.

Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss the history of the Luddites, why we have their story all wrong, and what we can learn from them today.

Brian Merchant is the technology columnist at the LA Times and the author of Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

An excerpt from Brian’s book was published in Fast Company. He also explained why he’s a Luddite in the Washington Post.
In 2014, Brian wrote “You’ve Got the Luddites All Wrong.”
On October 12, we’ll be holding a Luddite Tribunal in New York City.
We also mentioned the work of David Noble, Eric Hobsbawm, and E. P. Thompson.

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