The Politics of Technology

Although technology could be able to potentially give people incredibly easier access to exponentially more resources and allot people incredible more universal knowledge, it may not be able to rid humanity of power hierarchies and economic inequality. For the majority of people in America and many other places in the world, basic needs have been adequately met and exceeded. Of course, without needing to worry about the amount of water, food, and shelter, people focus on the aesthetic appeal of their resources, create artifacts for psychological desire instead of biological need, and develop artificially high standards of living.
Although our current economic situation has slightly reduced the average amount of resources consumed by individuals, the wave of technology should eventually develop even more objects of psychological desire to compete over. Although we may be able to cure diseases, restore body organs and tissue, and create a virtual reality in the future, technology alone will not prevent inequality. Even in the virtual world of Postsingular, there was still a battle over scarce resources.

“Vearth had an active cash economy, with the cash standing for computational resources. You needed money to buy or rent a simulated house, to view a show, or to get new clothes. And if you paid Big Pig a certain monthly fee, your personal reality was rendered in higher resolution than was other people’s” (Postsingular, 291).

As artificial intelligence improves, it will be important to evaluate and moniter the politics of distributing new technologies. People should not allow the ruling class to horde tools of physical and social evolution.