Humans have been experts at segmentation
schemes from inception, and for good reasons. For most of their history, their
survival depended on it. From clans, religions, languages, cultures, races,
countries and country clubs, they have been exceptionally good at erecting
unassailable walls between themselves and the rest. Now, we are likely entering
the most efficient of these segmentation schemes, one based on access to
information. In this, possibly the final scheme, there are no physical
observations like the color of the skin, Body Mass Index, places of worship,
accent or wealth and that makes the ensuing game much deadlier than the
previous ones.
The technologists
have been riding high. They have been inventing deep mind, deeper learning, and
artificial intelligence. The makers of the intelligent cars and package
delivery men have been competing against the ones who search and spread
fake news. But all of them are different from the rest as they do have an
almost infinite access to information. And the unstable regime in Washington
has been busy working to quickly segment the Internet before anybody can
recognize the issue. The ones in charge are certainly no fans of open access.
The leaders of search, fake news, package deliveries and autonomous cars would
certainly like to play along even though they may have a publicly expressed
universal view of information. But just like in any other business, actions are
more powerful than words and genuine intentions better than elaborate plans.
Most macro
problems are now reduced to those governed by information only. Climate change,
disease, hunger, illiteracy and even wars could be solved by the better use of
information. The information concentration in half a dozen companies in the
world is problematic, especially because of the leaders of these companies, in
spite of their showcased empathy to the masses, are focused on counting next
quarter's earnings. What they don't seem to realize is that humanity has been
here before; whenever there is a high concentration of power, there has been a
reset. That's because humans can catalyze around universal and democratic ideas
and till they assemble a massive number of robots who could take them all down,
it is still a marginal game.
Those who sit on
a measurable share of world' information and not utilizing it to solve the
world's problems are committing a crime against humanity. Speeches and talks
are great but even those who don't have access to information knows that one
can only measure results.