The more attention on this question, the better. The way I put it is that for any given industry, there are some pretty obvious second order questions. If you make self-driving cars, you affect certain jobs and infrastructure with your design choices; if you make social networks, you affect certain constituencies; if you make social networks and only invest in moderation in English, you affect others again; etc.
I don't think everyone can or should agree on what the right answer to those questions is: who is responsible, what should be done, or the interaction effects between technology and society and business. You can think you are doing something good and then 100 years later it turns out you accidentally deafened whales; bad, but, maybe unknowable at the time. But today if you are building autonomous sonar drones, well... you should know.
I think if you build a business, or work on problems that directly or indirectly ask these questions (read: anything), then you should at least find the /question/ interesting and be open to rigorous engagement. Even if your conclusion is, "that is someone else's problem because ____" at least you've thought about it!
A lot of the time, though, there isn't only disengagement - there's a certain hostility or disbelief that these questions even have merit. And I think that's pretty unfortunate on a lot of levels.
So - thanks for provoking people on this topic!
(++ disclosure that I had the benefit of seeing Rob try to help / inculcate / resuscitate souls amongst the at-risk in business school, a worthy effort ;) )
Great insights. I think that is what strikes me -- the pressure here to be on the next rocket ship has led to a reality distortion field on impact, context, etc. in Silicon Valley. And people know this subconsciously by some of the trends we see (e.g. quiet quitting), but the juxtaposition of what I see elsewhere of not only purpose, but joy -- that's what strikes me. Not the delusion of "we are going to kill it, build the next unicorn, etc." but actually enjoying the ride.
The more attention on this question, the better. The way I put it is that for any given industry, there are some pretty obvious second order questions. If you make self-driving cars, you affect certain jobs and infrastructure with your design choices; if you make social networks, you affect certain constituencies; if you make social networks and only invest in moderation in English, you affect others again; etc.
I don't think everyone can or should agree on what the right answer to those questions is: who is responsible, what should be done, or the interaction effects between technology and society and business. You can think you are doing something good and then 100 years later it turns out you accidentally deafened whales; bad, but, maybe unknowable at the time. But today if you are building autonomous sonar drones, well... you should know.
I think if you build a business, or work on problems that directly or indirectly ask these questions (read: anything), then you should at least find the /question/ interesting and be open to rigorous engagement. Even if your conclusion is, "that is someone else's problem because ____" at least you've thought about it!
A lot of the time, though, there isn't only disengagement - there's a certain hostility or disbelief that these questions even have merit. And I think that's pretty unfortunate on a lot of levels.
So - thanks for provoking people on this topic!
(++ disclosure that I had the benefit of seeing Rob try to help / inculcate / resuscitate souls amongst the at-risk in business school, a worthy effort ;) )
Great insights. I think that is what strikes me -- the pressure here to be on the next rocket ship has led to a reality distortion field on impact, context, etc. in Silicon Valley. And people know this subconsciously by some of the trends we see (e.g. quiet quitting), but the juxtaposition of what I see elsewhere of not only purpose, but joy -- that's what strikes me. Not the delusion of "we are going to kill it, build the next unicorn, etc." but actually enjoying the ride.