How Wisdom Can Protect Humanity from Technology

More than ever, we need the wisdom to match the power of our God-like technology. Yet, technology is both eroding our ability to make sense of the world, and increasing the complexity of the issues we face. The gap between our sense-making ability and issue complexity is what we call the “wisdom gap." Join Tristan Harris in this talk about the wisdom we need to steer technology, and our future, at this year's Wisdom 2.0 event in California.
Tristan Harris - Co-Founder & President of the Center for Humane Technology.
For more information on the Wisdom2.0 Conference visit: www.wisdom2summit.com/
To listen to more inspiring talks at "the Intersection of Wisdom and Modern Life" visit or subscribe to Wisdom 2.0's channel at / @wisdom2

[@pgiulan]

Awaiting the day this channel gets the reach it warrants.

[@andybaldman]

We might be waiting a long time, sadly.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

If you have other values-aligned channels you follow that we should collaborate with, please let us know. Of course we are hoping to reach more people and that's a good way to do so.

[@komorebi_dayo]

@@CenterforHumaneTechnology Marques Brownlee's WVFRM podcast could be a great jumping off point for younger tech enthusiasts

[@alaalfa8839]

Maybe they may reach differently, by selling some book, or audiobook, about it or some useful tool on a website to help people. because their intention is not just to get followers but to help people. But the Netflix documentary is good because people like it. I mean some channels have 100 000 followers but the people have no benefit from it sometimes, other than entertainment. It's not about followers in this case because for example actress Goldie Hawn did a program MindUp for kids in schools in US and in Europe... Their program is used as part of the curriculum in schools. Kids but also their teachers and parents learn a meditation, metacognition, positive psychology, empathy, gratitude, and breathing techniques that calm down the nervous system so the kids with bipolar disorder or autism, or ADHD, don't need medications because they know how to manage the brain and emotions etc. They started the program 18 years ago. The point is they are successful in collaborating with organizations and teachers etc but on Twitter, they have only 10 000 followers.. They don't seem to reach for millions of followers because their work is mostly focused on schools, not on Twitter. They have 1000 followers on youtube but they don't share new content on youtube. They found out that their program helped to decrease the crime in cities. They are successful anyway. So I think it's not about getting man followers on youtube or Twitter but use the tools outside, in books or seminars etc.

[@alaalfa8839]

Sometimes people have 100 000 followers in the Facebook group but only 100 comment meaningfully.... The amount is not necessarily about the quality of connection. Therefore I think that Tristan chose the best possible way to reach the masses by doing face-to-face seminars and events because they listen to him meaningfully for an hour, so they will maybe remember it more, than by clicking on Facebook or Twitter post, or youtube. I don't know whether the influencers who have a million followers on Instagram would make such success talking in seminars about stuff.. But maybe their content is mostly about the creation of pictures, animals, kitchen designs, and some everyday stuff. But he makes a content of long-term things. I think that the Center for humane technology just needs some simple niche or brand....like some "pill" or app that people may use. For example for Yoga people, it is the techniques of yoga. For example, as Dr. Bruce Lipton has his niche the method called "super-learning" he calls it PSYCH-K, it helps people to change their thinking or learn new skills in a short period of time.

[@roryanderson3478]

Tristan, you are a truly brilliant speaker and thinker just like those who you quote! I hope these ways of thinking about technology become more adopted ASAP

[@jillgroves6254]

💯% Humane Technology is the most important thing for everyone & our survival! Thank you isn’t enough for educating us! 😊

[@nsharma140976]

Thank you @CHT & @Tristan! This is amongst the most relevant and important talks/lectures that I have heard in recent years - alongside the "Your Undivided Attention" chat between Tristan Harris and Daniel Schmachtenberger that Tristan refers to in this video. And yet it is telling that videos like these do not go viral on the Internet. This video so effectively describes the problem - "the ever-increasing complexity gap", and lays down a clear set of solutions to address it. Such an urgent issue, given the wave of digital colonialism/ imperialism that we are in the midst of.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

Thank you for watching, and for sharing what resonated with you

[@ThisDaniel]

Thank you Tristan! Keep it coming. These topics need to have ever more light shined on them.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

More is coming -- thanks for watching! (and you may also want to check out our podcast "Your Undivided Attention" if you haven't already --> humanetech.com/podcast)

[@HD.369]

❤️ Tristan You are ⭐

[@user-hn1sw4cf7x]

Absolutely brilliant 👏 👌

[@sales_coach_ai]

Thanks for posting!

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

You're welcome!

[@adhokkurwa]

Brilliant. Thanks Tristan.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

Thank you for following our work!

[@staticinteger]

Wow. looking at where we are now just in 11 months is crazy. This is really scary

[@terencewinters2154]

Social media distorts the levels of extremes

[@packardsonic]

IMPORTANT! The solution to most of all these problems is much simpler than we can believe. It is a really boring solution so people overlook it. The solution is culture, specifically we need to foster altruism. All our actions begin with an intention. To want to make a world that cares for people, first people need to want to care for others. Right now people can't care for others because we have enough problems caring to not lose our job (livelihood) to competitors. Only when our needs are met unconditionally can we afford caring for others too. Only if we are at no risk of losing our meals, lodging, healthcare, etc., THEN we can spend time and resources on helping others. We need to ensure everyone's needs are met in order to be able to focus on improving society. Coincidentally, we improve society by meeting people's needs better. The way to do this is simple but we forget to do it: foster altruism by 1. Advocate altruism 2. Organise it with free collaboration networks that meet people's needs 3. Teach others to foster altruism.

[@margaretemilia8363]

Agree to an extent. Maslow's hierarchy of needs and such. However, the deeper issue is a focus on the illusion of independence and freedom plus a focus on self "success" (as determined by capitalism). We cannot attain anything without others and there are sufficient resources for us all - if we share and don't waste. Most are supply chain ignorant. We are also social creatures that survive better together. A community oriented society where altruism is an automatic first choice is what we'd need. And non-humanistic focus. Colonialism is the true cause of this and the continued cultural colonialism perpetrated by the US and other affiliated countries. Maybe we should have listened to Indigenous people and honored the treaties and their knowledge. What a world that could have been.

[@theseustoo]

It's difficult to foster altruism when those who run our societies - i.e. our 'brave and fearless leaders' - are so obviously dedicated to its diametric opposite... :/ But it's a nice dream, so dream on... ;)

[@allenwarren1269]

Engage in inquiry about our own doubts and beliefs.

[@birdbath4488]

helpful, thanks

[@alexmedina6327]

It's funny that your videos appear recommended to me

[@rhondamathis1323]

Spiritual intelligence

[@alaalfa8839]

Two years ago I heard in some video that if the content is too perfect, or the website is too perfect, or article, or video, or maybe even on social media, nobody comments on it, because it's too perfect expertise. I think it was probably in the video of Thomas Frank. Maybe if there are imperfections or naturalism or whatever, then people are more engaged and write many comments. Reading articles is like reading a book, nobody comments on it. People comment only on general topics, questions or short topics. I was thinking that the reason may be also because people don't want to say something stupid or inappropriate because the article or website or Twitter comment is so sophisticated, uniform, special, and perfect or whatever. People probably want to comment on things that are more general, not too complex or unknown to them. Maybe another reason that nobody comments on it is that there are no comments or maybe just two or three comments.... so therefore the commenter does not feel like someone will read his comment. Now it came to my mind because I noticed on twitter the Gramophone company sharing articles about famous composers and nobody comments on it. But other people who share short stories about the same composers, get more comments because they present it in some entertaining more natural way, with enthusiasm and humor or they write the comment in an engaging way, or also they get the comments because everybody knows their enthusiasm for the artists. It seems if the company or person writes an article in a uniform way nobody comments on it. But I wonder whether the 5 or 10 comments have any meaning. So it seems that the educated people who give expertise or write articles put a lot of effort into it, have to engage the masses also with something else, with their entertaining personality enthusiasm, or be extroverts, or even start to pretend something that they are not and suffer from cognitive dissonance etc. Maybe they should use their expertise for Patreon and sell their wisdom of training as some do. So it seems therefore there are two categories on social media people who love nature, sport, simplicity, love animals, fashion, creativity, walking a dog, hiking, biking, making coffee and normal natural stuff, without focusing on perfection...... and then there are people who are engaged in a much more primitive way of thinking, arguing with others about some nonsense. The third category is people who are educated experts but have a problem engaging the masses and inspiring them.

[@andybaldman]

That’s why this channel doesn’t have many comments. The content is too perfect.

[@alaalfa8839]

@@andybaldman Its also may be too complex to comment on it, and people have other jobs and hobbies. But I think that 10 or 15 comments are enough. Complex content is in books, that are supposed to be purchased for money, not as free content. or the same is in audiobooks, and podcasts.

[@alaalfa8839]

​@@andybaldman Sometimes I noticed also on Twitter, I would comment something on some nice content, but I don't want my comment to be more important.... than the nice photograph or nice content. So I comment mostly on the stuff that others comment as well.....So the only thing you may say is, Good luck, have a nice concert or something very short. So therefore people comment on ordinary stuff or animal videos. Maybe it's like you go for a visit and let the hosts or owners speak the most because it's their event, their house etc. Psychology is fascinating. Another extreme is that on Twitter sometimes people talk intelligently with respect, but on some topics, they are able to discuss some meaningless nonsense for hours.

[@alaalfa8839]

@@andybaldman It's better if the documentary is on tv as well because the next day people discuss it at home or at work collectively. I like that Tristan uses language that is not too perfectionistic but more human.....that people may engage and also he feels like a human and not an audiobook. Deepak Copra had some videos on youtube with title "Perfect imperfections" but I didn't watch it... It seems to me we have to be perfect and imperfect at the same time as the trees are imperfect.

[@alaalfa8839]

Wonder whether someone may measure the fact that the more comments you write on one day for example 3 on Facebook, 5 on Twitter, 2 on Instagram 4 on youtube, the less connection you feel because some info is good curiosity but it's not necessary to comment trivial stuff, or repetitive stuff. At the end of the day you actually even don't remember that you wrote more comments because it's automatic. The fewer comments you write for example two comments a day, the better connection you feel because don't feel pressure to comment on everything, even if it's a good comment. Maybe if we exercise less, or lack doing other hobbies we feel disconnected from ourselves and our well-being and therefore, our connection online is also quite polarized or limited, predictable by our emotions. It's like when you watch the tv the better connection you feel if you don't comment on it. But on the other hand, some channels deserve more comments.

[@RevolutionaryThinking]

Merry Tristmas.

[@techwithdipufrom0ton621]

What is wisdom in general?

[@alaalfa8839]

Do you think Tik Tok creates less patience and more entitlement? and the gap between it, and problem thinking more clearly, consciously about perceptions and values? It seems on Twitter is both the inspiration and curiosity and also a bit of imperfection, but on Tik Tok is rarely any inspiration, just curiosity.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

We'd have to imagine that TikTok is reducing patience. This makes us think of our Your Undivided Attention podcast episode "Pardon the Interruptions" on the effects that technology has had on our attention span (and this was pre-TikTok!) www.humanetech.com/podcast/7-pardon-the-interruptions

[@alaalfa8839]

@@CenterforHumaneTechnology Thank you.

[@billguschwan4112]

45:50 asymmetry of power : trillion dollar ai targeting me

[@billguschwan4112]

52:16 johan hari answer to addiction is connection

[@billguschwan4112]

52:50 tenets are for the technologists

[@billguschwan4112]

53:20 mindwise: XR studio optimize well being , digital well being by design : addictive also couples with identity

[@billguschwan4112]

55:11 you get addicted to getting attention from other people

[@mirthkon]

It's troubling that the host's response to what Tristan is describing and how badly it's impacting society is consistently laughter. Or, I should say, it's funny. HA HA HA.

[@pernilsson2394]

My autistic brain doesnt get hijacked by social media.

[@JM-bl3ih]

What kills me is that the people who created this stuff are now against it. Why the hell did you create this technology in the first place? They were fulfilling their egos

[@alaalfa8839]

You can not even watch meaningful content on tik tok or tinder......because otherwise, you wouldn't scroll it to the next thing. If something is meaningful and interesting you don't scroll it away to other stuff. Or it may be meaningful, but you don't spend time looking at it meaningfully. I think this way it's bad for economics because you don't even have the intention to buy some meaningless product advertised in the short video...that you intend to scroll away.

[@ForByCollaborative]

If you are working on AI, please ask yourself: Am I building silicon to serve carbon, or am I carbon serving silicon. Don't be a bootloader?

[@andybaldman]

That’s what I regularly ask. People are going crazy developing the thing that will make them extinct themselves. We need tech to help us be MORE human, not less. But that’s not how it’s going. Steve Jobs understood making us more human with tech. I don’t idolize him in every way, but I sure wish he was around today.

[@CenterforHumaneTechnology]

And for all of those working on AI, please check out our free course "Foundations of Humane Technology" which walks through how to build more ethical tech: humanetech.com/course

[@alaalfa8839]

@@CenterforHumaneTechnology It's a great idea.

[@alaalfa8839]

I wonder if the government would hire thousands of analysts to analyze the effects of social media and behavior and the effects of conditioning. as Social media employees are allowed to do it. Then experts and documentary directors of crime content say a child is much more safe playing outside in town than sitting in his room and being scammed by some person. Metacognition is actually an easy tool, because you just use some mantra, or ask yourself what you want to do. Or say "Where you put your attention is where you put your energy" and it helps you to focus only on stuff that is important at that moment, so it helps you to disconnect from the world and focus on other meaningful hobbies. But the problem is we want the connection feeling with friends etc, but it's possible to use some techniques of metacognition.

[@alaalfa8839]

@Paul Adams There was also a video in Asia or China where parents put kids in a boot camp for three months, to unlearn the habit of playing video games on their phones. The tech wouldn't be maybe such a problem if people would follow mostly the "altruistic" content, and less the polarized content....or practice the altruism and meditation, metacognition etc. But an altruistic attitude makes you feel so balanced and happy, that you don't feel the need to buy too many products, because you think more consciously and choose only the healthy stuff that serves you. Dr. Joe Dispenza said a good quote "When you dream about something, you feel separated from it. So you have to feel like you already have it." For example, it's easy to feel gratitude, you don't have to go somewhere to find gratitude or empathy, or altruism. It comes to you.

[@terencewinters2154]

' The unself examined life is not worth living' paraphrasing socrates .

[@mandys1505]

the platforms aren't going to change unless you can remove capitalism. capitalism is the problem....🐘

[@Bradley_UA]

Interesting, i was practicing all sorts of perceptual illusions for years, but havent seen this one for a while. By unfocusing my attention from the 3d image i am actually able to see that its the sam color, and switch between that and the 3d image, where im sure its ifferent colors, and bak again. Its trainable, as im sure is the rest of th human issues. So yeah, i wish humans would just reorganise eucation to make people more cognitively flexible and rational. half f these problems would fall away. Dont mind the typos.

[@LordBlk]

Hm....I might not be the smartest. But thinking in systems...its fun, but not feasible for one can never have a true perception of said system This is the problem equal to Contextualized quantum theory. And it is basically bunk on that front. Irony is that, he uses left leaning language to stipulate what it good versus bad info. The comment about the jab...why would that paper generated by the ai not be legitimate if it had sound epistemology, arguments and legitimate facts? Seriously? Claiming that we should grow in wisdom whilst simultaneously spouting left rhetoric is a bit rich. What it amounts to is this tech will only make biases easier to promote and argue. Because the "kings" will be in control of the dials.

[@AB-wf8ek]

Since when is antivax left or right? That fact that you think vaccination is a political issue highlights the problem

[@LordBlk]

@A B since covid, when in my country they were planning to disallow people from grocery stores without a passport. Since the left became totalitarian

[@LordBlk]

@A B furthermore, you didn't really argue my point. Which was who gets to decide what is mis/disinformation His language suggested it must be through a leftist lense of critical theory. And we all know that during the last few years there has been censorship of legit science

[@michaelbasher]

You're going to have to knuckle down on misuse. Reboot the internet