We hope so! The world seems to be in quite a bit of trouble ATM!
If you’re inspired to go make a difference, then we hope you’ll read this post carefully.
If you’re in a hurry, then the tl;dr is:
Just say no.
Say no to shady employers.
Say no to working on projects that give you pause.
SPEAK UP when someone at your company has this brilliant idea to trick users into doing something the users are unaware they’re agreeing to.
Our world is accelerating very quickly towards a tipping point where things will be VERY DIFFERENT and none of us will be able to roll any of it back.
There was a researcher who spliced human DNA to make babies that are supposedly protected from HIV infection.
Sounds good, but guess what?
THAT’S TOTALLY UNETHICAL.
There are software developers who are building extensions that provide some nifty function on your browser while you’re viewing reddit… while simultaneously watching every click and page load from the user . Then selling those data to brokers. Well guess what? THAT’S UNETHICAL TOO.
There are AI tools that will create mashups of this person’s head on this person’s naked body that seem like innocent fun. Well guess what? DEEPFAKES ARE CREEPY AND INSIDIOUS AND VERY MUCH NOT FUN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY IT .
There are Google and Amazon and Facebook projects installing surveillance stuff on every street corner and into the homes. Well guess what? There is so much risk of abuse for this type of surveillance and it’s very much socioeconomically class-driven.
You’re going to be in a position to make decisions someday; maybe you already are.
It’s so easy to get caught up in groupthink at work, where an idea is not questioned and seems rational, maybe because of who suggested it, or that it’s not that much of a divergence from the idea you had before, which was only a small variation from an original thought, which…. But when you pop your head up and step back from it and say, “Hmm. I wonder if this really makes sense? I wonder what the ramifications might be?” Then you start to think more carefully.
Having doubts about corporate direction is normal. Healthy. If all you do is go along with status quo, and follow orders, and never question, then all of humanity may end up running ourselves off the road.
It’s totally possible to build an amazing career for yourself doing something you’re good at, that you enjoy, that pays well — that doesn’t put the future of society at risk.
(Yes we’re being dramatic. But truly, each and every person makes decisions every day that contribute to the state of affairs for us all.)
So you want to save the world? There are a lot of ways the world needs saving.
Tell us what you think.