How technological innovation brings both promise and peril to society
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As the founder of several technology associations, including the Alberta Council of Technologies, I have spent much of my career championing emerging innovations such as fusion energy and cell therapy. Like many before them, both of these advances hold the promise of reshaping our world in profound ways.
Yet, while the excitement of technological progress is undeniable, I am deeply concerned about its unintended consequences, particularly as we witness the ripple effects of earlier breakthroughs in labour-saving devices, health and education, transportation, and communications.
There is no doubt that advances in these areas are a credit to human ingenuity – driven by science, research, competitive forces, and humanity’s insatiable curiosity. Technologies that were once the stuff of science fiction have become woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Plastic, nuclear power, birth control pills, automobiles, combustion engines, CRISPR gene-editing, TV, computers, the internet, and artificial intelligence are just a few examples of transformative inventions that have altered our world.
The benefits of these advances are clear: lives have been saved, life expectancy has increased, and communication occurs at speeds that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. We are connected globally in ways previous generations could never have dreamed of. The ability to control fertility and make informed choices about reproductive health has given women unprecedented autonomy. Globally, the workforce is more diverse, and poverty levels, though still a significant issue, have decreased as employment opportunities have expanded.
Yet, with each new discovery comes an array of challenges. The paradox of progress is that while we solve some problems, we create others – often with devastating consequences.
Take plastic, for example. Once hailed as a miracle material for its versatility and durability, it is now choking our oceans, infiltrating the food chain, and contributing to environmental degradation on a scale that threatens entire ecosystems. Nuclear power, another scientific marvel, has provided cleaner energy but also brought the spectre of nuclear disaster and weapons proliferation.
And now we face artificial intelligence, the latest frontier. Its potential to revolutionize everything from medical diagnosis to job automation is clear, but with that comes the possibility of mass unemployment, ethical dilemmas, and the erosion of privacy. Similarly, CRISPR gene editing, while offering the promise of curing genetic diseases, raises questions about human enhancement, designer babies, and the unintended consequences of altering the genetic fabric of life.
One of the most striking examples of unintended consequences is climate change. The combustion engine and the industrial age it powered gave rise to modern transportation and unprecedented economic growth, but the byproduct of that growth – carbon emissions – is now driving climate instability, threatening the very future of the planet.
Similarly, while modern medicine has eradicated diseases and prolonged life, we now face new challenges. The aging population is stretching the capacity of our healthcare systems and welfare states, and infectious diseases, despite scientific advances, remain a global problem, often exacerbated by the very technologies that have made travel and trade so efficient.
So, what should we conclude from this? It seems we, as humans, are not particularly adept at foreseeing the long-term societal consequences of our discoveries. In our race to innovate, we often neglect to consider the broader impact of our actions. This is not to diminish the incredible achievements of science and technology but to urge caution and reflection as we move forward.
Each new breakthrough, no matter how revolutionary, must be met with careful consideration of its potential impact on society and the environment. As we stand on the precipice of even more transformative technologies – fusion energy, cell therapy, and AI among them – it is imperative that we learn from the past.
Technology, in its many forms, has saved and improved countless lives. But it has also reshaped the world in ways we did not fully anticipate, sometimes with harmful effects that may take generations to resolve. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, let us do so with our eyes wide open, recognizing that every innovation brings with it both promise and peril.
We must be vigilant not only in our pursuit of progress but also in our efforts to mitigate the unintended societal consequences that inevitably follow. After all, the future of humanity depends not just on what we create, but on how responsibly we manage the legacies of our creations.
Dr. Perry Kinkaide is a visionary leader and change agent. Since retiring in 2001, he has served as an advisor and director for various organizations and founded the Alberta Council of Technologies Society in 2005. Previously, he held leadership roles at KPMG Consulting and the Alberta Government. He holds a BA from Colgate University and an MSc and PhD in Brain Research from the University of Alberta.
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