Running for Your Life: WTF? Part Two

At best, Tim O’Reilly in the first half of “WTF?” lays out evidence on the current social implications of the tech revolution and then embarks on a Moby Dick-like voyage to rid the tech poobahs of any and all blame, seeing their actions as the essence of purity.

He is a disciple and, alas, America is prone to believe in disciples as proof that despite our flaws we are a godly nation and those who’ve been chosen as prophets to the American Way are indeed haloed and their work should be elevated as divine.

Musk. Bezos. Page. Cook. Four horsemen of the AI-calypse as perceived by the incredibly shrinking world of free thinkers. Words that will by their nature never slip the algorithms and go viral, words that can make a difference only on paper and in the private burrow of those who would debunk them. All of whom are seen as losers, of course. Except where it counts: in the head and in the heart.

How do you spell backlash?

We are secure only in our techno-tribes. Would that a legitimate power, a true mystic leader, take us by the hand and, as disciples to this more righteous cause, escort us all to the promised land.

Next: Running for Your Life: High Cultural Pluralism – A Few Words