You are not a gadget

Jaron Lanier, a Silicon Valley pioneer, presents a provocative and cautionary look at how the World Wide Web has transformed our lives. He argues that early programming decisions, now deeply embedded, have led to unintended consequences, elevating the 'wisdom' of algorithms and mobs over individual intelligence. Lanier critiques major platforms like Wikipedia, Facebook, and Twitter, exploring how digital design influences everything from online discourse to the artistic middle class. He ultimately advocates for a new humanistic technology to address these profound issues.