I’ll never forget walking my son, Finn, into his first kindergarten class. Surrounded by chaos, new friends, and backpacks too big for little bodies, his eyes opened wide. It was as if I could see his world expanding.
I fondly recalled that moment when I heard a job title that inspired me: Manager of Lifelong Kindergarten. It’s an actual position—at the MIT Media Lab, no less—created to see the world through curious, optimistic eyes.
Larry Weber shared this story with me and fellow panelists, David Kirkpatrick and Dr. Alexander Dale, at a gathering to discuss his new book, “A New Age of Reason: Harnessing the Power of Tech for Good.”
Weber has an innate ability to see around corners in our industry. Some say he is ahead of his time. His perspectives on technology and what we should expect from it inspire us. Weber’s new book is no exception. Here’s a snapshot of our discussion.
Embracing technology optimism
Technology is central to shaping our future.
Weber recalled pivotal moments in tech history: “In 2007, when Steve Jobs was coming across that stage, he turned to the audience with that first iPhone and said, ‘Don’t you get it?! It’s three things in one: it’s a computer, and it’s a telephone, and it’s a camera.’”
Weber’s optimism stems from moments like this, and the people who see things more simply.
“I wanted to write a book that respects technology and gives reasons to be optimistic about it. We should focus on its excellence and go deeper in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.”
Kirkpatrick, who has spent over 40 years writing about pivotal moments in tech, pointed out that, while the rise of the Internet brought a wave of idealism, today’s tech landscape leans toward pessimism.
“I think the idealism quotient has diminished. You’d hope that the extraordinary developments around AI would bring a comparable idealism, but it has not. Technology is central to the potential of rapid progress. But it’s not given. We must believe in it and work for it.”
Championing the solution-finders
Our conversation turned to what technologies can propel us forward.
“It isn’t that AI is a spectacular innovation that will allow all kinds of new stuff. There is a tech evolution in realms like biotech, with the intersection of CRISPR and AI that will allow combinational opportunities that are inconceivably exciting.”
Still, Kirkpatrick believes that AI has distracted some from making significant contributions.
“Microsoft could be the ‘Amazon of climate;’ it isn’t happening right now because they’re so drunk on AI that they’re off track. More than any other large company in the world, [Microsoft has] done more to address climate issues in a non-climate company.”
Choosing hope amidst the challenges
Dale highlighted the work of global innovators solving real-world problems.
“People who have made lots of money now ask: how do we give back? We have teams in Brazil using GIS to improve acai harvesting. Better harvesting means that community incomes go up and they don’t have to look at cutting down the Amazon and can avoid deforestation.”
At MIT Solve, Dale builds pipelines to help people understand myriad current problems.
“We have a team called the Waukesha AI Consortium working on a project called polysynthetic Indigenous languages, which are dialects structured differently than how we talk. They’re using AI to teach people those languages, without losing the data sovereignty for the tribes that own them.”
Dale also emphasized the importance of telling stories. By focusing on technology’s potential and sharing these narratives, we can inspire others to join us in building a better world.
Tech for good: what we need to do
A call for balance, guardrails, humanity, and training.
Weber advocates for a Chief Ethics Officer within companies, reinforcing the concept of the moral corporation—one that thrives financially and contributes positively to society. He also highlights human contributions.
“Technology cannot do things without humans completely in the loop and right next to it. One of the biggest problems we will face is talent. And to attract talent, there needs to be good companies.”
For Dale, it’s access – and storytelling.
“We can see all sorts of improvements, but we need to build a system that is not slightly better than where we are. How do we ensure that everyone has great housing and access to energy? Telling stories of a better future that talk about what we want to see – not just what we want to avoid.”
For Kirkpatrick, a lofty goal of an operating system for the global economy.
“If Microsoft were to take its systems approach to technology to an even larger economic systems scale, we’d have a gigantic opportunity. With AI, [we can] build systems that integrate our energy management with our energy use. We can think bigger about the challenge. Microsoft is almost uniquely positioned to advance this if they choose.”
Appreciating the wonders of the world
We closed with a moment of inspiration, with Weber’s story of his friend’s job title —and how it encompasses his worldview.
“Think of technology as a wonder. Not as something that will tear or bring us down. My favorite job title is a friend named Mitch Resnick, from the MIT Media Lab. He is the Manager of Lifelong Kindergarten. I view the world as a joyous place, and I believe that technology can help to solve problems.”
Technology’s potential to drive positive change is immense. With the right balance of innovation, ethics, and storytelling, we can create a future where technology advances human progress and uplifts society.
If you want to learn more, catch the full panel discussion here and get a copy of “A New Age of Reason: Harnessing the Power of Tech for Good.”
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