Philosophy of Technology

Technology, in its broadest sense, means “the way we do things”  – which can be manual, mechanical, and electronic.  What does the way we do things say about the evolution of knowledge, and of our perspectives and priorities, over time?  Does our technology reveal the mindset of its inventors, and those who use it?

Technology is the product of human knowledge, applied to a particular purpose.  The applications of our technology change over time, but why do they change and what are the causes of our inventions?  Are there times when we adapt to our technology, and other times when our technology adapts to us?  Who – or what – determines the future course of the way we do things, and how do the rest of us have a say in the matter?  Join in this ongoing dialogue as we explore the frontiers of technology from the combined perspectives of its developers and its users.

Latest Philosophy of Technology

  • The Case for Cyclic Neural Networks: Could Circular Data Mimic Biological Intelligence and Improve Machine Learning?

    Artificial neural networks powering large language models like ChatGPT connect data sequences in straight lines: for example, A leads to B which leads to C. But real-life data relationships aren’t always linear, and biological intelligences connect the dots and weigh probabilities in many different ways. Cyclic neural networks hold promise for capturing and interpreting data more naturally in circles rather than lines, improving the reliability of their predictions as they feed on huge amounts of information synthesized from countless human and machine sources. As we increasingly rely on LLMs and AI agents to weigh probabilities for us, fully connecting the dots is crucial.

  • Protecting The Young, and Defending Independent Thought, in the Age of GenAI 

    Users of ChatGPT, and other LLMs that have shaped today’s age of generative AI, report a loss of creativity and capacity for independent thought. With AI consuming ever more of our data, how can we protect the data of today’s youth? Now the most vulnerable, they are the creators of the future and humanity’s most precious asset. Can GenAI’s power be redirected, not to replace but instead to enhance our uniquely individual human power for creativity? With the future in the balance, we explore some of the possibilities for a happy median between technology’s speed and our slower but far more inventive time for reflection.

  • Thinking in the Age of Machines: Global IQ Decline and the Rise of AI-Assisted Thinking

    Are our minds adapting—or deteriorating—in the digital age? As global IQ scores decline and artificial intelligence assumes more cognitive tasks, new questions emerge about the future of human thought. From the reversal of the Flynn effect to the rise of “brain rot” in online culture, researchers are examining how technology, media, and shifting environments are subtly reshaping our capacity to think.

  • Digital Sovereignty: Cutting Dependence on Dominant Tech Companies

    As cloud computing becomes the backbone for everyone, from governments to businesses to schools to individuals, a handful of Big Tech companies are tightening their grip on global infrastructure. This article explores what digital sovereignty means, why it’s increasingly urgent, and how nations and individuals are fighting to reclaim control over their data and systems.

  • Who Will Control the Rights to Life-Saving AI-Generated Proteins?

    Businesses like Google DeepMind are making tremendous advances in the precision measurement and sequencing of protein folding, as differences in the shape of proteins and the amino acids they’re made of give each type its unique properties. When proteins are the basis of our human bodies and other biological mechanisms, who will control the benefits that new proteins could provide for medicine and many other applications? The question is more urgent as AI’s power increases, advancing from protein measurement to protein manufacturing.

  • Is There a Looming Digital Divide With Quantum Technology?

    What would happen if only a handful of companies and governments controlled access to the power of quantum computers, demonstrated this month by Google’s breakthrough quantum chip? Our continuing series on quantum ethics examines the race to develop the technology, its cost and complexity that exclude most of the world, and the growing movement for responsible quantum research and innovation.

The Quantum Record is a non-profit journal of philosophy, science, technology, and time. The potential of the future is in the human mind and heart, and in the common ground that we all share on the road to tomorrow. Promoting reflection, discussion, and imagination, The Quantum Record highlights the good work of good people and aims to join many perspectives in shaping the best possible time to come. We would love to stay in touch with you, and add your voice to the dialogue.

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