This post by Jonas Downey is a must read. He talks about all the feelings of being in tech right now with AI bearing down on us. But most importantly, he leaves us with a sense of hope and a reminder about our responsibilities. We, the humans, can absolutely force change and course correct this largely unprincipled direction. We just have to do the work (as always).
Let’s remember that tech movements are not inevitable because some hype bros said so. Just look at the Metaverse or NFTs. It wasn’t so long ago that web3 was going great. Tech only becomes inevitable when we throw up our hands, recede into futility, and allow the hype growth engines to roar unchecked.
Given the circumstances, the only way out is through. This has happened before: we pushed for web standards and accessibility, we pushed for health and safety in social platforms, we figured out the mobile revolution. Of course those things remain deeply flawed, but we made progress by speaking up and doing the work. This is a moment that requires the same. Our jobs are changing and so is everything else, but what hasn’t changed is our responsibility to build with care and consideration for people first. It’s hard stuff. But that’s the job.”