A Techno-Social Dilemma

The impacts of rapid technological change are an ever-present aspect of modern life. Despite its disruptive effects, we need new technologies to solve planetary challenges, such as climate change, energy supply, and environmental pollution. But how has it affected the way we interact with one another? With ourselves? How can human institutions possibly keep up with the pace of modern change, such as the unpredictable and unintended effects of social media? These questions lead to what Human Energy calls a techno-social dilemma.

The Human Energy Project defines the Techno-Social Dilemma (TSD) as "the growing

prevalence of anxiety, depression, and despair in technologically advanced nations." It has taken epidemic proportions over the past decade in particular among young Americans, culminating in a mental health crisis. Its symptoms are a pervading sense of gloom and doom, meaninglessness, and pessimism about the survival of civilization.

"At the individual level, it manifests as an existential crisis – a loss of meaning, direction, and values. On a global scale, it is an existential threat to our very species: the root cause of modern society’s compounding crises, from the misuse of AI and social media to climate change and geopolitical conflict."

Dr. Francis Heylighen and Dr. Shima Beigi have published a 2023 paper giving a comprehensive overview of the techno-social dilemma. Read the full report here and a summary here.

The 2020 Netflix movie The Social Dilemma emphasizes that "The system that connects us also invisibly controls us. The collective lack of understanding about how these platforms actually operate has led to hidden and often harmful consequences to society—consequences that are becoming more and more evident over time, and consequences that, the subjects in The Social Dilemma suggest, are an existential threat to humanity." The Social Dilemma website has links to various YouTube videos and a reading list.

In a review of the movie, Sara Hecht, Staff Writer of The Villanovan briefly mentioned the ongoing debate between the benefits and risks of social media.

Eliezer Yudkowsky is co-founder of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, an organization that seeks to identify potential existential risks from AI. The Machine Intelligence Research Institute, formerly the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, is a non-profit research institute focused since 2005 on identifying and managing potential existential risks from artificial general intelligence. MIRI's work has focused on a friendly AI approach to system design and on predicting the rate of technology development.

The Center for Humane Technology is "dedicated to leading a comprehensive shift toward technology that strengthens our well-being, global democratic functioning, and shared information environment."

In 2023 the Biden administration drafted an executive order on AI, but Congress has failed to address the issue.