Computer scientist: Big Tech could lead to extinction. Maybe it can

In case you’ve never heard of Jaron Lanier, he’s a computer scientist as well as a published poet, composer, and artist. He’s credited with having coined the term “virtual reality” back in the day. He’s also someone who does a lot of ruminating on technology in general and, more recently, social media. And while many of us complain about Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of the platforms controlled by Big Tech, Lanier isn’t just upset about the prospect of his blue checkmark being taken away. He believes that social media has simultaneously become so controlling and corrosive that it could literally bring mankind to the brink of extinction. The Guardian interviewed him this week and he shared some of his concerns, along with his hope that we can still overcome these perils as a society.Read More