Think Optimistically: Marc Andressen has written a long (5,000 words) but important article entitled The Techno-Optimist Manifesto. While I can’t say I agree with everything in the paper, I am in general agreement that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. I also agree that technology holds the biggest key to society creating a better future. My major disagreements with Andressen center on two areas: 1) He does not give enough credence to legitimate concerns over technology’s downsides; and 2) He pays little attention to the importance of spiritual transformation other than to suggest that technology will allow people to “become more human.” For another, shorter perspective on his manifesto, I suggest this piece by Noah Smith.
Heart-Centered Thinking: This short, two-minute clip of a recent talk I delivered at the 2023 Santa Clarita Annual Economic Outlook Summit explains why I believe imagination and the human heart are so important to creating a better future.
Think Again: Think all that plastic you’re putting in the recycle bin is being recycled? Think again. Once you have done so, you may also want to rethink why you should be choosing glass bottles over plastic bottles.
Think Bigger: Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car company, is now operating 24/7 in San Francisco within an enlarged 47 square mile radius. From my perspective, this is another bullish sign pointing towards a future where autonomous cars become ever more popular.
Think Harder: While it is true that self-driving cars may be the future, it is also true that no cars may be the future. It is possible that a growing number of cities will ban cars from their city centers — as Stockholm plans to do by 2025.
Think Visually: This visual lends some credence to Marc Andressen’s optimism:
Afterthought: “The key to living is to imagine yourself in the grave.” –Anthony de Mello
