Cruz, Tricia Mae BA Political Science 3A

Science, Technology and Society

Critique on Bill Joy’s “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?”
In this modern world of today, people’s lives are already anchored within science and
technology. Almost all that can be seen if one turns around are all scientific and technologically
mandated. Starting from homes through different appliances, to transportation and workplace,
everything already requires the innovative application of science and technology. But then, the
over using of technology inventions can also lead to different malfunctions that can cause harm
or danger into the lives of the people and it even resulted to a thought formulated by Bill Joy
where it says that “Why the future doesn’t need us?”.
At first, reading this article made people wander that he is right. His viewpoints create
fear among the people that even technologies make our life easier and more comfortable, there
will come a time that this will overpower and manipulate people, and worst is people are not
already needed, they ill be downgraded. But if it is analyzed critically, the viewpoints presented
are somehow flawed. Some arguments are strong but there were also arguments that contradicts
it.
Firstly, in the argument where Joy made mentioned about the argument of Kaczynski
wherein either machines can take all decisions or human will maintain control over machines.
Indeed, if machines will make all decisions, its risky but can people or inventors let their
creations take over the manipulation to them? Even machines and technologies will manipulate
people, still, the people are more responsible enough if they let this happen or not. After all,
people are the ones who created machines and other technology application, its just this
argument that machine will make all decisions will still depend on the actions and mindset of the
people. Next is the argument wherein if human will maintain to control machines, elite will just
be more advantaged. Still, elites are also humans so we cannot say that future doesn’t need
people anymore.
Another point presented by Joy is that, humans will become extinct as they merge with
robots. He fears that robot might be replicated from the image and likeness of human beings then
will suddenly enslave people. These are all created based on the minds that people want that
robot to be programmed. People can determine and limit the replication of such robots, the only
risk that may exist here is that the uncontrolled replication. But uncontrolled replication may
only be happened if people exceed to the extent that it even surpassed the capacity and skills that
a man has and they insist to not to have control on it. It was also mentioned the concept of
genetic engineering but Joy opposes it which leads to the confusion that if genetic engineering
was given highlight, all of the viewpoints of joy will be contradicted. This is because if people
have control and proper knowledge to their own creation and replication, still, people are needed
in the future for robots cannot function still without people controlling it.
Lastly, Joy also worries about the transforming technologies of the 21 st Century which is
the GNR or the genetics, nanotechnology and robotics. He insisted that the possible problem that
may arise here is again the self-replication. And also, he worries about the overestimation of the
technological designs. This viewpoint is somehow flawed because whatever angle you preview
this problem about GNR, still people are involved too. Say for example in robotics, regarding the
aim of the people in becoming immortal wherein the creators tend to download themselves into
those robots that will be created. And also, the nanotechnology specifically the nanorobotics
which are out of control or the what was so-called “gray-goo problem” that could possibly kill
people’s lives.
But then, this article underestimated the fact the people are anchored into technology yet
people are also responsible enough to determine their limitations and they can easily create
solutions that addresses any malfunction. Frankly, I am against the thought that people are not
already needed in the future. Robots cannot recreate by themselves. People are also the one who
will recreate other more, people program and formulate them. Problems may occur yet people
are also the ones who will fix it. It’s just that this thought made by Bill Joy widens the mind of
Cruz, Tricia Mae BA Political Science 3A
Science, Technology and Society
the people to become more ethical, cautious, insightful, intelligent and responsible in engaging
with technology.