Page 49 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 8

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likes of increased automation, im- deliberate choices that have been nology is used to walk many out of
proved communication and mon- made by man over time to carefully gainful employment, condition man
itoring, as well as smart machines implement all of these so-called into linear thinking, convince peo-
that can analyze and diagnose issues ‘revolutions’. A revolution is an ple to stop learning and using their
without the need for human inter- overthrow of the ‘old’ and replace- mental and physical skills and to de-
vention.” Allow me to translate that ment with the ‘new’. Usually pegged fer instead to computer programs,
for you from propagandese into En- as a good thing in technology terms, robots and other machines, then I
glish: These Industry 4.0 or 4IR or but not always in political terms e.g. say, con game! Look, don't breathe
i4.0 proponents are saying that they Mali. But, if you have been paying a sigh of relief that you were not
are working towards a world that is attention over the years, you will made redundant during the last
primarily dependent on digital tech- quickly see that it is not so much restructuring program. Due to this
nologies, interfaced with machines, a ‘revolution’ as it is a deliberate, focused path that they have set their
instead of it being dependent on meticulously planned, strategically minds to, you need to be prepared
people. In other words, they are well-funded strategy which is being for it to go in any direction, whether
rendering human beings redundant implemented step by step and with you ‘upskill’ or not. Don't buy the
in the process of… everything. The a clear end in mind. So, again, it is hype that you have to revise your
Internet of Things goes beyond the not so much ‘inevitable’ as it is pre- skillset in order to remain relevant
production process to everyday life meditated. ‘Inevitable’ would mean in the rapidly transforming technol-
and living as they plan to fully inte- that the creators of new technolo- ogy environment and the ‘inevita-
grate data, computing and everyday gies or systems or policies absolute- ble’ 4th Industrial revolution. Stop
devices like your refrigerator, mi- ly cannot stop or help themselves and think first about where all this
crowave, car, lights, security system, but to just sit and create them. That is going. Consider and reflect and
allowing them to communicate with it is out of their hands and that it understand where the global herd is
something somewhere. Remember could even happen without them. being driven to.
communication is two-way. It is
already in progress. Has been for The other day, I watched a docu- On Friday, 28th August 2020, Elon
some time. And they (the propo- mentary where the 'experts' speak- Musk unveiled, through his start-
nents of i4.0) want you to be very ing swore that we have absolutely up, Neuralink, technology to build
excited about the possibilities. no choice but to embrace robotics a digital link between brains and
and AI as our future. That it is computers. This was demonstrated
Let’s tackle the issue of the word the inevitable next step in human using a device implanted into a pig’s
‘revolution’ in 4th Industrial evolution. Therefore we just have brain that showed its brain activity
Revolution because it is central to to do it. Now! Even if machines are through a wireless link. Musk and
the head games being played with eventually able to evolve beyond his company have been working
you and I. The first three industrial our own understanding and to lock towards an implantable device for
‘revolutions’ were: the shift from us out of their interactions. Let me humans that he likens to a ‘fitbit for
production by hand to mechaniza- ask you: Who designed the pro- your brain’, which would come in
tion by steam or water power (so, grams? Who designed and built the the form of an implant that would
I guess hand-powered production machines? Can they run without fit in a cavity of the human skull,
was the zero revolution), then there electricity? Is there no ‘off’ switch? with over 1000 electrode ‘threads’
was a shift to mass production, here So what is inevitable about their piercing the outer layer of the brain
electricity was the champion, then eventual domination in man's jour- to form a link to a computer.
there was automation, computers ney on this planet, except that man
were introduced along with robotic has made up his mind to follow As disgusting as all this sounds to
arms and other gizmos. Now it’s through on his selfish interests yet me, I know that there are those
IoT and even the convergence again? But because man decided who, hypnotized by sci-fi comics,
between man and machine as the to board the Artificial Inevitability cartoons and movies are thinking
next evolution of man. (Excuse (that’s my name for AI) rollercoast- to themselves, “Cool! I wanna
me for a moment while I roll my er ages ago and to stay on it and has try.” Because the idea of escaping
eyes and drum my fingers on the also decided that it is the only path death through the healing some
table in irritation). Okay, I’m back. to follow, here we are. scientists believe these devices will
This is what they call ‘inevitable’. Yes, modern technology has its bring about or being able to control
Utterly and completely ignoring the benefits. But when this same tech- machines or equipment using your

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