Technology & Future
The Internet Is Not What You Think It IsThe Internet Is Not What You Think It Is

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is

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Justin E.H. Smith

From the earliest tools like the abacus to modern artificial intelligence, humanity has sought machines to extend our capabilities, yet the journey reveals both promise and limitations. Leibniz’s vision of problem-solving machines fostering peace contrasts with today’s internet economy, where attention is commodified and exploited by algorithms, often at the expense of authenticity and well-being. While AI excels in speed, organisms like slime mould challenge our assumptions about efficiency and consciousness, hinting at deeper connections between nature and technology. Historical communication methods, from ancient trade routes to Aztec runners, highlight the sacredness and intimacy once inherent in message exchange—qualities diminished in the digital age. Indigenous practices and philosophies, such as those of the Mbuti people, remind us that environments, like modern cities, thrive through reciprocal care. Even the history of computing, rooted in weaving technologies, reflects humanity’s enduring drive to integrate creativity and progress, a theme that invites further reflection in the next chapter.

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From the earliest tools to modern technology, humanity has sought ways to enhance communication, solve problems, and connect. This book explores the intricate relationship between nature, technology, and society, examining how perception, attention, and consciousness shape our interactions with the digital world. From ancient trade routes to the rise of artificial intelligence, it delves into the evolution of networks, the commodification of attention, and the philosophical ties between weaving and computing. Through these lenses, it challenges us to rethink progress, connection, and our place within a living, interconnected system.

Buchzusammenfassung

Justin E. H. Smith is an American-Canadian professor in philosophy of science and history at the University of Paris 7, Denis Diderot. He is the author of several books, including Irrationality: A History of the Dark Side of Reason and Divine Machines: Leibniz and the Sciences of Life. He is also a contributor to The New York Times, Harper's Magazine, n+1, Slate, and Art in America.

From the earliest tools like the abacus to modern artificial intelligence, humanity has sought machines to extend our capabilities, yet the journey reveals both promise and limitations. Leibniz’s vision of problem-solving machines fostering peace contrasts with today’s internet economy, where attention is commodified and exploited by algorithms, often at the expense of authenticity and well-being. While AI excels in speed, organisms like slime mould challenge our assumptions about efficiency and consciousness, hinting at deeper connections between nature and technology. Historical communication methods, from ancient trade routes to Aztec runners, highlight the sacredness and intimacy once inherent in message exchange—qualities diminished in the digital age. Indigenous practices and philosophies, such as those of the Mbuti people, remind us that environments, like modern cities, thrive through reciprocal care. Even the history of computing, rooted in weaving technologies, reflects humanity’s enduring drive to integrate creativity and progress, a theme that invites further reflection in the next chapter.

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Alle Bissen
bite6 Bites

Exploited by Algorithms: The Internet’s Hidden Costs

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Weaving Minds: Technology, Nature, and Connection

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Signals of Life: Rethinking Progress and Connection

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Tracing Humanity’s Path Through Communication

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Cultivated Wilderness: Humanity's Hidden Hand

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Weaving Worlds: The Looms That Shaped Technology

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