Experts Explain | Genevieve Bell | How we can think about technology

It’s tempting to think of technology as the answer to all problems or the culprit. Given the rate at which it is evolving, it can feel completely out of our control. According to cultural anthropologist and futurist Genevieve Bell, it doesn’t have to.

Bell explains that even though many of the challenges we face around devising ethics and guidelines of new technology seem unprecedented, many of them can be solved by looking at choices we’ve made before. What’s essential, she says, is taking the time to stop and ask hard questions like, who is going to benefit from this? Who isn’t a part of the conversation? What is the world we think we are making and why?

Whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic about the role technology is going to play in our civilization’s future, Bell reminds us that we are in the driver’s seat when it comes to designing a world we all want to live in.

You can watch more of the Experts Explain series here.

In June 2023, the World Economic Forum is convening the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China. The Meeting will gather over 1,500 global leaders from business, government and civil society, as well as innovators such as the Tech Pioneers.

Find out more about the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2023 here.