Will Technology lead to Human Extinction?
Darani Vasudevan
Will technology lead to Human Extinction?
By Darani Vasudevan
Preface Hi there, I got the idea of writing this book with the stream of questions originated in my mind regarding technology. I have not discussed whether “Technology is a boon or ban” I am just trying to know the consequences awaiting us in future due to this massive technological development. These are just my views which may or may not happen in the future. I do not belong to the technology field, I am a Botanist. I am not a builder of technology, I am a mere utilizer of it. I am not against the technological development, but a strong believer of the quote “Too much of anything is good for nothing”. Technology is awesome when it is under our control, but the advancements related to automation and artificial memory are questioning me. We are the advanced animals. We evolved after many advancements as per the science. Now we are the survival of the fittest. Will technological advancements pave way for our extinction? I hope you will enjoy the book. And through this book I extend a heartfelt thanks to all the inventors of the technological appliances I am using in my day to day life. -V. Darani M.Sc., M.Phil., SET.
Dedicated to All the Human beings on Earth
Inspiration behind this book, “I am sorry to have to show you this,”Edmond said, “but in every model I ran, the samething happened. The human species evolved to our current point in history, and then very abruptly, a new species materialized and erased us from the Earth.” . . . The Seventh Kingdom. It was a Kingdom of non living species. These lifeless species evolved almost exactly as if they were living– becoming gradually more complex, adapting to and propagating in new environments, testing new variations, some surviving, others going extinct. A perfect mirror of Darwinian adaptive change, these new organisms had developed at a blinding rate and now made up as entirely new kingdom, the seventh kingdom. It was called Technium. . . . “The fax machine has gone with doo bird……….” -From the Novel “Origin” by Dan Brown.
It all started with Big Bang. The origin of Earth from a single point. Changes after changes over centuries on the crust of the Earth made the present form of Earth suitable for the growth of life on it. Changes happened over years and not in seconds. From an oxygen less environment to oxygen rich environment; from aquatic to terrestrial life; from anaerobic to aerobic forms; from elements to unicellular life; from unicellular to multicellular forms and came the advanced mammals or animals that is us. Humans evolved after many changes and adaptations. When you closely observe the stages of evolution, you will get to know that at the course of evolution of one species there happened a direct or indirect extinction of another species. Dinosaurs, the best example of well known extinction, the majestic animals vanished leaving their bones for our astonishment. We evolved from apes which are our ancestors with difference in single chromosome set. Breathing from scales to gills to lungs Vocal card producing sounds to words and music Brain from a simple structure to complex like that of us‌ All these didnâ€&#x;t occur on a single day. They happened over years. Why am I talking about evolution here? Am I pointing something irrelevant? My answer is NO.
Evolution is the term that refers to our foundation on earth. It holds mechanisms and reasons that describe us as the advanced species on Earth. I hope mainly because of our brain capacity. We gained the power to control and communicate effectively. We formed society. We formed family, tradition, culture, practices, art and architecture. The most admirable talent we got is writing and reading. We communicate with some words. Of course the alphabets and words differ with languages but somehow we communicate. Then we got the power of thinking and application‌. These are obtained on the course of evolution. The very important power of our brain is storage. Brain is like a hardware of computer storing and remembering things, persons and occasions. We recollect and search whenever we want them. Humans invented and discovered things and remembered the process of invention with the help of brains. All the inventions have one basic motivation “MAKING THINGS EASY.â€? Ancient humans hunted small animals and had as food like that of secondary carnivores. They used weapons made by sharpening stones to hunt down animals. Then they started to consume grains, fruits and vegetables in addition to flesh. Gradually they become omnivores. What did man do? Did he continued to consume raw flesh? By some methodology, by rubbing two stones man made his first revolutionary invention THE FIRE.
With fire the raw flesh were cooked and consumed. This invention made us different from other carnivores. Iron came into existence after several years and stone tools were replaced by more powerful iron tools. Hunting made more easy. They formed family ‌ group of family constituted society‌. When hunted food is insufficient to persons in the family or society, man began his own planting of useful plants. Agriculture began. Cultivation for family to cultivation to supply society to cultivation to supply people of other society. There rose the need for commercial agriculture. It is easy to use simple iron tools to plant few crops sufficient for a family. But for commercial production more effective tools are needed. This need made man to invent things or tools to make processes easier. Another advancement from animals is our clothing. I hope the practice of clothing started as a manner of ornamenting or beautifying. Later it became our practice and we have different clothes based on culture and tradition. Now modern clothes rule the world. Yeah!! Going back to olden days commercial agriculture‌ there came a need for transportation of produced products from one place to another. The need for transportation made the human brain to design wheels. Wheels, the basic for all the transport facilities of the modern world. Man started to carry things over some platform above the wheels. He started pulling things by himself. To make that pulling easy he started to feed some powerful animals like bull and took control over them. The transportation now became painless.
Then at point he noticed the damage and destruction caused to fruits and vegetables during the long duration transportation. Then he needed something in which he can travel and make his transport easier with less pressure Moreover he felt transportation as time consuming. There came bicycles. With the need for Mass transportation and with the invention of energy sources like coal steam engines came into existence. Then his brain planned and designed engines. A grand new technology came into existence. Railways originated with steam engines With engines evolved two wheelers, four wheelers, trucks etc., road transportation flourished with the invention of engines. Man visualized the flight of birds and designed planes. Ship building also took development on its part to effect transportation of people and goods overseas with water as the transport medium. The engines were confined not only to transportation but also formed the basis for many industries to send out effective production. To take and keep notes, to save data man first relied on rocks then to clothes and saw a maximum advantage with the invention of paper. Man started to write and store details and information on paper. Paper played and still playing a vital role in the life of human being. From education to industry paper occupies a massive place. Man began to shower his creativity on paper in the form of designs. Then at one point man found huge paper bundles with stored data as annoying. He wished something, a single device, to hold all these data in a proper alignment. There came Computer to the world.
Simultaneously industries were established for the commercial output of variety of products comforting and satisfying human needs. There the data were stored in papers properly bundles in files. Later with the invention of computer he transferred details in paper to screen and checked whenever needed. Man at first used his „thinking‟ to do mathematical calculations. Not all are experts in this calculation. So he struggled his brain and brought calculator to the world. The invention of which made calculations easier. Even today schools and colleges deny the use of calculator in examinations to enhance the thinking ability of brain. After sometime calculator performing scientific conversions along with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division came to the world in the form of „Scientific calculator‟. Now everyone of us hold such calculator and do calculations whether it is mathematical or scientific to get instant results without wasting time on thinking. Then he introduced calculating ability to computer which is admirable and perform calculations much better. Excel calculations are the best example of such revolution. But still we have to struggle our brain to remember the formulae to make the computer perform calculations on excel. The world revolutionized with computer and is ofcourse the best invention. Still we rely on brain to think to perform actions on computer, repair it, introduce new software. Still our brains are streaming. Now let us go back to the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, Engines ran industrial machines….electricity ruled the industrial world…. products were produced and distributed on time basis. Industries reduced
Poverty struggles through employment. Man employed man. Owner and labour relationship came into existence. The peace of paper in the name of money became the main motive of industrial world. Owner got profit and labour got wages. Food, cloth industries and the industries producing products fulfilling the shelter needs of people were the main industries. Along with these, some other industries producing the parts needed for the equipments and engines of the main industries. At first industries employed huge labours to bring out the final goods from the raw materials. At one point wages exceeded the profit. Moreover on humanity basis he couldnâ€&#x;t get man to work for the whole 24 hours. In the beginning the employees and products appeared to be the most wanted forces in industries. As time passes man wanted to make more products with less wages, that is, with less employees. IS THIS EVER POSSIBLE????? The question to this answer arrived with the invention of machines with many tools attached to it that can perform many functions accurately in less time duration. But these machines needed man as the operator. They canâ€&#x;t function on their own. Man happily employed operators for his machines and started to run the industries producing huge final products and made large profits. The machines were huge and man found it impossible to keep them on house. So he stretched his brain to think something to make tasks easier at his home. There came the small machines that are present in our house today‌.mixer, grinder, fan, bulb etc which are now the basic needs.
As most of the people migrated far away from their family to the sites of industries for employment, they used paper as a medium carrying their note to their home. Post office and posts became quite common. But still he had the feeling „missing.‟ When all these are going great on one side, a group of experts and scientists on the other side started to harvest the idea of radars, sensors and signals. In the ionosphere of the atmosphere signals prevailed and is still prevailing which are of potent importance. Man made note about their performances and decided to utilize them in a proper manner. Signals were captured and used for transferring messages…..telephones, telegrams came to the world. People admired these new inventions. Devices were large and maintained by one common authority at one place. Because of this crowding occurred and man started to find these annoying. Then progress started to find device at home. Telephones at home were made easy with wire connection. I hope the signal transmission occurred through these. Man‟s mind was admired with these sound to signal conversions and everything started to move well. Space science had its own growth on its part. Satellites increased signal transmission to a great level. The telephone connections with wires are non motile. Man have to move to its place to talk to his beloved ones. This started to annoy him after a long use. Then the brain mastered and produced cell phones along with instant message replies. With some games to entertain. WIRELESS MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ruled the mobile world.
First generation (G) Second generation (2G) Third generation (3G) And now we are enjoying the Fourth generation (4g) Signal transmission increased to a greater level. This is the progression in the mobile communication industry. The another revolutionary discovery is the TELEVISION. Satellite signals received through antenna and transmitted to a screen. Picture to pixels on screen. Moving pictures to videos. Amazing right!!! Everyone admired. The only entertained prior to invention of television and cameras were stage dramas. Now with the invention of video cameras and television, the dramas are recorded on camera and transmitted through signals to television screen. These first invented video cameras and televisions were huge in size. The first introduced television was black and white. Everything man enjoyed were in black and white. The news in newspapers reached man lately whereas the news through television reached him instantly. Man was enjoying these inventions for a quite long period of time. Then the black and white thing annoyed him. He wanted to see things as such he is visualizing through his eyes. The brain once again functioned and released colour television and colour movies. Pleasing, amazing, interesting and satisfying. Things changed, mode of entertainment changed. Stage performances to movies and series. Theatres function on their part entertaining huge crowd at one place.
To me the most admirable invention is the INTERNET. Mails carrying messages, online platforms for sharing details‌. Now the internet reached a peak. Now everything is made easy. Everyone hold their own internet connection. Wired connections got modified to wireless connections. Many searching platforms enhanced our knowledge. Instead of searching so many books for a particular answer man found it easy to type and get answer for that one particular question. Learning made easy. Spreading of knowledge took place. Everything was going well and then man started to feel bored of these smart less things. These things operated on our instruction and performed multitasks ,eased our pains and efforts. But still the mind started to search for something to make living more interesting. Then came the SMART technology. Smart phones performing tasks of many individual devices. Smart phones are like holding computer, calculator, internet, radio, television, books on palm. We are admired and more or less addicted to this technology. Smart television just give a swipe on smart phone and watch the videos on television screen. Internet occupied television these days. Everything is smart these days. We struggle our brain only for reading and education. Instant solutions on internet through a variety of platforms reduced the strain of the brain in thinking. Is man satisfied with his smartness?? NO He then started to think a mechanism to transfer money easily without approaching banks, saving time and energy. There came online banking.
The easiest way of money transfer these days. But he considered that transaction lacked some smartness. He thought and that thinking paved way for “e-technology”. E-payments, e-transactions…..money handling become easy. Carry only the phone don‟t worry about the wallet. Easy to live in this smart world with smart technology. DSLR, VFX, 3D all these technology rule the film industry. We have seen just the dinosaur bones, but these technologies allowed us to visualize and how it will be to walk with the dinosaurs. Isn‟t it admirable? When things are going like these on one side…. Robotics started to admire world on the other side. Something doing work for us only for batteries. They follow only our instructions and do as we commanded. Man created automated machines. Automating just needs instructions and not humans for performing their actions. Remotes performed our instruction of changing channels, adjusting volumes, switching on or off of machines on our press. Man created remote to do things while sitting. Robotics is gaining improvements day by day. Many new technologies are introduced leading robots to the advance at each stage of production or invention. We got servants who replaced or assisted labours in industries. Many machines are automated, they perform actions like cutting, mashing, rolling or packing without man‟s need. Production increased to a great extent day by day. These machines can work 24 hours without rest. Man liked profits and hence these profit gaining technologies too. So far so good. We are at the peak enjoying the fruits of the technology.
Now, man didn‟t stop with these. He decided to do something. Making things to communicate and decide. This need lead to INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) The following lines are from Wikipedia, “IOT is the network of devices such as vehicles and home appliances that contain electronics, software, actuators and connectivity which allows things to connect, interact and exchange data. The IOT involves extending internet connectivity beyond standard devices, such as, desktops, laptops, smart phones and tablets to any range of traditionally dumb or non internet enabled physical devices and everyday objects. Embedded with the technology these devices can communicate and interact over the internet and they can be remotely monitored and controlled. The concept of a network of smart devices was discussed as early as 1982, with a modified coke vending machine at Carnegie Mellow University becoming the first internet connected appliance able to report its inventory and whether newly loaded drinks were cold…………………...” Okay, this is what a general introduction to IOT….the field which is going to rule the world in future. The token to the next level of smartness. We just need some device which control other appliances in the home through signals (wi-fi for now). “ALEXA play the song” “ALEXA google this” “ALEXA play the applause” “ALEXA do this, ALEXA do that…..”
Already ALEXA became a family member in many families of the world. She is the outcome of IOT. She can be asked to perform tasks according to our mood. Another important innovation of IOT is SMART HOME. In this busy life, we have the confusion of whether we switched off that or this while rushing to office. But with the smart home technology we need not worry about power saving. Because appliances are operated with some voice commands and bulbs are switched off automatically in our absence. Sensing of our presence is the key to these technology. Who will not fall for this smart technology? Even I am a fan. So far so good. The inventions began to fulfil our needs, now the inventions are made to comfort us more day after day. But, The technology that is questioning me a lot is the “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE� In the field of Robotics man is now trying to employ artificial intelligence. He is trying to make robots act and reply like that of humans. So when this technology reach a peak in future one can talk to robots just like having conversation with humans. Man is incorporating vast data into a robot to make it the smartest of all the technologies arrived so far. But all these researches and inventions are basically to support and assist humans in production and other scientific researches. Construction of Human look like robots are gaining attention these days. Humans are generally attracted to beauty. Even I prefer things that are
attracting. Human robots are therefore constructed to look beautiful and handsome. These robots are therefore beautiful and smart. Eventually humans will fall for its beauty and intelligence and everyone of us will hope to have one human robot as our assistance to make our tasks easier and smarter. These human robots will perform tasks for us, makes our things easier, makes us to think us, make our brain to rest . The automation and intelligence of the robots will make our brain to rely on them than to think and find solution‌‌. Have we ever wondered about the consequences of technological growth on future.? We are quite familiar with the following terms, Increased population Unemployment Poverty Pollution Greenhouse effect Global warming– melting of glaciers, increased sea level Acid rain Ocean acidification Eutrophication Adverse effects of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, weedicides Deforestation
Importance of organic farming. Afforestation. Biocontrol. All these terms are quite popular these days. These problems are widely discussed all over the world to find solution to eradicate them. Technology is employed in the way of finding quick solution to these problems or to remove the waste materials effectively. Let us discuss something, with the increase in population, man was forced to increase his production to meet the needs of each and every human on earth. The most basic need is the food. Man at that time was searching for some solution that could help him enhance his yield multifolds. There came the synthetic or artificial or man made chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, weedicides which on introduction to soil enhanced the production many folds as expected. Man replaced the system of organic manure application with that of artificial manure. Increased production supplied and fulfilled the needs of all the individuals in the population. Year after year he continuously dumped the soil with these artificial manure in the motive attaining high yield. Soon the fertility of the soil diminished and the fertile lands turned into lands unfit for cultivation. Then variety of researches proved the persistence of pesticides, herbicides and weedicide poisons in the food products . We are first attracted to the maximum yield and maximum profit and we neglected to analyse the future adverse consequences that awaited us.
Now we are trying to switch back to the olden day practice of organic farming and we are also trying to restore the soil fertility with manures. We are insisting the importance of planting trees and afforestation to avoid green house effect and globa warming. We are applying methods to reduce the release of pollutants in the environment. ONCE WE WENT AGAINST THE RULES OF NATURE BY USING ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS NOW WE ARE TRYING TO BRING BACK THE HARMONY WITH NATURE. Another science based technology, I wish to point out at this point “CLONING”. When Dolly was cloned we admired it. The first cloned sheep. But scientists and wise persons at once analysed the consequences that will result as a conclusion of human cloning. They thus restricted cloning techniques to livestock. No human is cloned so far, that would result in destruction of natural mechanism of reproduction. Cloning thus violate the laws of nature totally. Artificial is admirable but before applying it, it would be advisable to think of the consequences that may appear in the future. ……………………………………………………………………………………. Thinking - the ability to analyse and find solution a problem, the ability to act wisely, the ability to create new things, thinking forms the basis for all the inventions and discoveries that have occurred so far. Education determines grades of students by checking their thinking and recollecting ability through examinations. Why I insist thinking here?
Thinking is what making our brain cells to grow and elaborate. We, the present humans possess brain that is sufficiently larger than that of the immediate humans originated from apes. The brain size of us differ from that of our ancestors. I am not saying that this is the only reason for us being the advanced creatures on earth. I am insisting that this is one of the important reasons for us being the advanced creatures. Brain perform functions like storage, thinking, reasoning, remembering, recollecting. The technological world would not be possible without brain. If we dream something next day we think and try to find ways to make that dream come true. We analyse and find solution, we think and invent, we think and work, we think and create, we think to success, we think to write, we think to read. When you read a book you are able to recollect the meanings of each and every word in the book and that admirable function is performed by our brain. Learning new things, thinking, analyzing, reading and writing all these form the wise exercises to build brain like the cardio workouts we perform to build our muscles. With artificial intelligence, a robot, a whole human like robot can perform the function of your brain. You will get solutions easily, they will give you inventions. Man‟s brain therefore can take rest after all these years of thinking and straining. I can wisely say “OUR LAZINESS IS BECOMING THE KEY TO TECHNOLOGY”. Now a days we are not ready to wait we need everything instantly. As a result technology has grown from fire to smart home.
In the present world all of us are bound to technology in every aspect. Turn and look around you, there will be a technology wherever you turn. We love to update and upgrade with technology. So we will prefer the robots with artificial intelligence which are smarter than us. Robots need electricity for their functioning but we humans need food. If human labours in industries got replaced with human robots in future, what would be the future of the humans without money and food? Only the entrepreneurs survive and the labour forces would die of hunger. Being with robots having artificial intelligence is like being with a human made of iron and metals instead of flesh and bones. They lack feelings. They are just stronger and smarter than us. In future every individual will have a robot best friend who take care of all his needs. Isnâ€&#x;t it odd to imagine? No, robots can replace our friend circle. They cannot give the pleasure and joy we have with our friends to our future generations. We are knowingly discussing, considering and worrying about the impacts of human in causing pollution, global warming, acid rain etc, but unknowingly getting addicted to technology. My views are not to explain whether Technology is a boon or ban and I am not insisting to get rid of technology completely which is impossible. Even I cannot live without the comforts I am enjoying so far. I am just trying to say there is a limit for growing the technology. Providing our intelligence to technology according to me is not a wiser act. From fire to smart home‌ technology has provided us satisfaction and
Comforts; beyond this level, whether the future technologies related to artificial intelligence is going to give us comfort or destruction. We have to wait for centuries to know the answer. Are we losing something? Darwin explained Natural selection as the “Survival of the fittest.� Those species which adopted to the changes in the environment survived whereas those that failed to adopt to the changes in the environment were eliminated from the earth. At each step of evolution one or the other species faced extinction. Now many species are in the verge of extinction and we are trying to protect them. Our brain is more smarter and bigger than that of our immediate ancestors from apes. Because at each stage of human evolution, man used his brain a lot. As a result of which his future generations had brain larger when compared to him. Even our brain remember the letters in the keypad. After a long practice we can type words effectively seeing the screen and not the keypad. The power and capacity of brain are massive. But when the artificial intelligence does tasks for us effectively we would strain our brain lesser than we are doing nor. Our brain after sometime will start to rely on the artificial intelligence instead of thinking for solution. There may be possibilities for its size reduction in our successors. Nothing is permanent or predictable in this evolving world. When we can have a larger brain when compared to that of our ancestors, it is possible for our future generations to have brain capacity and size more or less than that of ours.
When we found ways to reduce the application of our natural intelligence, automatically without doubt the brain size of our successor would be small. Because as per a theory in evolution, least used parts gradually get reduced in size and become functionless. We have read about a few vestigial parts in our body in our grades. We must utilize these technologies to feed or innovate brain with new ideas and not in a way to make it lazy. The technology behind teleporting and time machines are still remaining a dream in books and movies. Who assures? One brain may bring these two technologies true in the real world. Brain creates technology but the technology should be not be used as a tool to destroy its creator. When human look like robots with artificial intelligence becomes successful, humanity would become more questionable. Even today many prefer to take pictures and upload the details of an accident on social media than calling ambulance to help the dying soul. Sadists and psychos are created mainly due to inferiority and loneliness. These people will increase in number when humans began to separate from one another and enjoy their company with robot. But I can assure the robots canâ€&#x;t give the feelings of a real human. Use the technology but assure that it is not killing the humanity in you. Artificial may attract sometime but not all the time. There are prevailing examples in which humans went after artificial and witnessed the adverse effects and now are trying to bring back the harmony with nature.
So far so good, but is there a ultimate need for artificial intelligence when our brain can think and find solutions effectively. Being smart is something that everyone prefer in this present world. Being smart is getting trendy. But this smart technology will never harm us when we still allow the feelings like love, care, friendship and humanity to grow. When we spend some time a day with our friends and families without using technology much nothing is going to harm our soul. When education can make students think and utilize their brain yeah !!!! Things would be as such. We are in the beginning of the smart world. We can make anything possible at this point. The only thing we have to keep in our mind is that we should never allow the smart technology to destroy the brain of our future generation. Make them think think think think………….. Straining brain is not a dangerous one……. Practice and feed it with wise information and knowledge…. Let our future generation enjoy the pleasure of the new technologies with their natural brain. I conclude this book with the same question, “WILL TECHNOLOGY LEAD TO HUMAN EXTINCTION?” Because we are yet to find answer to this question.