Are we living in a simulation? How does the tech industry perpetuate gender norms? Will artificial intelligence lead to the end of humankind? Our curated list of tech debates helps answer some of the most urgent and divisive questions in the field today.
Do video games cause violence?
For decades, parents, psychologists, and neuroscientists have studied the potential connection between violent video games and the level of real-world violence displayed by the children and young adults who play them. A plethora of research and academic study has erupted from this debate, contributing to our growing knowledge of how the brain works when interacting with video games and why further research into the topic is important. So, as we traverse a new world of technological advancement and even more complex immersion into video games, do video games cause violence?
Are we living in a simulation?
Ever since The Matrix was released in 1999, many have questioned the parameters of the world we know and experience. Though the movie was a worldwide phenomenon that sparked up this debate, the philosophical underpinnings and implications of this potential reality give it new meaning in a modern, technologically advanced world where everything seems possible.
Humans have been fascinated with space for centuries. Mayans made a calendar from the stars, Galileo made a telescope, and a man was put on the moon. Space is vast, and scientists still don’t know a lot about it. Is space worth still exploring? Now that the space race has died down, does humanity need to continue to learn about space?
Have emojis changed the world?
In just two decades, emoji has become ‘the fastest growing language in history’. But are there more complex implications to their popularity? With more than 92% of internet users now using emojis, and billions used every day, do the simple digital pictograms have wider implications for society, relationships and even the way we’re hardwired?
Will artificial intelligence lead to the end of humankind?
The term artificial intelligence (AI) was coined back in 1956. While science fiction often portrays AI as robots with human-like characteristics, AI can encompass anything from Google’s search algorithms to IBM’s Watson to autonomous weapons. While narrow AI may outperform humans specific tasks, AGI would outperform humans at nearly every cognitive task.
Should electronic identities be managed by the state?
The management of electronic identities (credentials for accessing state services) should not be sub-contracted to external entities. Electronic identities should be private.
Do tech monopolies stifle or stimulate innovation?
A technological monopoly occurs when one company exclusively controls the right to sell a service or product. A company that holds a technological monopoly is free to set prices as high or as low as they want, due to the lack of competition in the given field. This debate is centered on the role of the government in the economy and whether tech companies have an incentive to self-regulate their innovative capabilities.
Is CRISPR human genome editing technology ethical?
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a new technology that allows scientists to edit human DNA. CRISPR poses many ethical concerns regarding its abilities to permanently alter germlines, eradicate certain genetic conditions, and even enhance certain physical traits.
Why are men overrepresented in tech?
Tech and software development are industries where men are heavily favoured towards men. Is this because men are naturally driven towards these roles or women are turned against it?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of 5G in the US?
Although already introduced by some carriers in some areas of the US, 5G - the successor to 4G, which currently provides connectivity to most mobile devices - could have a nationwide rollout by the end of 2020. The transition from 4G to 5G would transform the digital landscape as we know it today. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of 5G deployment across the United States?