Thinking Tech

Some periods of life transition into memory unmarked, much like that song you love yet can’t remember the year it hit the radio. Some periods, however, stay with us, like erased pencil marks on white paper, indelible yet barely visible. Such is the case of the technological events that are occurring all around us right now in our lives. In every sense, what is happening in tech is unforgettable. We are making strides in some areas, foreshadowing technological innovations previously consigned to science fiction books: automated cars, augmented and virtual reality, chat bots, solar grids, and more. In those areas, we are setting the stage for a prosperous future. Yet in other areas, the future is grayer, more ambiguous, and riddled with doubt. Care must be taken to remember what is being done right and what we are getting wrong, lest we fall victim to pernicious forgetfulness. We are seeing for example, how algorithms can skew the line between fact and fiction; how actors halfway across the world can shape a cultural narrative using social media and click-bait. Nowadays, all it takes to move millions is a strategic blog post, a clever domain name, and a social media account. In tech circles, historical forgetfulness is especially conspicuous. The thrill of discovery and the rate of change can blind us to the deeper consequences of our inventions. At its inception, did Mark Zuckerberg imagine that Facebook would influence cultural discourse, or even an election cycle? As machine-learning and algorithms enter our homes, curate our news, observe and analyze our vitals, and grant more and more access to our intimate spaces, it is imperative that we take the time to analyze and discuss. In this book, LinkedIn’s #1 ranked technology thought leader, Anurag Harsh, presents an instructive analysis of the key emergent, digital, and mobile trends of our times. With the goal of sharing lessons gleaned from the events occurring around us, he presents his insights with lucid prose and didactic organization that stokes the imagination and turns a critical eye on the technology we often take for granted.