Issue 167: We Need New Words
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about accuracy. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
We Need New Words
The way we describe challenges influences how we understand them. This might sound obvious, but it requires deep thinking. The challenges and opportunities we face as a global society are unlike any other in human history. This is partly due to the incredible technological advances and the gravity of the climate changes we face. Given the fundamentally new nature of these changes, it’s logical to find new terms to describe them. Language, after all, is in a constant state of change.
Describing nature. In Atmos magazine, Becca Warner argues that we must find new words to describe nature. This is a logical place to start. That’s because the way we talk about the natural world, Warner argues, can shape our relationship to it. There is a valuable question here: In an environmental crisis, should we pay more attention to the language we use to describe? The answer is yes, but it’s not just about environmental issues. The rise of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, raises many other theoretical questions that our current terminology feels outdated to handle.
Beyond borders. Warner notes that “nature is something lived—not a static noun that refers to someplace separate from the human-built world as is often the case in Western languages.” The same principle is true for our new relationship with technology. We use AI on a daily basis. It’s something lived, yet most people still consider AI part of some future world. We must find fresh ways to describe our relationship with technology (and devices). Given the globalized nature of the economy and the rise of emerging market countries, it seems like we are in a perfect moment to incorporate new words from languages outside the West. Technology dissolves borders, our collective language should follow suit.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Of those to whom much is given, much is asked.”
– Lyndon B. Johnson
CHART OF THE WEEK
This week, we are thinking about AI. The boom in AI is still taking shape but might be showing signs of slowing down.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Digital well-being: It's time to get serious about well-being. Let’s face it: the world is still a wild place. The pandemic remains an ever-present threat. The global economy is up and down. Complicating matters is that we have never been more addicted to scrolling on our phones. Getting off one’s phone is much easier said than done, but even thirty minutes daily can make a big difference in one’s mental health. This is especially true if that screen time break happens before bed. We explore more tips and tricks in this piece published by Xische about digital health.
How to fix bias in AI: The problem with bias in AI and advanced algorithms is not technical; it’s human. Those gifted programmers and coders who create the algorithms that guide our lives are the root (and solution) of the bias problem. This week, we considered ways to address the challenge of bias. Small states with large technology sectors, such as the UAE, have an advantage in addressing these challenges. Read our piece to find out why.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Renewables in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia is an unlikely contender for a renewable energy exporter, but that is exactly what is happening in the Kingdom. One of the global leaders in hydrocarbon resources, Saudi Arabia’s solar and wind energy production is skyrocketing. According to The Economist, the Saudis have set ambitious targets for renewable energy production and are starting to achieve them. This sends an important message to the international community that the hydrocarbon age is slowly changing, and renewables are the future.
The power of the human body. Another piece published in Atoms begins with the most powerful stat: "7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That number—7 octillion—is roughly how many atoms exist in your body. Each of those atoms is billions of years old.” The rest of the article contains fascinating facts about how our bodies function. It’s a great weekend read. It’s critical to take a step back and consider the marvel of our simple lives.
QUICK HITS
An incredible book about octopus intelligence.
Is space the final frontier?
Tesla doesn’t love the snow.