Is Technology Costing Us Our Humanity?
At Crescent Ridge, we love being investors because we gain so much inspiration from entrepreneurs’ creativity, innovation, and passion. Our goal is for businesses to create solutions to life’s deep challenges. We share a passion for helping founders solve problems, and we want to support them with our capital, network, and expertise. Technology plays an important role in this, especially because it’s made it accessible for almost anyone to be an entrepreneur today. Over the last couple of years, we've seen technology advance faster than ever. This has sparked a lot of reflections that have impacted our thought process when making investments and I wanted to share them with you today.
Technology is a tool, and as we know, tools can be used to help humanity but also for selfish gain. Tools of the past were geared around efficiency. For instance, hammers are more efficient than a rock. Cars are more efficient than walking. These tools have also enabled us to be “superhuman.” I cannot pound a nail with my hand without damaging it, but a hammer gives me the power to do a task I could not otherwise complete. However, for tools of the past, human control and direction were the only way a tool could be used.
Today's technology has shifted, and now it mimics being human. It is designed to learn and evolve as it continues to be used. ChatGPT, DALL-E, and other forms of AI continually shift to create outputs that mimic those created by humans. As I grapple with what this means for society, I find myself torn between all the efficiency I gain from technology and the many ways it distances me from my own humanity.
Being human is often uncomfortable and challenging. But this also teaches us about joy and purpose. It is in the midst of hardships that we are inspired to be even more human—passion, creativity, and innovation are often born out of deep hurt and heartache. I worry that the temptation to avoid pain, hurt, and sadness hurls us into a world where we fear those things, and so we fill our time with quick fixes that we think will temporarily distract us from the inevitable.
In the last week, I have received news that two people I deeply respect have been diagnosed with ALS. One of them was a pastor at my church. Despite an aggressive form of ALS that has robbed him of his ability to speak, he bravely decided to preach today. At the end of the service, our church prayed for his wife and children as they stood in front of the congregation. His family held hands and wept together. Our whole church cried as we witnessed his incredible courage amidst deep sadness and grief.
Being human is about suffering. We can’t AI away pain. And when we look for the things of the world to mask the deeper hurts in our lives, things only build up and create even more and longer-lasting sadness.
We are at a point in our society where we talk openly about mental health, addiction, identity, and purpose. But I believe productivity, power, money, and fame are versions of addictions that are deemed “healthy.” Like any addiction, it can start out innocent but then control you. I worry that people in charge of funding, creating, and developing technology are addicted to the things that keep them in power, and we are enabling them by allowing them to stay in power.
I am concerned about the future of technology, so at Crescent Ridge, we choose to invest in companies that bring us closer to being human. As we use technologies in our personal and professional lives, our aim is always to apply them in a way that amplifies who we are. We are here to embrace our “human-ness,” our connection, and the wealth of experiences this brings to our lives. Reach out to us and share the ways you are managing the balance between modern efficiencies and human connection. We look forward to connecting with you!
Allison
