Attention and intimacy grabbing machines

we're now building them on a massive scale.

"We are creating machines that can outdo us in grabbing attention and intimacy. This creates a real danger that such technologies could distort our decision-making processes at individual and societal levels." - Yuval Noah Harari

Imagine you find a great business partner. He’s good, you become friends. You’re developing a trust, the kind you want in every business relationship. He handles essential business parts.

10 years later, you find out your business partner has a gambling problem and has been stealing from you. Now, your business is bankrupt, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

This stuff happens all the time. We trust, and sometimes trust is misplaced, and it has serious consequences.

I’m certain that attention and intimacy-grabbing machines are already distorting our individual and societal decision-making. I just don’t know what or if we should do something about it.

Because let’s face it, the right solution in business isn’t to never trust anyone again, is it?