> A more subtle example, perhaps, is that of Uber and Lyft. These companies are trying to make transportation better for everyone but they are built under a premise that is already non-optimal: which is that cars are simply not the best way to move people around. While the tech is impressive and it’s been very useful for a ton of people, myself included, I can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if instead of building a startup for cars we had tried to innovate on top of something that is better for society in general, like subways or buses.
This is not a tech problem per se. It's how Capitalism works. Captialism is great a solving problems. However, it doesn't necessarily solve root problems. It solves problems where there is a reachable market along with a needle that can be moved while returning more money than invested.
That said, tech is a tool. It's a means. It's not an ends.
I agree that capitalism doesn't always help in solving root problems and it is a force at play here, but the article is not saying that tech is the problem here. The issue lies in looking at problems exclusively through a technical point of view. Just because something is technologically feasible doesn't mean that it is the best solution.
chiefalchemist|3 years ago
This is not a tech problem per se. It's how Capitalism works. Captialism is great a solving problems. However, it doesn't necessarily solve root problems. It solves problems where there is a reachable market along with a needle that can be moved while returning more money than invested.
That said, tech is a tool. It's a means. It's not an ends.
__t__|3 years ago