How to be "Team Human" in the digital future | Douglas Rushkoff

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: 易帆 余

I got invited to an exclusive resort

我曾應邀到一個高檔渡假村，

to deliver a talk about the digital future

我以為是要向幾百位科技主管闡述

to what I assumed would be a couple of hundred tech executives.

我對數位未來的看法，

And I was there in the green room, waiting to go on,

但我到了那裡，卻是在一間 綠色房間中，等後演講的開始，

and instead of bringing me to the stage, they brought five men into the green room

他們並沒有把我帶上舞台，

而是把五個人帶進那間綠色房間，

who sat around this little table with me.

他們和我圍著一張小圓桌坐下。

They were tech billionaires.

這些人都是科技界的億萬富翁。

And they started peppering me with these really binary questions,

他們開始連珠炮似地問些二元問題，

like: Bitcoin or Etherium?

比如：比特幣還是以太幣？

Virtual reality or augmented reality?

AR 虛擬實境或 VR 擴增實境？

I don't know if they were taking bets or what.

我不知道他們是在打賭還是怎樣。

And as they got more comfortable with me,

當他們和我相處比較自在了，

they edged towards their real question of concern.

他們才慢慢開始問出 他們真正在意的問題。

Alaska or New Zealand?

(當末日來臨時) 要選阿拉斯加或紐西蘭？

That's right.

沒錯。

These tech billionaires were asking a media theorist for advice

這些科技界的億萬富翁 向一位媒體理論家詢求建議，

on where to put their doomsday bunkers.

問我躲避世界末日的 地下碉堡要建在哪裡。

We spent the rest of the hour on the single question:

接下來的一個小時， 我們只討論這一個問題：

"How do I maintain control of my security staff

「在事件發生之後，我要如何能

繼續掌控我的保全人員？」

after the event?"

By "the event" they mean the thermonuclear war

他們所謂的「事件」指的就是核戰

or climate catastrophe or social unrest that ends the world as we know it,

或是氣候災難，或是社會動盪， 這類會毀滅我們世界的事件，

and more importantly, makes their money obsolete.

他們更擔心的是，當末日來臨時， 他們的錢就毫無用處了。

And I couldn't help but think:

我忍不住心想：

these are the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world,

這些人可都是當今世界 最富有、最有權勢的人，

yet they see themselves as utterly powerless to influence the future.

然而，他們卻認為自己 對末日來臨束手無策。

The best they can do is hang on for the inevitable catastrophe

他們能做的，只想撐到末日來臨時，

and then use their technology and money to get away from the rest of us.

用他們的科技和金錢 來遠離我們這些等閒之輩。

And these are the winners of the digital economy.

數位經濟時代的贏家們 竟是這樣的嘴臉。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

The digital renaissance

數位文藝復興

was about the unbridled potential

談的是如何把人類集體想像力

of the collective human imagination.

發揮到極致。

It spanned everything from chaos math and quantum physics

它橫跨所有事物， 從渾沌數學和量子物理，

to fantasy role-playing and the Gaia hypothesis, right?

到奇幻角色扮演 以及蓋亞假說，對吧？

We believed that human beings connected could create any future we could imagine.

我們曾相信，人類聯合起來

就能創造出我們想像的未來。

And then came the dot com boom.

接著，「.com」熱潮出現了。

And the digital future became stock futures.

數位未來變成了股票期貨。

And we used all that energy of the digital age

我們耗盡了數位時代的所有能量，

to pump steroids into the already dying NASDAQ stock exchange.

為已經垂死的 那斯達克證券交易所注入強心針。

The tech magazines told us a tsunami was coming.

科技雜誌告訴我們，海嘯要來了。

And only the investors who hired the best scenario-planners and futurists

唯有僱用最好的情境規劃者 和未來主義者的投資人

would be able to survive the wave.

才能在這波浪潮後生存下來，

And so the future changed from this thing we create together in the present

而未來，從我們現在 創造出來的這波浪潮

到我們所賭上的一切，

to something we bet on

in some kind of a zero-sum winner-takes-all competition.

似乎變成了某種贏家全拿的零和遊戲。

And when things get that competitive about the future,

當未來的競爭變得如此激烈時，

humans are no longer valued for our creativity.

人類則不再因為 擁有創造力而受到重視。

No, now we're just valued for our data.

不，我們的價值只剩下數據。

Because they can use the data to make predictions.

因為他們可以用我們的數據來做預測。

Creativity, if anything, that creates noise.

創造力，如果有的話，只會產生干擾。

That makes it harder to predict.

會讓預測變更困難。

So we ended up with a digital landscape

所以，我們最後得到的 就只是一個數位藍圖，

that really repressed creativity, repressed novelty,

這的確會壓制我們的創造力、創新性，

it repressed what makes us most human.

會壓制讓我們之所以 成為人類的、最根本的東西。

We ended up with social media.

這些社交媒體真的有以新的、 有趣的方式將人類聯繫在一起嗎？

Does social media really connect people in new, interesting ways?

No, social media is about using our data to predict our future behavior.

不，社交媒體只會利用我們的數據 來預測我們的未來行為。

Or when necessary, to influence our future behavior

或者，在必要時， 影響我們未來的行為，

so that we act more in accordance with our statistical profiles.

讓我們的所做所為 更符合他們的統計輪廓。

The digital economy -- does it like people?

數位經濟——它能像人一樣嗎？

No, if you have a business plan, what are you supposed to do?

不，若你有個商業計畫， 你該怎麼做？

把所有的人都擺脫掉。

Get rid of all the people.

Human beings, they want health care, they want money, they want meaning.

人類要的是健康照護， 他們想要錢，他們想要意義。

You can't scale with people.

你無法把「人」規模化的。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Even our digital apps --

即使我們的數位應用程式——

they don't help us form any rapport or solidarity.

它們不會協助我們形成 任何密切關係或團結。

I mean, where's the button on the ride hailing app

我是指，在叫車服務應用程式上，

for the drivers to talk to one another about their working conditions

並沒有一個按鈕 能讓司機彼此交談，

談論他們的工作狀況， 或組織工會吧？

or to unionize?

Even our videoconferencing tools,

就算是我們的視訊會議工具，

they don't allow us to establish real rapport.

它們也不能讓我們 建立起真正的密切關係。

However good the resolution of the video,

不論影像的解析度有多好，

you still can't see if somebody's irises are opening to really take you in.

你仍然無法看到對方的虹膜 是否有打開，真正的關心你。

All of the things that we've done to establish rapport

人類在建立親密關係上做了很多演化，

that we've developed over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution,

這些都是我們數十萬年演化來的，

they don't work,

但根本用不上，你無法看到 對方的呼吸是否與你同步。

you can't see if someone's breath is syncing up with yours.

So the mirror neurons never fire, the oxytocin never goes through your body,

所以鏡像神經元無法興奮起來， 體內也不會有讓人變得親密的催產素，

you never have that experience of bonding with the other human being.

你永遠也不會有與他人 同舟共濟的那種經歷。

And instead, you're left like,

反之，你剩下的只有：

"Well, they agreed with me, but did they really,

「嗯，他們同意我， 但他們真的懂我嗎？」

did they really get me?"

And we don't blame the technology for that lack of fidelity.

而且我們不會去怪罪 造成交流失真的科技。

We blame the other person.

反而只會責怪對方。

You know, even the technologies and the digital initiatives that we have

各位知道嗎，甚至我們現在擁有

用來促進人類情感交流的 科技和主動式數位服務，

to promote humans,

are intensely anti-human at the core.

其實它們的核心本質 也是非常反人類的。

Think about the blockchain.

就拿區塊鏈來說吧。

The blockchain is here to help us have a great humanized economy? No.

區塊鏈的目的是要協助我們 有很棒的人性化經濟嗎？不！

The blockchain does not engender trust between users,

區塊鏈並不能在用戶之間建立信任，

the blockchain simply substitutes for trust in a new,

區塊鏈只是用一種新的、

更不透明的方式 取代了用戶間的信任，

even less transparent way.

Or the code movement.

或是程式碼運動。

I mean, education is great, we love education,

的確，教育很棒，我們熱愛教育，

and it's a wonderful idea

它是個很美好的想法，

that we want kids to be able to get jobs in the digital future,

因為我們希望孩子 能在數位未來找到工作，

so we'll teach them code now.

我們現在就教他們寫程式碼。

But since when is education about getting jobs?

但從何時開始，教育的目的 變成是要找工作？

Education wasn't about getting jobs.

教育不是為了找工作。

Education was compensation for a job well done.

教育是對出色工作的補償。

The idea of public education

公眾教育的初衷，談的是

was for coal miners, who would work in the coal mines all day,

整天在礦山工作的煤礦工人們，

then they'd come home and they should have the dignity

在他們下班回到家後， 能為自己讀本小說

to be able to read a novel and understand it.

並了解內容而感到自豪。

Or the intelligence to be able to participate in democracy.

或是擁有能夠參與民主的智慧。

When we make it an extension of the job, what are we really doing?

當我們把教育變成是 工作的延伸，這是在幹什麼？

We're just letting corporations really

我們只是讓企業把訓練員工的成本

externalize the cost of training their workers.

給外部化而已。

And the worst of all really is the humane technology movement.

而最糟糕的是人道科技運動。

I mean, I love these guys, the former guys who used to take

我很愛這些傢伙，他們以前會

the algorithms from Las Vegas slot machines

拿拉斯維加斯 吃角子老虎機的演算法

and put them in our social media feed so that we get addicted.

放在我們的社交媒體上， 好讓我們上癮。

Now they've seen the error of their ways

現在，他們已經知道 他們的方式錯了，

and they want to make technology more humane.

所以他們想要讓科技變得更人道化。

But when I hear the expression "humane technology,"

但，當我聽到 「人道科技」這個說法時，

I think about cage-free chickens or something.

我想到的是放山雞之類的東西。

We're going to be as humane as possible to them,

就像我們把雞送進屠宰場以前，

until we take them to the slaughter.

會盡可能對雞人道一點。

So now they're going to let these technologies be as humane as possible,

所以，他們現在要讓這些科技 盡可能人道一點，

as long as they extract enough data and extract enough money from us

以便從我們身上能源源不斷地 提取足夠的數據和金錢

to please their shareholders.

來取悅他們的股東。

Meanwhile, the shareholders, for their part, they're just thinking,

同時，就股東方面來說， 他們只是在想：

"I need to earn enough money now, so I can insulate myself

「我現在需要透過這樣的方式 來賺取足夠的錢，

from the world I'm creating by earning money in this way."

以便我將來能與自己所創的 數位世界隔離開來。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

No matter how many VR goggles they slap on their faces

不論他們在自己臉上戴 多少副虛擬實境眼鏡，

and whatever fantasy world they go into,

不論他們進入哪一個奇幻世界，

they can't externalize the slavery and pollution that was caused

他們都不能把製造這個裝置

所造成的奴役和污染給外部化。

through the manufacture of the very device.

It reminds me of Thomas Jefferson's dumbwaiter.

這讓我想起湯瑪斯·傑佛遜的上菜機。

Now, we like to think that he made the dumbwaiter

我們傾向於認為傑佛遜製造上菜機

in order to spare his slaves all that labor of carrying the food

是為了免去他的奴隸

把食物送到餐廳 供人享用的所有勞動。

up to the dining room for the people to eat.

That's not what it was for, it wasn't for the slaves,

但實情並非如此， 那不是為了奴隸們，

it was for Thomas Jefferson and his dinner guests,

那是為了湯瑪斯·傑佛遜 和他的晚餐賓客，

這麼一來他們就不用看見 奴隸把食物送上桌。

so they didn't have to see the slave bringing the food up.

The food just arrived magically,

食物會自己神奇地上桌，

like it was coming out of a "Start Trek" replicator.

好像是從《星艦迷航記》的 複製機生產出來的。

It's part of an ethos that says,

這代表了一種社會思潮：

human beings are the problem and technology is the solution.

認為人是問題的根本， 科技才是解決方案。

We can't think that way anymore.

我們不能再那樣想了。

We have to stop using technology to optimize human beings for the market

我們必續停止為迎合市場 而使用科技來優化人類，

and start optimizing technology for the human future.

而要開始為人類的未來，將科技優化。

But that's a really hard argument to make these days,

但現今，很難建立這樣的共識，

because humans are not popular beings.

因為人類不太受歡迎。

I talked about this in front of an environmentalist just the other day,

不久前，我在一位環保人士 面前談到這件事，

她說：「你為什麼要 為人類辯護？人類摧毀了地球。

and she said, "Why are you defending humans?

Humans destroyed the planet. They deserve to go extinct."

他們本來就活該滅絕。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Even our popular media hates humans.

連我們的大眾媒體也討厭人類。

Watch television,

看看電視就知道，

all the sci-fi shows are about how robots are better and nicer than people.

所有科幻節目都在講 機器人比人類好、比人類優秀。

Even zombie shows -- what is every zombie show about?

就連殭屍節目也是—— 殭屍節目的內容是什麼？

Some person, looking at the horizon at some zombie going by,

有人看著地平線上的殭屍路過，

and they zoom in on the person and you see the person's face,

鏡頭拉近特寫， 你可以看到那個人的臉，

and you know what they're thinking:

你會知道他在想什麼：

「殭屍和我之間有什麼差別？

"What's really the difference between that zombie and me?

He walks, I walk.

他會行走，我也會行走。

He eats, I eat.

他會進食，我也會進食。

He kills, I kill."

他在殺戮，我也在殺戮。」

But he's a zombie.

但他就是個殭屍而已啊， 至少你還能意識到這一點。

At least you're aware of it.

If we are actually having trouble distinguishing ourselves from zombies,

如果我們連區分自己 和殭屍的能力都沒有，

we have a pretty big problem going on.

那我們的問題其實蠻大的。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And don't even get me started on the transhumanists.

更別讓我談及超人類主義者， 那會沒完沒了。

I was on a panel with a transhumanist, and he's going on about the singularity.

曾與我在同一座談小組的一位 超人類主義者是這樣談論「奇點」：

"Oh, the day is going to come really soon when computers are smarter than people.

「喔，電腦比人更聰明的 那一天很快就會到來了。

And the only option for people at that point

到那時，人類唯一的選項

is to pass the evolutionary torch to our successor

就是把演化的火把 交給我們的繼任者，

and fade into the background.

然後從背景慢慢淡出。

Maybe at best, upload your consciousness to a silicon chip.

也許最好的結局就是把你的意識 上傳到一片矽晶片中。

And accept your extinction."

而你還必須接受你已滅絕的事實。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And I said, "No, human beings are special.

我說：「不，人類是特別的。

We can embrace ambiguity, we understand paradox,

我們能接受歧異，理解彼此的論點，

we're conscious, we're weird, we're quirky.

我們有意識， 我們很怪咖，也很古靈精怪。

There should be a place for humans in the digital future."

在數位未來，應該會有 人類的容身之處。」

And he said, "Oh, Rushkoff,

他說：「喔，拉許柯夫， 你會那麼說，是因為你是人類。」

you're just saying that because you're a human."

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

As if it's hubris.

且說得很傲慢自大。

OK, I'm on "Team Human."

沒錯，我是「人類戰隊」的一員。

That was the original insight of the digital age.

那是數位時代的初衷洞見。

That being human is a team sport,

身為人類是一種團隊運動，

evolution's a collaborative act.

進化是一種集體協作的行為。

Even the trees in the forest,

就連森林中的樹木， 也並非全都相互競爭，

they're not all in competition with each other,

they're connected with the vast network of roots and mushrooms

它們與巨大盤根錯節的 根系及菌類緊密連接著，

that let them communicate with one another and pass nutrients back and forth.

讓它們能彼此溝通，彼此傳遞養份。

If human beings are the most evolved species,

如果人類是最高度演化的物種，

it's because we have the most evolved ways of collaborating and communicating.

那是因為我們有最高度演化的 合作與溝通方式。

We have language.

我們有語言。

We have technology.

我們有科技。

It's funny, I used to be the guy who talked about the digital future

很有趣，我以前扮演的角色 都是在談數位未來，

for people who hadn't yet experienced anything digital.

說給尚未體驗過任何數位的人聽。

And now I feel like I'm the last guy

現在我覺得我是最後一個

who remembers what life was like before digital technology.

還記得在數位科技出現 之前的生活的人。

It's not a matter of rejecting the digital or rejecting the technological.

不是要我們排斥數位科技的東西，

It's a matter of retrieving the values that we're in danger of leaving behind

而是要找回瀕臨被我們拋棄的價值，

and then embedding them in the digital infrastructure for the future.

並把這些價值嵌入到 未來的數位基礎建設中。

And that's not rocket science.

那並不是多難的科學。

It's as simple as making a social network

它就和建立社交網路一樣簡單，

that instead of teaching us to see people as adversaries,

它不是教導我們把人視為對手，

it teaches us to see our adversaries as people.

而是教導我們把對手視為人。

It means creating an economy that doesn't favor a platform monopoly

這意味著，我們創造的經濟體不應該

只是個期望從人身上 攫取價值的壟斷平台，

that wants to extract all the value out of people and places,

but one that promotes the circulation of value through a community

而應是一個透過社群， 促進價值流通的經濟體，

and allows us to establish platform cooperatives

能讓我們建立起

that distribute ownership as wide as possible.

盡可能廣泛分權的合作平台。

It means building platforms

這意味著，建立出來的平台

that don't repress our creativity and novelty in the name of prediction

並不會以預測之名來抑制 我們創意和新鮮奇性，

but actually promote creativity and novelty,

而是真正地促進創造力和創新性，

so that we can come up with some of the solutions

這樣我們才能想出一些解決方案

to actually get ourselves out of the mess that we're in.

來真正將我們從 現在的困境中解救出來。

No, instead of trying to earn enough money to insulate ourselves

不，與其盡全力賺取足夠的錢

from the world we're creating,

以脫離我們正在創造的世界，

why don't we spend that time and energy making the world a place

不如把這些時間和精力 放在把世界變成

that we don't feel the need to escape from.

一個根本不需要逃離的地方？

There is no escape, there is only one thing going on here.

完全不用逃離，在這裡 只有一件事情會發生。

Please, don't leave.

請不要離開。

Join us.

加入我們。

We may not be perfect,

我們可能並不完美，

but whatever happens, at least you won't be alone.

但不論發生什麼事， 至少你都不孤單。

Join "Team Human."

加入「人類戰隊」吧。

Find the others.

團結其他人。

Together, let's make the future that we always wanted.

讓我們攜手共創大家所憧憬的未來。

Oh, and those tech billionaires who wanted to know

喔，還有那些科技億萬富翁們，

how to maintain control of their security force after the apocalypse,

想知道在末日來臨時 如何繼續控制他們的安全人員，

you know what I told them?

各位知道我怎麼回答他們嗎？

"Start treating those people with love and respect right now.

「現在就開始 用愛和尊重來對待平常人。

Maybe you won't have an apocalypse to worry about."

也許令你憂心的世界末日就不會來臨。」

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）