The article “Rise of the Machines” was published in 2011 in Focus on Vocabulary. The author analyzes two dominant perspectives on technology and its role in human development. The reading illustrates that the favorable impacts of computers and artificial intelligence (AI) programs on our society are more than enough to compensate for the technology’s potential negative influences. Nevertheless, the author does not try to persuade the readers to choose any of the sides and rather demonstrates the ambiguity associated with the technology’s current position and states that it may become clearer in the upcoming future.
The example of the positive influence of modern technology provided by the author is human evolution. He observes that due to globalization and increased mobility, the number of stimuli for the human genes’ development has significantly decreased and human evolution as such is now at issue. However, technology supporters believe that various electronic devices may contribute to further human development. The author provides a few examples supporting this idea. One of them is the integration of bionic organ implants into the human body. These high-tech devices help to restore impaired functionality and actualize the concept of human-technology synergy. At the same time, the author states that the opponents of the technology believe that AI may get out of our control and put an end to humanity by creating more intelligent machines and computers.
The information provided in the article shows that there is enough evidence proving both its positive and negative influence. The author sums up his discussion by noting that people are still far from making a precise prediction regarding the impact that technology may have in the future – we may only observe its further advances and try to implement them to bring the world to a favorable state.