Consider Technology – level 1. The blanket net effect it has on humanity and civilization. Overall, we have a net positive emotional response when thinking about technology in general. After all, both perceptually and empirically, we have seen significant positive changes to our lives; lower infant mortality, massive reduction in poverty, disease reduction, higher life expectancy, etc.
Technology – Level 2. The collateral effects of technology and unintended consequences, both positive and negative. For example, Climate Change is due to human activity, such as transportation, energy production, and agriculture. Also, at level 2 would be tertiary effects of technology and unexpected driving forces steering the direction of technological advance. For example, big agro farming practices, petroleum-based fertilizers, food additives, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and low nutrient, high fat, and high sugar foods have contributed heavily to widespread obesity in America. This industry’s science and technological advances have been guided by profitability and efficiency, not to what food best nourishes the body or contributes to human wellness. Human health is a secondary concern at best in this profit model, leading to an increase in disease. Medical technology is then driven by the treatment needs of the people now experiencing an unprecedented and massive diabetes epidemic.
Technology – Level 3. Weaponization and employing technology for malicious intent, such as control, abuse, subversion, destruction, destabilization, etc. For example, the global nuclear arsenals of many nations worldwide, state-sponsored ransomware or cyberattacks, AI bot farms spreading state-sponsored propaganda on foreign social media sites to undermine social stability, or a classic arms race between rival nations, to name a few.
As technological advances continue to accelerate in every field, unless there is a fundamental shift worldwide among nations, Level 3, weaponization of technology, will continue to loom over humanity. Its destructive potential and capability to harm will only increase. Inevitably undermining the gains humanity has realized from Level 1.