The Inevitable: An Insightful Exploration of the 12 Technological Forces Shaping Our Future by Kevin Kelly

Odar07: Very clear and easy to read book even though it treats of complex topics. I recommend it. It was written in 2016 and 7 years afterwards We can already see some forecasts come true (ie. AI ).

France on Jan 25, 2023

WF van der Hart: Interesting and stimulating

Germany on Dec 14, 2021

edsetiadi: This is a very exciting book to read, with all the possibilities of our future technology all laid out by Kevin Kelly, the co-founding editor of Wired magazine, whom sees the future with a glass half full approach.

While many smart people from Stephen Hawking to Elon Musk have expressed their concerns over the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can overtake humans as the dominant force on Earth, Kelly argues that AI can actually help us become better at we do, whether it’s to become a better doctor, better pilots, better judges, even better teachers. Because the most crucial thing about thinking machines is that they will think differently,  just like AI will drive a car differently than our easily distracted minds or sees the mystery of the Dark Matter from completely different angles.

Moreover, Kelly then elaborates that “In the real world—even in the space of powerful minds—trade-offs rule. One mind cannot do all mindful things perfectly well. A particular species of mind will be better in certain dimensions, but at a cost of lesser abilities in other dimensions.” This limitation also applies in AI, thus would then prevent them to become our...

United States on Jan 30, 2021

Ian Mann: Kelly co-founded and was the executive editor at Wired magazine where he now holds the title of Senior Maverick. He is widely known and respected for his acute perspectives on technology and its relevance to history, biology and society.
Because we are so immersed in the technologies that surround us, grasping the effects that they produce is not easy. We need someone like Kelly to highlight these effects to be able to understand their relevance.
Pause and consider for a moment that most of the important technologies that will dominate our lives 30 years from now, have not been invented. (Pause.) Add to this the effect of the ongoing development of the technologies we use all the time.
Not too long ago, all of us decided that we could not live another day without a smartphone. Only a decade ago this need would have dumbfounded us. Today, as I write this column, I am frustrated because the network is slow: but not too long ago we never had a network. Few imagined the miracle the web would become. “The accretion of tiny marvels can numb us to the arrival of the stupendous,” Kelly observes.
Add to this, that new technologies require endless upgrades. Even if you...

United States on Apr 10, 2017

Amerfas: Kevin Kelly is, in my opinion, one of the best commentators on how technology is shaping society, and being shaped in turn.
His approach is high level, his attitude is optimistic, and his analysis is subjective. So, to enjoy any of his books, you have to accept these features. If you do, then there is so much to see and explore with one of the most experienced, approachable, vivacious, inquisitive minds that's thinking about the future.
As far as describing the future goes, there is no certainty, so you have to trust that the views and perspectives being stated are grounded in reality, and the trends being extrapolated have been researched. In this book, Kevin Kelly does an excellent job of making a very turbulent set of forces coherent. There are overlaps between some of the 12 forces, and there is some redundancy, but if you read this as a story, and a set of conjectures you'll be amply rewarded with a framework and context to place new developments within.
A number of people have tried to write about the emerging Technological Singularity, ranging from the quasi-religious fantasists hoping for a technological elixir of life that unlocks a digital heaven (e.g. Ray...

United Kingdom on Apr 07, 2017

Stefan Fritz: Kevin Kelly ist auf der Suche. Er will verstehen, wohin die digitale Technologie uns Menschen führt und was sie uns bringt. Mit dieser Fragestellung hat er sich bereits in  What Technology Wants  beschäftigt und führt sie nun in einer ganz anderen Form weiter.

Mit seinem großen Erfahrungsschatz aus vielen Jahren der Beobachtung und Mitgestaltung von digitaler Veränderung hat Kelly die Treiber herausgearbeitet, die uns Menschen und unsere Gesellschaft in den nächsten Jahrzehnten verändern werden. Zur Veranschaulichung und Verankerung in der heutigen Realität wählt er viele bereits bekannte Beispiele, um dann daraus die zu verallgemeinernden Schlussfolgerungen für einen mittelfristigen 10 bis 20 Jahres-Horizont abzuleiten. Das fördert bei versierten Lesern an der einen oder anderen Stelle schon 'mal die Ungeduld. Es hilft aber, die eigenen Gedankenspiele zu verankern, wenn man sich darauf einlässt.

Mit den vorgestellten 12 Kräften, die unsere Zukunft formen, beschreibt er menschliche Handlungen, die sich durch Technologie in Zukunft massiv verändern werden wie z.B. Zugriff, Teilen, Filtern, Wiederverwenden oder Interagieren. Damit verändert...

Germany on Aug 31, 2016

nevillek: Kevin Kelly has form - he's been writing about digital technology and its likely impact for around 30 years, and he's often seen new things emerge long before anyone else.
"The inevitable" is set around 12 themes, and for each theme, Kelly writes about both the past and the present with lucidity, and then extrapolates to the future. He includes little pastiches of what life will be like in 20 years when a particular technology trend has progressed to be almost unrecognizable from today's perspective.
The book is clear, well-organized and an entertaining read. It rattles along at a decent pace, and the overall tone is positive.
I have some minor quibbles about the editing - there are a few more typos than I'd like.
I felt two things were missing, though.
Firstly, while digital advances have brought undoubted benefits, Kelly doesn't spend enough time on the challenges. Sure, being able to collect lots of information on ourselves, others and our environments is great - but this also creates privacy challenges, and creates new opportunities for those who would harm us. Kelly doesn't look at these aspects in any detail.
The other missed opportunity is that Kelly's...

United Kingdom on Aug 23, 2016