Nicholas Carr points out a startling phenomenon among internet users: people are beginning to have troubles concentrating on lengthier articles. All of the instantaneous access to information is changing the way our mind functions. As Maryanne Wolf puts it, we're changing "how" we read by changing "what" we read thanks to the plasticity of our brain.
What begins to worry me is what lies in the future of mankind. Google is doing to it's users what Frederick Taylor did to his employees--"systematize everything" to the point of maximum efficiency. When the article explained Google's aspirations for artificial intelligence, I began to wonder what benefits this brings to us as a species. It's hard to explain what the purpose of our existence is, but I believe it goes along the lines of enjoying life to it's fullest potential and to apply ourselves to the better of the world, not just civilization.
Our minds are vast, complex mechanisms. We can do more than retain knowledge; we can apply different concepts in different ways to create something new and original. We can feel satisfaction after applying ourselves and uncovering a different truth to ponder. An artificial intelligence (thus far) would have difficulty doing all of that. We should put forth the extra effort to not fall into the trap of "instant gratification" easy access to knowledge provides.
I find it funny that the general internet culture has implemented the "tl;dr" (which stands for "too long; didn't read") at the end of long posts.
tl;dr: you're just another statistic if you only read this!
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