A philosophy named “effective accelerationism” is gaining traction in tech hubs like Silicon Valley and elsewhere. Its advocates, self-labeled as “e/accs” (pronounced ee-acks), emerged recently and champion the notion that technological progression, particularly in artificial intelligence, should progress without limitations. Supporters believe that adopting this mindset will pave the way for a future technological haven without the interference of regulatory bodies and skeptics.
A renowned tech mogul recently released a comprehensive “Techno-Optimist Manifesto,” representing the core beliefs of accelerationism. However, critics, including notable journalists, caution against unchecked technological advancement. Here we outline the thinking behind Techno Optimism from Marc Andreessen, famous for giving us the internet browser and now funding many technologies with his a16z venture fund.
Introduction
Marc Andreessen advocates for techno-optimism, arguing that technology is the key to societal growth and progress. It suggests that technology, combined with free markets, creates a ‘techno-capital machine’ that drives material creation, growth, and abundance. In his thesis he also argues that technology is liberatory, expanding human potential and opening up possibilities for how we live. It criticises ideas that oppose technological progress, such as the precautionary principle and the constrained vision and concludes by inviting readers to join in the pursuit of technology, abundance, and life.
“There’s a way to do it better. Find it.”
Thomas Edison
The Role of Technology in Society
Marc Andreessen begins by challenging the negative perceptions of technology that are often propagated in society. It argues that technology is not a threat to jobs, wages, or the environment, but rather a tool for human ambition and achievement. It suggests that technology has been the main driver of societal growth and progress for centuries, and that it is the only sustainable source of growth in the future.
His thesis also highlights the role of technology in solving real-world problems. From the Green Revolution that addressed starvation, to the invention of the Internet that tackled isolation, technology has consistently provided solutions to major societal issues. His manifesto argues that there is no problem, whether natural or man-made, that cannot be solved with more technology.
The Importance of Markets in Technological Progress
The work emphasizes the importance of free markets in driving technological progress. It argues that markets are the most effective way to organise a technological economy, as they allow for the most efficient allocation of resources. The article also suggests that markets are inherently individualistic and do not require people to be perfect or well-intentioned.
The article also discusses the role of markets in lifting people out of poverty. It argues that markets are the most effective way to improve living standards for large numbers of people and that even small increases in market freedom can lead to significant improvements in income and living standards.
The Techno-Capital Machine
The thesis introduces the concept of the ‘techno-capital machine’, which it describes as the engine of perpetual material creation, growth, and abundance. This machine is powered by the combination of technology and markets, and is argued to be the main driver of economic growth, wage growth, and the creation of new industries and jobs.
The work also discusses the role of intelligence and energy in powering the techno-capital machine. It argues that intelligence is the ultimate engine of progress, and that energy is the foundational engine of our civilization. The article suggests that we should aim to make both intelligence and energy ‘too cheap to meter’, in order to drive income levels and quality of life into the stratosphere.
“Our species is 300,000 years old. For the first 290,000 years, we were foragers, subsisting in a way that’s still observable among the Bushmen of the Kalahari and the Sentinelese of the Andaman Islands. Even after Homo Sapiens embraced agriculture, progress was painfully slow. A person born in Sumer in 4,000BC would find the resources, work, and technology available in England at the time of the Norman Conquest or in the Aztec Empire at the time of Columbus quite familiar. Then, beginning in the 18th Century, many people’s standard of living skyrocketed. What brought about this dramatic improvement, and why?”
Marian Tupy
The Potential for Abundance
The case argues that the ultimate goal of technological progress should be to create abundance. It suggests that if we can make both intelligence and energy abundant, then all physical goods could become as cheap as pencils. This would lead to a massive increase in buying power, real income, and quality of life for everyone.
The article also discusses the potential for population growth in a world of abundance. It argues that our planet is dramatically underpopulated compared to the population we could have with abundant intelligence, energy, and material goods. The article suggests that the global population could easily expand to 50 billion people or more, leading to an explosion of creativity, new ideas, and technological progress.
The Future of Technology
The article concludes by discussing the future of technology. It argues that we have a duty to be optimistic about the future, as it is not predetermined and we are all responsible for what it holds. The article suggests that we should aim to build a world of ambition, abundance, and adventure, rather than a world of fear, guilt, and resentment.
The article also invites everyone to join in the pursuit of technology, abundance, and life. It argues that we owe it to both the past and the future to be techno-optimists and to build a better world.
“You live in a deranged age — more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.”
Walker Percy
Quick Summary
The thesis advocates for a techno-optimistic view, arguing that technology is the key to societal growth and progress, and that it can solve many of the world’s problems. It also criticises the pessimistic view of technology, stating that it is based on outdated ideas and fears, and calls for a shift towards embracing technology as a tool for creating abundance and improving human life.
- The article is a manifesto for Techno-Optimism, a belief in the positive power of technology to improve human life and society.
- It argues against the idea that technology is harmful or dehumanising, instead asserting that technology is a tool for human advancement and a source of societal growth.
- The manifesto champions the idea of abundance, arguing that technology can make resources plentiful and accessible to all, leading to a higher standard of living.
- It also promotes the idea of intelligence, both human and artificial, as a driving force for progress.
- The article criticises the ‘Precautionary Principle’, which it sees as a barrier to technological advancement, and calls for a rejection of fear and pessimism about technology.
- The manifesto is not aligned with any political ideology, but instead focuses on material progress and the potential for technology to liberate human potential.
- It concludes with a call to action, inviting readers to embrace Techno-Optimism and join in the pursuit of technology, abundance, and life.
