Technology is clearly a principal driving force of societal change today. Technology/data companies and platforms are among the most powerful entities, worldwide, surpassing oil and gas companies in market caps and economic power. Data is the new oil, and artificial intelligence (thinking machines) is the new electricity. Exponential technological change is certain and may change more in the next 20 years than the previous 300 years. Much of this progress will be very positive for us (tackling global warming, slowing down deadly diseases, creating energy abundance, etc.), but some of it may create vexing new challenges. What impact will this exponential technological change have on democracy and in particular, direct democracy, and what needs to be done to protect democratic processes as the world around us becomes increasingly automated, fragmented, and machine-centric? How will the ongoing struggle between technology and humanity pan out five to ten years from now, and how will we prevail in a hyperconnective and hyper-efficient world?

This lectureship is funded by a generous endowment gift from Robert H. and Susan M. Rewoldt honoring Fred and Martha Riewoldt.

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