Silicon Valley has a solution for everything, but who do its ideas really serve? Every Thursday, Paris Marx is joined by a new guest to critically examine the tech industry, its thought leaders, and the worldview it spreads. They challenge the notion that tech alone can drive our world forward by showing that separating tech from politics has consequences for us all, especially the most vulnerable. But if tech won't save us, what will? This podcast isn't simply about tearing tech down; it also presents radical ideas for tech designed for human flourishing instead of surveillance, acquisitions, or to boost stock prices. A better world is possible, and so is better technology.
Demystifying the Billionaire Space Race
Paris Marx takes a solo episode to discuss the billionaire space race. Specifically, how billionaires are selling grand futures of space travel as a PR scheme to get huge public contracts that will allow them to control the infrastructure of space.
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Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, support the show on Patreon, and sign up for the weekly newsletter, ⚒️ THE HAMMER ⚒️.
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Also mentioned in this episode:
- Paris wrote about the billionaire space race, and it was translated into German, Italian, and Turkish.
- New Mexico’s $220-million Spaceport America that’s used by Virgin Galactic is a joke.
- SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has been way overhyped.
- If we went to Mars, we would get cancer.
- Adam Mann had a great essay on how we should think about Mars, and whether it’s “ours.”
- Elon Musk says we can be indentured servants on Mars, and people will die.
- Paris has written about Jeff Bezos’ space colonies, and compared them to Blade Runner and The Expanse.
- Jeff Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO to take on the role of Executive Chairman.
- Ursula K. Le Guin argues science fiction isn’t about the future, nor is it predictive.
- Amazon’s emissions rose 19% in 2020 and it’s helping Big Oil.
- Paris wrote about the real climate future billionaires are creating.