TERMS FOR OUR AGE: JOBSIAN & WOZNIAN
(the following was written without the use of CHATGPT, etc.)
The late, great Apple Computers founder Steve Jobs held, with incredible conviction, the vision to unify design and function as tightly as possible. Under his guidance, he led scores of teams to produce singular, technologically astounding tools like the iPod, iPad, as well numerous extraordinary Mac computers. With these efforts so well done, we now take for granted that computers, phones, and other tech tools should be as pure and mesmerizing as ice sculptures.
The co-founder of Apple Computers - Steve Wozniak - held more or less the opposing view to Jobs: that the design and function of machines should not necessarily be considered with equivalent attention, or pursued toward a unified product. One must look hard to find a machine that embodies this 'Woznian' aesthetic - as this was not the pathway the computer market took. Perhaps we might imagine… a workshop of numerous gizmos? Or an old timey room of computers? A Rube Goldberg Machine?
Whatever the case, the humanoid robot is a particular fascination specifically because it is being given the aesthetic of a human being (an aesthetic that is, for all intents and purposes, perfect and unified). Perhaps through the extraordinary example of Steve Jobs - who so well set the standards for beautiful technology - we don’t think it is particularly strange that machines should be made to look like sleek, pure-white, enamel humans. However, there is no fundamental reason why this should be the case.
In my estimation, this is absolutely not an assumption that we should be making. Furthermore, we should be going to great lengths to not make our hyper advanced technology artistically singular. Rather, to conquer this humanoid robot AI beast, we will surely need to ‘divide and conquer,’ compartmentalize all of it’s importantly different forms and functions - and, specifically, not give it all the beauty it needs to bewitch us along with all the tools it needs to destroy us.
Good evening - and I appreciate your help in sharing this petition.
Sincerely,
Michael Christensen