The head of Google Belgium Thierry Geerts has published a sequel to Digitalis. Written during the pandemic, he says the goal of Homo Digitalis was to address common questions about the impact of new technology on society.
Tech gets bad press, whether we are complaining we cannot keep up with the pace of change or exploring what if scenarios in sci-fi novels. What stands out about this book is its optimistic tone. Who were you writing for and what did you want to achieve by writing this book?
It’s not an optimistic book, it’s a ‘possibilistic’ book. I want to show citizens in Europe what we can do with these new technologies and how they can make us more human. Technology itself is neutral, people can do good things with it, or bad things. It has always been like that with technology. This book is intended for every European citizen. Because I’m afraid of the rise of populism in Europe and in the world. To avoid populism, we have to better understand what’s happening in the world, and I want to do my part, which is explaining the new technologies and what they do with us, as a person and as a society. And how they can help to build a better word.
It was interesting how you present the ways in which technology can help tackle environmental challenges and the steps Google has taken to reduce its environmental impact. You touch upon the circular economy in manufacture and air miles for food. Why did you want to underline these areas?
I’m convinced that we can tackle the sustainability challenges. We have now technologies available to be able to do so. But to succeed, we have first of all to believe it’s possible and then to act. It will require creativity and resilience from every one of us. Therefore, I try to give as many possible practical examples of things that can be done, or programs on which Google has already made huge progress. That’s how we became carbon free already in 2017. But they are just a few examples, to motivate the reader to find other fields to work on, or things he or she can do.
Among the public concerns about technology are that consumers are being listened to and manipulated through the monitoring of online habits. You point out that it is possible to manage how our data is used. But that requires time and knowledge, two things that are in short supply. For someone with a big skills gap, taking control may feel challenging, don’t you agree?
I definitely agree it’s an important challenge, but that’s one of the reasons why I’m happy to live in the European Union. We have the best possible law to protect the citizens (the ‘GDPR’) and good working democraties. The real risk is cybersecurity. It starts with strong, double passwords and awareness, to get your privacy settings right. Those are very important things that I try to explain in an understandable way in Homo digitalis.
You point out that the industrial revolution gave us 3.37 hrs of leisure each day and technology also gives us more time. If that is true, why does it seem that people are busier than ever?
If I look at my own life the last few years, I’ve won 2 hours per day thanks to digital tools. Two hours! Ten hours a week! The question is, what have I done with it? I could have spent them on social media. It wouldn’t have made me happier. I could have worked harder and I would be more stressed. But I’ve decided to use them properly. By spending more time than ever before in my career with my family and friends, and by sleeping a bit more to be more relaxed and more healthy. Digitalisation is like huge waves. If you don’t take care, it’s like a tsunami, taking over your life. If you learn to surf on the waves, you will have a fantastic life. Technological innovations went faster than education and the tech sector didn’t get everything right. There is an important correction going on at this moment, with improved services that are less intrusive, with better regulation and more education about technology. Homo digitalis is intended to be part of that process.
Keeping a critical mindset is essential when using technology. I see that schools are teaching critical thinking skills to young people but to what extent do you think that the older generations are being left behind by the dizzying speed of progress? And is old-fashioned awareness raising really enough?
The most important thing is to get it right for the future generations, because the world will be even more digital, so the potential risks will continue to increase. For the ‘older generation’ let’s not over-complicate things. The main elements are: use strong passwords, make conscious use of technology and don’t waste too much time on social media. Those messages could be relayed in the media, by policy people and in reskilling programs.
You point out that tech helps us produce more energy, to store it and better optimise its use. How can it help us in the energy crisis we are facing as a result of the conflict in Ukraine?
It helps to save energy, to use less raw materials and to make use of renewable energy sources. My point is: nature is giving us more energy every single day, that we need for a full year for everyone on the planet. Renewable energy is abundant, we have to learn how to capture and store it. Those technologies are available now, but it requires long-term investments. Google has proven that is feasible and profitable (since 2017 our energy needs are delivered by sun and wind). If governments in Europe had started investing in 2007 as we did, Europe wouldn’t be depending on Russian oil and gas any more. It requires a long-term vision and a strong belief that those problems can be solved.
The end of your book focuses on the leaders of countries to embrace policy that supports technological evolution and you make a call for a unified tech “action” plan for all countries in Europe. Why stop at Europe?
I strongly believe in the values and the culture in Europe. We’ve always been creative and innovative. In the past, we’ve successfully implemented technologies in a democratic way to make our countries better places to live in. In this digital revolution, we tend to be more conservative, protective of the past instead of leading these new evolutions. I believe that we have to embrace them, to develop them in line with our values, which is even more important in the development of AI. Therefore, we need to understand the potential of those developments. That’s what I try to achieve in Homo digitalis.
What questions are you looking to explore in your next book?
I didn’t expect to become an author. My publisher convinced me of the importance of publishing my views on the digital world in my first book, Digitalis. During the pandemic, I felt that digital became more obvious, but that new questions were raised concerning the impact on people and society. That is why I wrote Homo Digitalis. I don’t feel the need for a new book at the moment. I’m already very honoured that Homo Digitalis is now issued in English.
Homo Digitalis is published by Éditions Racine and available in French and in English.
