Your position: You don’t believe technology will solve all our problems. Technology frequently creates new problems while attempting to solve old ones, and many of humanity’s biggest problems are social, economic or political rather than technological.
Facts and statistics
- The world generated 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022, but only 22.3% was documented as properly collected and recycled. World Health Organization
- Global e-waste has increased 82% since 2010 and was projected to reach 82 million tonnes annually by 2030. ITU
- Despite rapid growth in renewable technology, electricity generation still produced about 13.9 billion tonnes of CO₂ in 2024. IEA
- Technology can create problems that did not previously exist: electronic waste, cybercrime, online misinformation, surveillance, addictive digital products and new forms of warfare.
- Having the technology to solve something does not guarantee that governments, companies or individuals will actually use it effectively.
Prepare your arguments
- What problems has modern technology created?
- Are problems such as poverty, war and inequality really technological problems?
- If we invent cleaner technology but continue consuming more and more, have we solved the environmental problem?
- Who decides how new technologies are used?
- Could AI solve problems while simultaneously creating new ones?
- Can you think of inventions that were originally considered beneficial but later caused unexpected problems?
Your challenge: Prepare three strong arguments against the proposition. Try to predict what the believers will say and prepare a response.