“Technology can allow us to invent a new model of sustainable growth that respects our environment”

Tribune. Science is now suspected of having contributed to drag humanity down a slippery slope, in particular with a view to restoring natural balances. His daughter – the technology – is for her part and especially in France the subject of an unequivocal condemnation! Thereby, 56% of French people agree to find her guilty.

Guilty of what? but a bit of everything: first of all global warming, then automation that would destroy jobs, not to mention the threats that could weigh on freedoms by combining social networks and artificial intelligence, etc.

Social acceptability

This is not the first time that science and technology have caused fear, but recent news and the Covid have given this old anxiety a new relief. From 5G to robots, innovation is not only suspect but even seen as harmful …

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Humanity, however, has very few tools to face the challenges that beset it, and technology is undoubtedly one of them. It is even one of the few that will allow us to invent a new model of sustainable growth, respectful of our environment and combining modernity and sobriety. Let us in fact be wary of nostalgia for a pure and simple return to the lifestyles of yesteryear: who can wish to return to the appalling rates of mortality, especially infant mortality, which characterized him?

Similarly, do we believe it is possible to reindustrialize our country with our level of wages and social protection without investing in new technologies and even, like Germany or South Korea, in robots? Genetic engineering, quantum computing, data analysis for better treatment, for better education, new energies, the avenues opened up by research work are richer than ever.

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Since technology and its consequences are henceforth associated with the ever-sensitive wounds resulting from the great wave of globalization, or the rise in inequalities, or even the slowing of the social ladder, let us look at how to restore their social acceptability.

Technology can and must rhyme with productivity, but also with employment and not with unemployment

As a counterpart to the precautionary principle, let’s start by debating and then by drafting what should be an innovation charter. Let us demonstrate its contribution in terms of growth while setting out the rules which must be imposed to make this growth responsible and sustainable. Technology can and must rhyme with productivity, but also with employment and not with unemployment. And let’s agree to review together the new regulations that are required!

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