Digital environment, information systems and robotics: An absolute benefit or a new economic and political threat?

Abstract

The introduction of new technologies into all spheres of human activity is rightly perceived by the scientific community as a qualitative leap in the development of human civilization. The effect of the introduction of information achievements, breakthrough technologies and communications, the spread of electronic data exchange, digitalization of the environment, etc. contributes not only to the growth of interdependence of the world economy, but also to the rapid improvement of the life quality. Therefore, the accepted set of values defines the central role of new technologies, which are often considered an absolute good. But the authors wonder whether this is an absolute good, or whether behind the facade of the actively developing process of exploiting the world and expanding science and technology into all types of human activity there is a fundamental change in the means of production and ways of human exploitation. The authors also conclude that the digitalization of the urban environment, appearance of autopilots and navigation systems, development of modern IT and nano-technologies, improvement of communication and production technologies open the questions not only of a military, but of an economic and political nature as well. The pursuit of technological efficiency does not take into account the "human dimension", and the humanistic and sociocultural meaning of many technological achievements gets lost.