The Technological Delusion

Kamel Ayadi, MENA regional representative, July 2026

I am pleased to share my recent paper entitled "The Technological Delusion." The article is written in French, but I am providing a brief synopsis in English below. In this article, I analyze some of the factors that have led technological development to reach the level of a delusion.

Before examining these factors, however, let me pose a provocative question: Who shapes the future of humanity, and who determines what that future will look like and the challenges humanity will face?

Today, it is no longer religion, philosophy, or even political leadership—as has often been the case throughout different periods of human history—that primarily shapes our future. Instead, technological leadership is the most powerful driving force of economic and societal transformation.

There would be nothing wrong with this major historical shift if technological leadership were not concentrated in the hands of only a handful of technological geniuses, and if we had enough assurance that their moral and human wisdom lived up to their extraordinary technological brilliance.

The Rise of Disruptive Innovation

Incremental innovations are generally more accessible and widely diffused across industries, whereas disruptive breakthrough innovations give their owners a significant advantage in shaping global technological and economic leadership. Unlike incremental technologies, which mature gradually over time, disruptive innovations often emerge unexpectedly and leave little opportunity for gradual societal adaptation or institutional adjustment. They are inherently less predictable, reshape markets and economies, and have societal and ethical consequences that are difficult to anticipate.

Artificial intelligence has emerged from a series of disruptive technological advances. Such breakthroughs propel new technology leaders—often previously unknown to the public—to the forefront. Today, the media turn to Elon Musk with fascination for a glimpse of what the future might look like. Through his Starship project, Musk seeks to make human settlement on Mars possible, arguing that the human species should be safeguarded against extinction if life on Earth becomes impossible. Wouldn't it be wiser to devote greater effort to preserving life on Earth rather than preparing for such an extreme alternative on another planet?

With his Neuralink project, Musk aims to augment human capabilities by implanting computer chips into the brain. He seems to see himself as having been entrusted with a mission to preserve humanity from extinction and to improve what he views as the limitations of human nature by merging biology with silicon. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a remarkable innovation when used to help people with disabilities, restoring lost functions and enhancing their quality of life. However, extending these technologies to healthy individuals raises profound ethical, social, and philosophical questions.

Their responses to situations they never encountered during their lifetime could still be accurate because they would be generated by AI models trained on their personalities, values, reasoning patterns, intellectual backgrounds, wisdom, and life experiences.

When Technology Meets Warfare

The second factor is the boundaries between civilian and military AI development which are increasingly blurred, raising legitimate concerns about the motivations and influence of a new generation of technological leaders. When listening to Elon Musk or Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, discuss the future of modern warfare, one sometimes has the impression of hearing military strategists rather than technology entrepreneurs. Musk's controversial remark that "some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35," accompanied by his assertion that "drones and autonomous systems are the future of warfare," is evidence of this growing convergence between the technology sector and military strategy. Similarly, Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google has openly discussed his involvement in AI applications for defense and his repeated visits to Ukraine, where he has sought firsthand insights into the evolving role of AI in modern warfare.

Ethics Struggling to Keep Pace

All of this is unfolding at a time when states and international organizations such as the United Nations appear to be losing control over the direction of technological development. The global race for artificial intelligence and its implications for military supremacy is so intense that the pace of innovation is far outpacing ethical reflection and regulatory efforts.

Read the full article in French