Books New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future  by James Bridle (Author)

"New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future" by James Bridle argues that, despite the promise of technology to usher in a new era of enlightenment and progress, we are actually entering a new dark age marked by confusion, uncertainty, and decreasing comprehension of the world. The book is structured in three parts that explore different dimensions of the digital and technological age.

Bridle highlights the paradox of having access to unprecedented amounts of information yet suffering from a lack of true understanding. He discusses how computational systems and algorithms have become inscrutable and disconnected from human cognition, contributing to a rising sense of dread and unpredictability. The book examines issues such as misinformation, conspiracy theories fueled by social media, surveillance, environmental damage linked to technology, and the opaque nature of artificial intelligence.

Rather than offering a techno-optimistic view, Bridle calls for embracing uncertainty and encourages a more informed and critical engagement with the technologies we create. He warns about the social and political implications of this "new dark age," where knowledge proliferates but meaning and clarity recede.