Technology is only as wise as the human who uses it

One technological breakthrough follows another at lightning speed. Science and innovation have greatly improved our standard of living over the past decades, but that doesn’t automatically mean that progress also strengthens our humanity. In a recent opinion piece, deMens.nu chair Raymonda Verdyck calls for a freethinking humanist perspective on the digital revolution: it’s not technology that determines our future, but what we choose to do with it.

She reminds us that the same scientific insights that made medical miracles possible also led to nuclear weapons. Progress, in other words, is never neutral. Today we stand at another turning point: the internet changed the world, driven by ideals of free information and knowledge sharing. Wikipedia became a symbol of that open internet and the fact that it’s now being dismissed as “Wokepedia” shows how polarized and politically charged technology has become.

The benefits remain immense: with a single smartphone we carry a library of knowledge in our pocket and have unprecedented opportunities to learn and grow. Yet a handful of tech giants now dominate our flow of information. Social media have evolved from liberating tools into guided, commercial, and often politically tinted platforms. Those who shout the loudest get the most attention, while nuance and context are increasingly pushed aside.

As a result, more and more people long for peace, real encounters, and conversations that aren’t mediated by algorithms. Verdyck sees an important role here for civil society and the freethinking humanist community: to create spaces where people can once again reflect, connect, and ask questions about what truly matters to them.

The broader public debate is also moving in that direction, for instance, the discussion about possibly banning social media for young people. Bans are simple, says Verdyck, but they miss the deeper issue: what does technology do to our humanity? How does it affect our autonomy, well-being, and relationships?

The same concerns apply to artificial intelligence. AI can make work easier and open new possibilities, but it should never replace our creativity or sense of meaning. Technology must remain a tool, not the one steering the ship.

Verdyck’s conclusion is clear: it’s not about what technology can do, but about what we want to do with it. Human wisdom must remain the driving force behind technological progress.

Those seeking reflection, meaning, or open conversation can find it in one of the huisvandeMens centers across Flanders and Brussels, spaces where freethinking humanist values take center stage, offering opportunities for connection, ceremonies, and guidance on life’s fundamental questions.

Read more (only in Dutch)