The Tension of Our Time

The Great Paradox

We've Never Been More Connected, or More Divided

Technology promised to bring us together. In many ways, it has pulled us apart. Understanding this tension is the first step to resolving it.

The Division

The uncomfortable truths we must face

70%
Feel more isolated
Despite being more "connected" than ever
64%
See major divisions
In their own country (Pew Research, 2023)
3x
Rise in loneliness
Among young adults since 2000
40%
Decline in empathy
Among college students since 1979

The Opportunity

The unprecedented possibilities before us

5B+
People online
First time in history we can all connect
85M
Jobs to transform
AI frees us for uniquely human work
17
UN Sustainable Goals
Shared challenges uniting humanity
Potential connections
When we choose to reach across

The Same Coin, Two Sides

Every force that divides us also holds the potential to unite us.

Social media connects us...

...but algorithms divide us into tribes

We can choose what we consume and share

We have more information than ever...

...but struggle to agree on basic facts

Truth emerges through honest dialogue

AI will do many of our jobs...

...freeing us for connection and creativity

Our humanity becomes our value

Global challenges threaten us all...

...giving us common ground to unite on

Shared threats create shared purpose

The Same Technology That Divides Us
Can Unite Us

Social media can spread hate, or spread understanding.

AI can replace human jobs, or free humans for deeper connection.

Global challenges can fracture us, or force us to cooperate.

The technology is neutral. The choice is ours.

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

- Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963