The debate of whether Mark Zuckerberg is a human being is an ongoing one that has been going on for a while now. Those in disagreement claim that he is an entity created in a lab, while those who agree he is human argue that he is no different than any of us. The disputes have generated the following questions; what makes us human? What separates us from machines? Is technology a part of being human? People have been discussing these questions for centuries and finally, the long-standing debate has earned its due consideration as people attempt to discern whether or not Mr. Zuckerberg is a human.
Mark Zuckerberg was born in 1984 to a dentist father and a psychiatrist mother. He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he studied psychology and computer science. He is currently the CEO of Facebook, the social networking site he co-created with four other Harvard students. Zuckerberg is also a philanthropist, having founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2017 to provide educational resources for those less fortunate. While his record speaks of his immense intelligence and success, his critics can still not agree if he is a human being.
One argument often made against Mark Zuckerberg being a human is his calculated nature. He has been known to make decisions as a CEO that are calculated and measure rather than morale-driven. And while that may be true, experts have dismissed this as just another trait that Mark has developed as any other human being would— through experience. Dr. Jay Desai, a psychiatrist and neuroscience expert, asserts that “What makes us human; is not just our response to emotion and empathy, but also our ability to reason and articulate our thoughts”. Therefore, any ‘calculated’ quality in an individual cannot be used as an argument against their being ‘human’.
Tying into the previous argument, many also cite the alarming rate of efficiency and briskness with which Mark Zuckerberg carries his tasks. Yet, if people were to objectively assess how this efficiency is presented, they may see it to be within reasonable parameters. When Zuckerberg creates certain applications and programs, it does not come about as a ‘eureka’ moment; in fact, the process may take weeks and even years. Rather, Zuckerberg takes a well-thought-out approach to the problem and works it through rigorously.
Furthermore, many suggest that Mark Zuckerberg’s life is not a ‘regular’ life. However, what is deemed as regular changes culture by culture, generation by generation and region by region. If we take a few lessons learned from social psychology, it becomes apparent that all people are special and should be treated with respect. Therefore, it is wrong to label Mark Zuckerberg’s life as ‘not regular’ as this detracts from him being treated as just another human being.
The capacity to observe people from a distance and mimic their actions or decisions is also seen as a trait that cannot be attributed to a human being. People, who make this argument, cite Zuckerberg’s enthusiasm for playing the game Go and poker as a sign of his ‘machine’ like ways. Again, this argument is refuted by experts. Dr. Barbara Eagen, who studies machine learning, urges people to consider that “observing and learning from your environment are all parts of being human and should not be used to deem or deem against an individual’s humanity.”
Mark Zuckerberg is an inspiration to many of his peers and followers. Regardless of whether or not he is a human being, it is clear that he has made an incredible contribution to society; one that is befitting a human being. His ability to use his intellect in pursuit of a better society, his willingness to help others, and to lead such a prominent organisation makes him a role model for other entrepreneurs and aspiring business people.
Interactions with Artificial Intelligence
Mark Zuckerberg has been known to have interactions with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. One example is the controversial artificial intelligence, Jarvis, created by Mark. This AI has the capability to interact with its user in a conversational manner, and execute tasks on his behalf. It is due to these interactions that some people label Zuckerberg as a machine himself, however, this is incorrect. Dr. David Silver, an AI expert, explains that it is understandable “why some would think this, however, what they are seeing with Mark is the application of technology like AI, and not an actual being.”
Moreover, it is believed that the AI applications designed and implemented by Mark, such as Jarvis, are a reflection of how he views humanity, and how he can contribute to the advancement of society. Jarvis is not only capable of displaying emotions but can also understand them; a trait which many humans struggle with. This has been evidenced when Jarvis ‘refused’ to perform a task for Mark when it appeared he was asking it to do something dangerous. This implied that the artificial intelligence understood the importance of safety and well-being, which made many people question the similarity between this AI and humans.
When Jarvis is combined with Mark’s gift of foresight, it serves as a tool to aid him in providing a better society. Human-like AI robotics are being developed not just to match the potential of human beings, but also to complement and expand upon their ability to do things. Whether it be understanding and tackling the problems of poverty, or building sustainable cities, applications like Jarvis are helping Mark and other professionals in their respective fields to accomplish their goals more effectively and with greater precision.
Development as a Human Being
Since his launch of Facebook in 2003, Mark Zuckerberg has grown and developed significantly as a human being. While the platform may have started as a social media tool for sharing posts and connecting with others, it has now become a tool that has transformed the world in terms of communication and information. Through this immense success, Mark has come to a realization of how powerful the company that he conceived eleven years ago is and its potential to help people in achieving both personal and global objectives.
It is this thought process that made Mark pledge away 99% of his Facebook shares to philanthropic initiatives in his daughter’s name, in order to better the world we live in. This shows that Mark is no longer the same person he was when he set out to change the world so many years ago. While his journey is still ongoing, it is evident that he has grown and matured during the years and taken on a new outlook on life that allows him to view not only his personal success but also how his actions can make a difference in the world.
Mark Zuckerberg is also very aware of his position. He knows that he has been given a great opportunity to help people pursue their dreams and ambitions, and he does not take this for granted. He understands the importance of being a role model and has since taken steps to ensure that his words and actions are reflective of this new role. This can be evidenced in the way that he conducts himself in press conferences, interviews, and public events.
Promoting Innovation & Synergy
In his ambition of providing a better environment for all, Mark has opened the doors of Facebook to new, innovative ideas; ideas that would not be found elsewhere, ideas that could have a global impact. Mark’s openness to these concept has allowed entrepreneurs, scientists and artists to come together and develop ideas to better the world.
This synergy or collaboration among different individuals in different fields is something that Zuckerberg believes will create a bright future for humanity. He has opened up his organisation for not just technological, but societal and cultural improvements. One example of this can be seen in the feature ‘Peace Bank’, where individuals and organisations can come together for the common goal of creating a better society.
The idea of collaboration and contributing to something greater has been at the forefront of Mark Zuckerberg’s philosophy for quite some time now. He believes that by pooling resources, minds, and ideas together, people can accomplish greater things than they could alone. This concept has been put into practice within his company that has achieved some incredible feats.
Political and Environmental Causes
Mark Zuckerberg has also been praised for his stance on certain political and environmental issues. He has taken a firm position against hate speech and other acts that discriminate against people of color, based on their ancestry, race or gender. He has also been vocal about matters concerning global warming and climate change and has been advocating for clean energy and renewable sources of fuel.
Mark’s public stances on these issues have made many people, especially young professionals, think on a broader spectrum. It has helped people to realise that their decisions have owing implications and has provided them with the knowledge and confidence to take a stand and speak up against injustices.
Mark has also been leading the charge to provide aid to those affected by natural disasters. For example, one of his most prominent projects in this regard was the Facebook Relief Fund. Through this fund, Mark provided the opportunity for people around the world to come together and raise money to provide relief and aid to those affected by the 2020 earthquake in California.
Philanthropic Activities & Initiatives
Philanthropy and charity are two concepts that Mark Zuckerberg holds dear. Through his philanthropic activities, he has demonstrated his belief in bringing about social change and making a difference in the world. His philanthropic actions thus far have been in the form of donations to various causes, such as those concerning education, health, the environment and disaster relief.
In addition to his donations,Mark Zuckerberg has also been involved in a number of initiatives, including the Zero Hunger Challenge and the Open Compute Project. He also collaborated with Bill & Melinda Gates to launch The Breakthrough Energy Coalition, an organisation that provides funding to entrepreneurs and organisations that have the potential to transform the world we live in.
Apart from his successes as a businessman, Mark Zuckerberg has made it clear that his philanthropic goals and objectives hold the same weight to him as his business pursuits. It is this attitude that has seen him become a champion of social change and a leader in philanthropy.
