Tech Takes Center Stage: A Look at the Dark Side of Innovation

Theater Explores the Dark Side of Technology

Tech is everywhere, even in theater. Two recent plays in Boston show how tech can be scary.

• A Worker's Nightmare: One play features a worker tasked with monitoring and removing harmful content from the internet. It's a tough job.
• A Future Without Humans: Another play depicts a time when humans are extinct. AI is curating exhibits about what humans were like, like a museum but for humanity.

Tech's Impact on Humanity

Technology is transforming our lives, from our jobs to our homes. Some fear it's altering what it means to be human. Theater is reflecting these concerns:

• Programmer's Dilemma: One play follows a programmer who discovers his work is being used for surveillance.
• AI and Theater: Another play involves actors collaborating with AI to write a script, raising questions about AI's role in the arts.

Tech in Stories: A Timeless Fear

Technology has long been a theme in storytelling:

• HAL from "2001: A Space Odyssey"
• Frankenstein

Now, theater is using technology to explore its implications. Some plays incorporate large screens, videos, and even Zoom.

The Big Question

Theater is asking profound questions:

Just because we can do something, should we?

This question extends beyond theater and into our daily lives. Technology is here to stay, and we must consider how it shapes us.