Solving the Unsolvable Problems with Michael Dunworth - WBD708

Michael Dunworth is the co-founder of Wyre Payments. In
this interview, we discuss Bitcoin, private keys and the
role of technology in advancing human understanding. We
also talk about the significance of security, identity, and
the evolving nature of society in the digital age, when the
challenges of distinguishing real from fake is becoming
increasingly difficult.


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The internet has been transformative. But, could its
benefits soon be outweighed by its disbenefits? Whilst it
has enabled people to connect across the world in
real-time, ironically, digital technology has had a
significant negative impact on human connection and
community. People are increasingly finding meaningful
connections with disparate online communities at the
expense of developing connections with people in their
immediate surroundings.


Then there are the technical challenges. Technology has
made it easier for impersonation and deepfake scams such
that distinguishing real content from fake content has
become increasingly difficult. There are plenty of examples
of fake conversations involving well-known figures like
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, which can deceive people
into believing false information. The nature of identity in
the digital age is therefore evolving quickly.


There is a need for identity verification. Potential
solutions are being developed. A worrying number of these
involve centralised control of the verification process.
There are obviously huge second-order risks of this
approach. Could public key cryptography be part of the
solution to verify the authenticity of digital content
without harming privacy? Could Bitcoin secure more than
just monetary value?


But, how do we combat the atomisation of society caused by
the internet? Will people regain a valuation in the
importance of local communities, human connection and hard
work, or, will technology continue to inflict damage on
individuals, communities and the nation-state? Technology
advances human understanding. But, it’s also swallowing
humanity.





 


Show notes:
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/solving-the-unsolvable-problems


This episode’s sponsors:
Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably
Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here
Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet
Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default
Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence