James Williams worked as an engineer designing the analysis strategy for Google’s global search advertising business, before pursuing a Ph.D. in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences at Balliol College, Oxford. His doctoral thesis was entitled ‘Freedom and Persuasion in the Attention Economy’.
Stand out of our Light is a compelling collection of short essays, in which Williams draws on his Silicon Valley experience to expose exactly how today’s digital behemoths have very deliberately designed their platforms to consume as much of our human attention as possible. His insights are beyond disturbing, and armed with insider information, he is now emerging as an ethicist making the case for better-designed technology that complements humanity, rather than our current mix of attention-grabbing, hate-fuelling social platforms.
This is an essential read for anyone who cares what happens to us as a species.