Up Close With: Chris Ategeka
Meet the wonderful writers and patrons behind LWS.
What if you had one chance to make a difference in this life?
Ugandan-born, Chris Ategeka’s parents died when he was very young. He experienced poverty’s harmful effects, from homelessness to eating out of trash piles and more. His life changed when he was accepted to an orphanage, where a family he’s never met sponsored him to go through school by sending $25 a month, and subsequently paying for him to go to college. Chris got the paperwork to study in the USA and went on to get two engineering degrees from some of the World’s best universities.
Making a difference is what Chris wants to do. He started joining Writer’s Hour while working on his new book, which looks at the unintended and willfully ignored consequences of technology on humanity and our planet. As he says: “talent is universal, but opportunity is not.”
We spoke with Chris ahead of his book launch of his first book, The Unintended Consequences of Technology.
Chris Ategeka, 36
- Based in San Francisco, CA, USA
- Futurist, Engineer, Optimist, Entrepreneur
- Writes non-fiction
What are you working on right now?
A book titled: The Unintended Consequences of Technology: Solutions, Breakthroughs and the Restart we Need. It’s released this week.
Where and when do you write?
Inspired by LWS, I got in the habit of writing at 8am and have never looked back. I sit at my work desk, an adjustable standing desk that I modified and added a walking pad that allows room for me to move my body. I do my best thinking while walking at my desk.
Why do you write?
The future of our species and the planet is at stake. Humanity is at a crossroads. The explosion of technology and its exponential advancements are reshaping what it means to be human from technologies that keep track of all our actions and surroundings to technologies that are implanted into our bodies to perform various tasks. As technology continues to expand, its incredible imprint on our lives continues to deepen. Our algorithmic lifestyles have completely taken over our lives. Today, technologies make decisions about what we buy, the news we read, who we vote for, the jobs we get, the people we meet, and the ads we see. Along with the benefits provided by new technologies, there are many consequences that are alarmingly detrimental to society and to our planet. It’s very evident now that, with technology, our desire for comfort, growth and financial maximisation is leading humanity to potentially innovate ourselves into extinction. We must protect humanity from technology, or else we lose influence over the powers that control our lives. I write to help strengthen this message.
What inspires your creativity?
I am inspired by the best in the business, such as historian, philosopher and best-selling author of ‘Sapiens’ and ‘Homo Deus, Prof. Yuval Noah Harari.
When I’m in front of audiences I like to talk about the unintended consequences of technology: Is technology liberating or enslaving society and what we can do about it? We must protect humanity from technology, or else we lose influence over the powers that control our lives.
I’m also inspired by this quote from Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
What’s your favorite book?
The Why Cafe by John Strelecky [4th edition]
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
“Create from the heart- your unique creation is what the world has not seen yet.”
What’s the one thing you would tell other/aspiring writers?
The path is made by simply walking. If it was easy someone else would have done it already. Keep at it, especially the times when you feel like giving up. Discipline and consistency do produce results.
How can we discover more about you and your work?
Find me on Twitter: @chrisategeka
Visit my personal website: www.christopherategeka.com
Or, visit my company page: helloucot.com
