Writing about the big beautiful mess that is making things for the world wide web.

Tree growth responds to its environment and integrates with its ecosystem. Growth is sustainable, balancing expansion and repair. It scales in harmony with its context.

Cancer growth is selfish, consuming resources at the expense of its host. Growth is uncontrolled until the system that supports it collapses. It scales through extraction until failure.

When we talk about the growth of technology in the 21st century, which kind of growth do you think best describes it?

“Hey, {social media | AI} grew so big, we all sat together under its canopy and enjoyed the shade.”

Said no one.

More likely: “Hey, {social media | AI} grew so big, it metastasized beyond what society could bear and now look at the mess we’re in.”

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