The Colbert Report Season 5 Episode 94 Douglas Rushkoff

Douglas Rushkoff is a guest on The Colbert Report season 5 episode 94. Rushkoff is a world-renowned media theorist, writer, and documentarian. The episode begins with Stephen Colbert's usual opening monologue before introducing Rushkoff. The conversation between Colbert and Rushkoff starts with a discussion about Rushkoff's new book, "Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age." In the book, Rushkoff argues that we need to understand the biases and agendas of the digital technology we use every day so that we can control them.

Colbert takes interest in one of the chapters of Rushkoff's book, "Do Not Be Always On." They discuss the addiction of being connected to the internet all the time and the mental toll it takes. Rushkoff argues that being "always on" can decrease our productivity and creativity. Colbert half-jokingly asks if he should quit Twitter, to which Rushkoff responds that it would be a great idea.

The conversation then shifts towards politics and the use of digital technology in political campaigns. Rushkoff believes that many politicians and political movements don't understand the nature of digital technology and therefore can't use it effectively. He uses the example of Occupy Wall Street, saying that it could have been more successful if they had a clear message or goal. Colbert jokingly suggests that Occupy Wall Street protests would have been more successful if they had a hashtag.

The discussion then turns towards the topic of robots and artificial intelligence. Colbert asks Rushkoff if he believes robots will take over our jobs, to which Rushkoff responds that it depends on how we program them. Rushkoff believes that humans need to have control over digital technology instead of the other way around. Colbert jokes that Rushkoff's solution to the robot problem is to educate the robots on the best way to serve humanity.

The episode concludes with Colbert and Rushkoff discussing the importance of human connection in the digital age. Rushkoff believes that digital technology can be a tool to facilitate human connection, but it shouldn't replace it entirely. Colbert jokes that he likes being able to tweet his love to his wife while she's in the same room.

Overall, The Colbert Report season 5 episode 94 with guest Douglas Rushkoff is an interesting and thought-provoking discussion on the impact of digital technology on our lives. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including addiction, politics, robots, and human connection. Rushkoff's insights on the biases of digital technology and the importance of human control provide valuable perspectives on an issue that affects everyone in the digital age. Colbert's witty humor adds levity to the conversation while still engaging in substantive discussions with his guest.