TED演讲:企业垄断的新时代(6)

 Of course, we all see and share and appreciate all the good that new technology can do us. 当然，我们都见证、分享和感激新科技所带来的好处。

It's a lot of good. Autonomous¹ cars can give people with disabilities new independence. 优点有很多。自动驾驶汽车让残障人士更独立。

It can save us all time, and it can make a much, much better use of resources. 科技可随时帮助我们，也可更有效率地使用资源。

Algorithms that rely on crunching² enormous³ amounts of data can enable⁴ our doctors to give us a much better treatment, and many other things. 依赖大数据的算法可使医生给我们更好的治疗，还有许多其他好处。

But no one is going to hand over their medical data or step into a car that's driven by an algorithm 但没人会交出他们的医疗数据或踏进一台由算法驾驶的车，

unless they trust the companies that they are dealing⁵ with. 除非他们相信提供服务的公司。

And that trust isn't always there. 这种信任并非无所不在。

Today, for example, less than a quarter of Europeans trust online businesses to protect their personal information. 今日，不到1/4的欧洲人认为线上企业能保护个人信息。

But what if people knew that they could rely on technology companies to treat them fairly? 但如果人们知道，科技公司能公平对待自己，会如何？

What if they knew that those companies respond to competition by trying to do better, by trying to serve consumers better, 如果他们知道那些公司对待竞争的方式就是做得更好，更好地服务顾客，

not by using their power to shut out competitors, 而不是滥用权力打压竞争对手，

say, by pushing their services far, far down the list of search results and promoting themselves? 比如，将他们的服务远远推到搜寻结果列表之外，只推销自己，那会怎么样？

What if they knew that compliance⁶ with the rules was built into the algorithms by design, 假使他们知道遵守规范是有意建立于算法之中，

that the algorithm had to go to competition rules school before they were ever allowed to work, 在它能运作之前，算法得先确保竞争规范被遵守，

that those algorithms were designed in a way that meant that they couldn't collude, 这些演算法是用来避免不正当的勾结，

that they couldn't form their own little cartel in the black box they're working in? 不会暗箱操作，搞垄断的小集团呢？

 

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 crunching   

v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄

参考例句：

• The horses were crunching their straw at their manger. 这些马在嘎吱嘎吱地吃槽里的草。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog was crunching a bone. 狗正嘎吱嘎吱地嚼骨头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 enormous   

adj.巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• An enormous sum of money is injected each year into teaching.每年都有大量资金投入到教学中。
• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。

4 enable   

vt.使能够；使可以；使成为可能

参考例句：

• Only teamwork will enable us to get the job done on time.只有团结一致，我们才能按时完成这项工作。
• This will enable China to go a step further in grain production.这是中国粮食生产再上新台阶的巨大动力。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。