Synopsis

In Technology is Actually Pretty Great, Leon Furze argues that the problem isn’t technology itself but corporate capture of digital life in education. Returning from a hiatus spent finishing his PhD and developing a new course, he reflects on how OpenAI’s problems—privacy, sustainability, copyright, labour exploitation—are symptoms of the broader tech industry. Furze positions himself as a technology enthusiast who grew up with dial-up internet and IRC, arguing that loving technology is a prerequisite for being a good tech critic. He points out that digital platforms come and go (MySpace, GeoCities, MSN Messenger) but education treats corporate tools like permanent infrastructure. The real issue is that tech companies have convinced education that “digital literacy” means proficiency in their specific platforms—Google doesn’t want students who understand algorithms, they want students who know how to Google. This brand loyalty masquerading as education serves corporate interests while sidelining genuine critical engagement with technology. Furze rejects blaming education for being “too slow” and instead argues we should reject the myth of inevitability, explore open-source alternatives, question whether we need cloud services for everything, and teach students that the online world doesn’t have to be owned by five companies. Technology is great, he concludes, but only when we shape it rather than letting corporations shape us.

Originally published at: https://leonfurze.com/2025/10/06/technology-is-actually-pretty-great/

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