We are not content to merely survive. Our discontent triggers ingenuity and growth. But we must be shrewd about our advancement because technology is today's driving force. There is more at stake in our current progress than more profits, productivity or convenience. Our humanity hangs in the balance. Today, we must ask ourselves: what is prevailing - humanity or technology? And we must do what is necessary to ensure that our answer is humanity, and always humanity, the world over.

Technological singularity hypothesizes that the growth of today's artificial intelligence will eventually result in a super-intelligence that would, qualitatively, far surpass all human capabilities. And, this new super-intelligence, experts surmise, would continue to upgrade itself and advance at an incomprehensible rate.

The great fault in this hypothesis is that is does not account for the spiritual and moral attributes of humanity that set us apart from every species on the planet as seen in characteristics like intuition, empathy, vision, conviction, and ingenuity. A robot will never know how it feels to suffer from cancer or lose a child to starvation or make a life-or-death decision when driving a car. Artificial Intelligence will never comprehend the beauty of childbirth or a coastal sunset. Computer programs will never match the human complexity, its range of emotions and tribal characteristics.

The best technology can do is prioritize its efforts according to our direction. The key is making sure the priorities we assign to it and the protection we ascribe to it are in the best interest of every human. If not, our humanity is compromised in both form and function. We are already witnessing the tangible effects nearly every day.

You don't need to be a technophile to see that the risks of these connected lives we lead are much greater than the loss of time, money or convenience. Without discerning, responsible action, the basic human rights and exceptional human traits that have advanced the world thus far are already being abated.

Today, we must acknowledge that we are either building a future of technological grandeur at the expense of what makes us magnificent, or we are building a future of human grandeur with the help of magnificent technology. The path we collectively choose will determine whether our future is bleak or bright. This is humanity's manifesto for choosing wisely. For the sake of our future, we urge you to embrace the following seven declarations:

Privacy

Securing the privacy of every human being is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, personal data conveyed over the Internet or stored in devices connected to the Internet is owned and solely governed by the individual.

Consent

Respecting the authority and autonomy of every human being is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, personal digital data will not be used as research, rationale, enticement or commodity by any entity or individual, except with the explicit, well-informed, revocable consent of the individual owner of the data.

Identity

Valuing the identity of every human being is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, everyone everywhere has the right to be known and validated by the possession of a government-issued digital identity, which can be authenticated and used only by its owner.

Ability

Advancing human faculties is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, to that end, the secure, approved, and accountable aggregation of personal information and resources to increase our individual abilities is a fundamental objective of technology.

Ethics

Improving the human condition is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, a universal code of ethics reflecting the highest order of human values will govern the development, implementation, and use of technology.

Good

Advocating and innovating the greatest good for all humanity is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, technology, no matter how advanced, will never supersede the spiritual purposes or the moral rights and responsibilities of any human being anywhere.

Democracy

Democratizing human vision, ingenuity, and education is paramount to realizing the full potential of our future. Therefore, technology will remain humanity's greatest collaborator but never represent humanity itself.