SAN
FRANCISCO — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid out a 10-year plan to connect
the world that sounded as much like a political cause as a grab for potential
billions in dollars.
In
a sweeping address that took on sharp political tones at times, Facebook's
31-year-old CEO detailed how Facebook aims to reach the planet's 7 billion
people — half of whom do not have Internet access. And he took very direct
aim at those who would limit free trade and immigration.
Zuckerberg's
facebook Messenger launches 'chat bots' Platform:
“We
are one global community,” he said. “Whether we are welcoming a refugee
fleeing war or an immigrant seeking opportunity, coming together to fight a
global disease like Ebola or to address climate change.”
The
theme of the keynote was, "give everyone the power to share anything
with anyone," positioning Facebook as a unifying force for good against
the current political winds of divisiveness.
Zuckerberg detailed a plan to bring people together through an
ambitious strategy of unfurling technology that jumps borders and crosses
cultures, a sharp rebuke to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump,
who has advocated building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and banning
Muslims from entering the U.S.
“As
I look around the world, I’m starting to see people and nations turning
inward, against the idea of a connected world and a global community,”
Zuckerberg said. “I hear fearful voices calling for building walls and
distancing people they label as ‘others.’ I hear them calling for blocking
free expression, for slowing immigration, for reducing trade, and in some
cases even for cutting access to the internet."
"It
takes courage to choose hope over fear," he said.
In
a post on his Facebook page after the keynote, Zuckerberg said the speech was
"personally important to me and I spent a lot of time writing it."
"Even
if it's unusual for a CEO to address world issues and lay out a 10-year
roadmap to improve them, I care deeply about connecting the world and
bringing people together, so I wanted to put this out there. It's different
from any other speech I've given," he wrote.
The
keynote, the most politically charged Zuckerberg has ever delivered, staked
him as a business leader on the world stage. Speaking to a crowd of 2,600
developers from around the world, one-third of whom used a passport to get to
the conference, Zuckerberg presented his vision in three pillars:
—
Artificial intelligence, which will help Facebook better sift through and
understand all the photos, videos and updates people post to Facebook;
—
Connectivity, the goal of making Facebook and the internet available
everywhere and to everyone through lasers and drones;
—
Virtual and augmented reality, which Zuckerberg says one day will bring
friends together even if they are on other sides of the planet through a pair
of "normal-looking" glasses that can overlay digital elements on
the physical world and become "the most social platform."
Not
everyone buys into Zuckerberg's plans for global domination. In February,
India dealt a major setback to Facebook's plans to use Free Basics service to
deliver a limited version of the Internet that included Facebook, at no cost.
"Mark
Zuckerberg's vision is both benevolent and altruistic as well as entirely
self interested at the same time," said Greg Sterling, contributing
editor to SearchEngineLand.
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