Looking Back at a Utopian Experiment
This month, the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile led by General Augusto Pinochet has prompted reflections on the ensuing decades of violent dictatorial rule. However, amidst the retrospectives, commemorations, and reexaminations, another significant event occurred on that fateful day: the demise of an audacious experiment known as Project Cybersyn. This project aimed to utilize cutting-edge technology and the study of cybernetics to efficiently manage the nation’s economy. While it may have been overshadowed by the coup, Project Cybersyn was conceptually ahead of its time.
An Advanced Technological Vision
Long before big data and smart tech became buzzwords, Chilean engineers were constructing an intricate information network using spare parts and sheer determination. The vision was to establish a real-time data transmission system from factories and businesses to an operations room in the government’s seat of power. This network would enable the prediction of economic outcomes, preempt problems, and coordinate the production and distribution of vital goods. Project Cybersyn aimed to reduce dependency, increase autonomy, and overcome the influence of the market and international finance.
A Rediscovered Endeavor
Although Project Cybersyn remained relatively unknown for years, it has recently garnered renewed attention. Scholars like Eden Medina, a professor at MIT, have explored the history of the project extensively. The story has also been brought to life through a podcast series titled “The Santiago Boys” by technology writer Evgeny Morozov. These reappraisals of Project Cybersyn come at a time when technology is primarily associated with consumer products and services, and Silicon Valley is synonymous with profit maximization.
Government and Technology Reversed
What if the relationship between government and technology were reversed? Instead of venture capitalists dictating technological development, imagine a government keen on employing technology to empower laborers and streamline efficiency for the betterment of society. Morozov suggests that today’s technology landscape would benefit from a reversal of this nature. Chile’s engineers sought solutions that aligned with the needs of their national economy, rather than being driven by tech vendors’ sales agendas.
The Birth of Project Cybersyn
In 1970, Chilean President Salvador Allende won an election on a socialist platform. Faced with challenges like Cold War tensions and a struggling economy, Allende enlisted radical engineers and technologists to harness technology’s potential. They collaborated with Stafford Beer, a British management consultant, to apply cybernetic theory to business operations. Through the creation of committees staffed by workers and government representatives, as well as the implementation of telex machines for data transmission, they built a system that coordinated production and predicted future factory performance.
An Ambitious Design
The centerpiece of Project Cybersyn was the hexagonal ops room, designed by Gui Bonsiepe to resemble the futuristic environments of science fiction. Equipped with control panels on chairs, it served as a space where government officials could rapidly assess the state of the economy and make informed decisions based on real-time data. Despite the limited availability of computers at the time, Chile managed to acquire one, while utilizing telex machines as a workaround.
A Promising Future Cut Short
Project Cybersyn proved its effectiveness during a strike organized by truck owners opposed to Allende. The system provided the government with crucial data to mitigate the strike’s impact without resorting to force. However, Allende’s government was ultimately overthrown, and Project Cybersyn was destroyed. Despite its premature end, the ideals it embodied continue to resonate today.
Rethinking Technology’s Role
As concerns grow about the ways in which AI and algorithms can exploit workers and perpetuate inequality, it is essential to consider the alternative approach championed by Project Cybersyn. Instead of relying on technology solely for profit maximization, the project aimed to empower workers, enhance transparency, and eliminate inefficiencies. Though its ultimate success remains uncertain, Project Cybersyn serves as a reminder that a world where technology works in harmony with the needs of society is still within reach.