Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 2019 pledge: Talking about the ‘future of technology’

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg pledged to hold public discussions in 2019 “about the future of technology in society,” a reflection of mounting apprehensions — among regulators and web users alike — with the social-networking giant and its peers in Silicon Valley. In a note posted to his personal Facebook page, Zuckerberg said he plans to convene experts and others every few weeks, with the goal of exploring “the opportunities, the challenges, the hopes, and the anxieties” posed by the tech industry. Some of the early issues he identified include the arrival of artificial intelligence, which could displace workers from their jobs, and the role of Web companies to serve as “gatekeepers” of online speech.