🔮 Facebook's systemic importance; code on wheels; gig workers; Fornite, pig's brain and the Caspian sea monster++ #283

I’m Azeem Azhar. I convene Exponential View to help us understand how our societies and political economy will change under the force of rapidly accelerating technologies.

I’m taking some time off with my family this week, so I’ll share some interesting pieces with minimal commentary. If you’re not a member, consider joining the community and supporting our work.

The near future

👔 Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi: “Our current employment system is outdated and unfair. It forces every worker to choose between being an employee with more benefits but less flexibility, or an independent contractor with more flexibility but almost no safety net,” as a new ruling demands that Uber and Lyft classify drivers as employees.

💯 A comprehensive survey of what happens if Facebook goes down. Brillant

🏭 The world’s biggest electronics manufacturer calls time on China as the “world’s factory”. Here’s a Bloomberg take sans paywall.

🏎️ A lovely essay on the car as “the most complex internet device” and the sof…